Student Visa 500 Australia: What You Can and Can’t Do (2026)

📅 Last updated: 6 November 2026 · Includes the student visa changes from 2 October 2026.

2026 Guide · Student visa (subclass 500)

Work, travel, study, family and renewals: everything you can (and can't) do on an Australian Student visa, explained without the legal jargon.

Read time: 9 minutes · Written by the Study Destination visa team

✅ What you CAN do

Work up to 48 hours per fortnight once your course has started, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.
Travel in and out of Australia as many times as you like while your visa is valid.
Change course or school, with conditions.
Renew your visa from inside Australia, but only in specific cases since 2 October 2026.
Apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after your studies, if you meet the requirements.

🚫 What you CAN'T do

Work before your course starts, or more than 48 hours per fortnight during study periods.
Study part-time or at a school that isn't CRICOS-registered.
Skip classes or fall behind without consequences: attendance and progress are visa conditions.
Let your OSHC health insurance lapse.
Bring your partner or children, in most cases, if you apply on or after 2 October 2026.
Stay in Australia after your visa expires, even for one day.

📌 In this article

How many hours can you work?
Can you travel on a student visa?
Study obligations you must meet
Can you change course or school?
OSHC: health insurance is mandatory
Can you bring your family?
What happens if you break the conditions?
Your visa is about to expire: what now?
Frequently asked questions

01How many hours can you work?

48 hrsper fortnight during study periods (visa condition 8105).

Unlimitedduring scheduled course breaks.

When can you start? Only once your course has started. Not before.
What's a fortnight? Any 14-day period starting on a Monday. For example, 10 hours one week and 38 the next is fine (48 in total).
What's a course break? Breaks set in your school's official calendar (end of term, summer holidays). Skipping classes or taking unofficial time off doesn't count: the 48-hour limit still applies.
How much can you earn? The minimum wage is AUD $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026. Working 48 hours at that rate is about AUD $1,270 per fortnight before tax.

⚠️ Careful: working over the limit is one of the most common reasons student visas get cancelled, and Home Affairs can check tax and employer records. Keep track of your hours, especially if you have more than one job.

Looking for work? Check our list of the best streets to find hospo jobs and know your rights on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

02Can you travel on a student visa?

Yes! ✈️ The Student visa allows multiple entries, so you can leave and come back as many times as you like while it's valid. A few rules keep you safe:

Travel during your scheduled course breaks whenever possible.
Come back before classes start again.
Tell your school before travelling, especially overseas.
Term-time trips: a short trip may be fine if your school agrees and your attendance is good. Longer absences can lead to your school reporting you, and possibly to visa cancellation.

How early can you arrive in Australia?

Usually up to 90 days before your course starts for courses of 10 months or more (30 days for shorter courses). Check the first entry date in your visa grant notice or in VEVO.

03Study obligations you must meet

Obligation	What it means
Full-time enrolment	You must stay enrolled full-time in a CRICOS-registered course. English courses (ELICOS) require at least 20 scheduled hours per week.
Attendance	Schools that monitor attendance usually require at least 80%. Falling below can lead to warnings and a report to Home Affairs.
Course progress	Pass your units and keep up with your course. Failing too many can lead to a report.
Address	Tell your school your Australian address within 7 days of arriving, and any change within 7 days (condition 8533).
Genuine Student	Studying must be your main reason for being in Australia. This was assessed in your application (the Genuine Student requirement replaced the GTE in March 2024) and you must keep meeting it.

04Can you change course or school?

Yes, but there are conditions, and some changed recently:

Changing school: until 1 July 2027, you generally need to complete 12 months of your main course (up from 6) before transferring, unless your school gives you a release letter or can't deliver your course.
Changing to a lower-level course (for example from a Bachelor to a Diploma) usually requires a new Student visa.
Moving to a higher-level course is the main way to renew your visa from inside Australia (see section 08).

05OSHC: health insurance is mandatory

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a visa condition (8501), not an optional extra. You must hold it from the day you arrive until your visa ends or you leave Australia.

It covers GP visits, hospital care and some medicines.
It must come from an approved Australian provider (for example Allianz Care, AHM, Bupa, CBHS or Medibank). Travel insurance from home doesn't count.
A single student usually pays around AUD $600–$850 per year.
If your course is extended, your OSHC must be extended too. A lapse is a breach, even if it's an accident.

06Can you bring your family?

👨‍👩‍👧 Changed on 2 October 2026: most new Student visa applicants can no longer include a partner or children. Exceptions include PhD students, government scholarship holders and students from ASEAN or Pacific countries. Where family is allowed, they must be included in your first application.

Already here as a family member? Partners and children who held a student dependant visa before 2 October 2026 are protected.
Partner work rights: up to 48 hours per fortnight, or unlimited if the main student is doing a Master's by research or a PhD.
Children can go to school in Australia, and everyone needs OSHC.

07What happens if you break the conditions?

The most common breaches are working over 48 hours per fortnight, low attendance, failing too many units and letting OSHC lapse. Not meaning to break a rule doesn't protect you. Possible consequences:

Warnings and a compulsory meeting with your school.
Cancellation of your enrolment, which your school must report to Home Affairs.
Cancellation of your visa, which can also stop you from getting certain Australian visas for up to 3 years.

08Your visa is about to expire: what now?

Option 1: Keep studying with a new Student visa

Since 2 October 2026, you can only apply from inside Australia in specific cases:

🎓 You've finished your course and you're enrolling in one course at a higher level (for example Certificate IV → Diploma, or English → any VET or university course).
📚 You need more time to finish your current course with the same school, within 12 months of your CoE end date.
🔬 You're a PhD student.
🏫 Your school closed or cancelled your course in the last 12 months.

If you lodge a valid application before your visa expires, you usually get a Bridging visa A that lets you stay while it's processed. If none of these cases apply (for example English → more English, a course at the same level, or a package of courses), you'll need to apply from outside Australia. Read our full guide to the October 2026 changes.

Option 2: Apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)

If you've completed an eligible Australian qualification (generally at least 2 academic years of CRICOS study), you may be able to stay and work: 18 months for diploma and trade graduates, and 2 to 3 years for university graduates, with possible extra time for regional study. The age limit is generally 35. Check the details with Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.

Option 3: Leave Australia before your visa expires

Overstaying, even by one day, is a serious breach that can affect future visas.

⏰ Our advice: start planning your next step at least 4 months before your visa expires. If you need to apply from outside Australia, plan to lodge around 3 months before your next course starts.

09Frequently asked questions

How many hours can I work on a student visa in Australia?

Up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods, once your course has started, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.

Can I travel outside Australia on a student visa?

Yes. The Student visa allows multiple entries. Travel during course breaks when possible, come back before classes restart and tell your school before you go.

Can I renew my student visa from inside Australia?

Since 2 October 2026, only in specific cases: moving to one course at a higher level, finishing your current course within 12 months of your CoE end date, PhD study, or if your school closed or cancelled your course. Otherwise, you need to apply from outside Australia.

Can I study English again on a new student visa from inside Australia?

No. Renewing onshore for another standalone English course is no longer allowed. You can stay by moving from English to a VET or university course, or apply for more English from outside Australia.

Can I change school on a student visa?

Yes, but until 1 July 2027 you generally need to complete 12 months of your main course first, unless your school releases you. Moving to a lower-level course usually requires a new visa.

Can my partner come with me on my student visa?

For most new applicants, no. Since 2 October 2026, only some students can include family, such as PhD students, government scholarship holders and students from ASEAN or Pacific countries. Partners already here as dependants before that date are protected.

Is OSHC compulsory?

Yes. You must keep Overseas Student Health Cover from an approved Australian provider for your whole stay. Letting it lapse is a breach of your visa conditions.

What happens if I work more than 48 hours per fortnight?

It breaches visa condition 8105. Your visa can be cancelled, which can also stop you from getting certain Australian visas for up to 3 years.

What happens when my student visa expires?

You need a new visa or to leave Australia before it expires. If you lodge a valid application in Australia before expiry, you usually get a Bridging visa A while it's processed. Overstaying is a serious breach.

Not sure what your next step should be?

Whether you're planning your next course, wondering if you can renew onshore or preparing to apply from overseas, our advisors will look at your case for free.

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