⭐ Australia Study Visa New Rules 2025 – Latest Updates for International Students
Australia has introduced several major changes to the Student Visa (Subclass 500) for 2025–2026. These updates will affect application requirements, processing priority, financial proof, English test scores, and work rights. If you are planning to study in Australia, these new rules are extremely important to understand.
Below is a complete guide to all the Australia St
✅ 1. Mandatory CoE for All Applications
Starting 1 October 2025, students must submit a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) with their visa application.
Offer Letter is no longer accepted.
udy Visa New Updates 2025.
This means:
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Finalize your course + university early
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Pay your initial tuition deposit
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Secure your CoE before filinghttps://spectrumvlg.com/index.php/contacts/
✅ 2. Higher Student Visa Fee – AUD $2,000
From July 2025, the Student Visa (Subclass 500) fee has increased to AUD $2,000.
Applicants must now plan a higher budget for the application process.
✅ 3. Updated
Australia has increased the minimum living cost requirement to AUD $29,710 per year for a single student.
Requirements include:
Financial Capacity Requirement
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Bank funds must be 3 months old
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Proof of tuition fee + living cost
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Funds from parents/sponsors allowed with documentation
This measure ensures students are financially stable before entering the country.
✅ 4. Genuine Student (GS) Requirement Introduced
The earlier GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) rule has been replaced by the new GS (Genuine Student) requirement.
Under GS, immigration will assess:
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Your study purpose
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Education background
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Course relevance
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Career plans
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SOP/Statement of Purpose quality
A strong and realistic SOP is now more important than ever.
✅ 5. Student Work Hours Updated
Students can work:
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48 hours per fortnight during study periods
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Unlimited hours only during official course breaks
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Australia will strictly monitor work-hour violations.
✅ 6. New Priority Processing Under MD 115
Australia introduced a new system called Ministerial Direction 115 (MD 115).
What this means:
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Each university has an allocated student cap
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If a university is nearing its cap → visa processing slows
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If the intake is open → processing may speed up
Your choice of university can impact how fast your visa is processed.
✅ 7. No Onshore Switching to Student Visa
From mid-2025, students cannot apply for a Student Visa from inside Australia if they are on:
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Visitor Visa
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Temporary Graduate Visa (485)
Applicants must apply offshore (from their home country).
✅ 8. English Language Requirement Increased
Minimum score for Australian student visa:
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IELTS: 6.0 overall
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or equivalent in TOEFL, PTE, OET, Cambridge
Australia also updated the list of approved English language tests.
⭐ Summary of Australia Study Visa New Rules 2025
| Update | Details |
|---|---|
| COE Mandatory | Offer Letter not accepted |
| Visa Fee | AUD $2500 |
| Living Cost Requirement | AUD $30,000 |
| GS Requirement | Replaces GTE |
| Work Hours | 48 hours per fortnight |
| University Priority | MD 115 system |
| Onshore Switching | Not allowed |
| English Requirement | IELTS 6.0 |
❓ FAQs – Australia Study Visa 2025 New Rules
1. Is Australia increasing funds for student visas?
Yes, the new living cost requirement is AUD $30,000.
2. Is Offer Letter enough for visa application?
No. From October 2025, COE is compulsory.
3. Can students work unlimited hours?
Only during official holidays. Otherwise, work is limited to 48 hours per fortnight.
4. What is the new GS requirement?
GS checks if the student is genuinely coming for study, not migration or work misuse.
5. Can I apply for a student visa from Australia?
Not anymore if you are on Visitor Visa or Graduate Visa. Application must be offshore.