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

Are you planning to study in Australia — or already here on a Student Visa? Knowing the conditions of your visa is not optional — it's what keeps you legal and protects your future in Australia. This guide explains exactly what your Student Visa (Subclass 500) allows and doesn't allow, in plain language, updated for 2026.

📋 Quick Overview — What You Can and Can't Do

💼 How Many Hours Can You Work?

This is the question we get asked most. The answer is clear — but often misunderstood:

What counts as a course break?

Scheduled course breaks — officially built into your academic calendar by your institution — allow unlimited work hours. This includes:

• End-of-term breaks and holiday periods listed in your enrolment letter
• Summer holiday periods between academic years
• Official public holiday periods where your institution is closed

Breaks you take yourself — skipping classes or taking unscheduled leave — do not count as course breaks. You remain under the 48-hour limit during those periods.

Special case — Master's by research and Doctorate students

If you are enrolled in a Master's degree by research or a Doctorate, your partner (secondary visa holder) is entitled to unlimited work hours — not just 48 per fortnight. This is an exception that applies only to these degree levels.

✈️ Can You Travel on a Student Visa?

Yes — the Student Visa (Subclass 500) is a multiple entry visa. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want, for as long as your visa remains valid.

Rules when travelling

• You can travel during scheduled course breaks without restriction
• You can travel internationally — there are no geographic restrictions on where you can go
• You must return before your classes resume — missing classes without approval from your institution can trigger a breach report
• Always notify your school before travelling, especially if you are leaving the country

Can you travel during term time?

Technically yes, but only if your school approves the absence and your attendance remains compliant (generally above 80%). Short trips — a weekend to New Zealand, for example — are fine as long as you return on time and your attendance record is solid. Longer trips during term time carry real risk.

How early can you arrive in Australia after your visa is granted?

You can arrive in Australia up to 90 days before your course start date. Your visa does not begin counting down until you arrive — it is granted with a specific entry date and expiry date shown in your ImmiAccount.

📚 Study Obligations You Must Meet

🏥 OSHC — Health Insurance Is Mandatory

You must hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire duration of your student visa — from the day you arrive until the day your visa expires or you leave Australia permanently.

• OSHC covers GP visits, hospital treatment, some specialist care, and some prescription medications
• It must be purchased from an approved Australian provider — international health insurance does not qualify
• Your institution will usually require proof of OSHC before issuing your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
• If your course extends, you must extend your OSHC to match
• Letting your OSHC lapse is a visa condition breach — even if unintentional

OSHC providers in Australia (2026)

Approved OSHC providers include Allianz Care Australia, AHM OSHC, Bupa, CBHS International, and Medibank. Costs vary — single cover typically ranges from $600–$800 per year. Some institutions have preferred providers and may offer group rates.

👨👩👧 Can You Bring Your Family?

Yes — your partner and dependent children can be included in your Student Visa application as secondary applicants.

• Your partner can work up to 48 hours per fortnight (same limit as you) unless you are studying a Master's by research or Doctorate — in which case your partner has unlimited work rights
• Dependent children can attend Australian schools — primary and secondary education
• All secondary applicants must also hold valid OSHC for their stay
• You must demonstrate sufficient funds to support dependants in addition to your own costs

⚠️ What Happens If You Break the Conditions?

Breaching student visa conditions is serious. Depending on the nature and severity of the breach, consequences can include:

• Visa cancellation — you may be required to leave Australia immediately
• 3-year ban from applying for certain Australian visas after cancellation
• Formal warning from your institution and a mandatory meeting with their compliance team
• Enrolment cancellation by your institution, which triggers automatic notification to immigration

🔄 What to Do When Your Visa Is About to Expire

Your student visa expires at a set date shown in your ImmiAccount. Here are your options as it approaches:

Option 1 — Apply for a new student visa (still studying)

If you want to continue studying, enrol in a new or extended course and apply for a new Student Visa from inside Australia before your current visa expires. You will receive a Bridging Visa A automatically, which lets you remain legally in Australia while the new application is processed.

Option 2 — Apply for a Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

If you have completed an Australian qualification, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485), which lets you live and work in Australia after your studies — for 2 to 6 years depending on your degree level and location of study.

Option 3 — Depart before your visa expires

If you are not applying for a new visa, make sure to leave Australia before your student visa expires. Overstaying — even by one day — is a serious immigration breach that can affect your ability to get any Australian visa in the future.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions