Australia Student Visa 2027 for Indian Students
Indian students planning Australia in 2027 should pay close attention to the Genuine Student requirement, financial capacity, English-language evidence, CoE, OSHC and the new Student visa application rules that started on 2 October 2026.
What Is the Australia Student Visa?
The Student visa (subclass 500) allows eligible international students to study in Australia. Current Home Affairs guidance states that most students can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while their course is in session, subject to visa conditions.
New Rules from 2 October 2026
Genuine Student (GS) Requirement
The GS requirement applies to Student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024. Applicants must show that studying in Australia is the primary reason for applying and answer structured questions about their circumstances, course/provider choice and how the course benefits them.
- Current circumstances, including family, community, employment and economic ties.
- Why you chose the course and education provider.
- Your understanding of studying and living in Australia.
- How completing the course will benefit you.
- Any other relevant information.
Financial Capacity – Current Reference
For visa financial capacity, applicants may need to show travel costs, 12 months of course fees, living costs and relevant family/school costs. The current legislative annual living-cost reference for the primary student applicant is AUD29,710.
| Item | Current Reference |
|---|---|
| Primary applicant annual living costs | AUD29,710 |
| Spouse / de facto annual living costs | AUD10,394 |
| Each dependent child annual living costs | AUD4,449 |
| School-age dependant annual school costs | AUD13,502 |
Home Affairs also currently lists an alternative annual-income route of at least AUD87,856 for parents or a partner where the student applies alone, or AUD102,500 where family members are included.
English Language Requirement – Current Visa Thresholds
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, current Home Affairs visa thresholds include:
| Test | Standard Minimum | With Eligible 10-week Pathway / ELICOS | With 20-week ELICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic / General | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 39 | 31 |
| TOEFL iBT | 67 | 51 | 37 |
Funds Must Be Genuinely Accessible
Home Affairs can assess not only the amount but also whether the student genuinely has access to the money. Where another person provides funds, applicants may need evidence of the relationship, identity, support history and source of funds.
- Bank deposits with transaction history.
- Government or financial-institution loans.
- Scholarships or similar support.
- Parent / partner support with appropriate evidence.
Typical Subclass 500 Preparation
- Secure an offer and satisfy university conditions.
- Accept the offer and obtain a valid CoE.
- Arrange Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
- Prepare GS responses and supporting evidence.
- Prepare financial-capacity documents where required.
- Prepare English-language evidence where required.
- Complete health and character requirements when requested.
- Lodge through ImmiAccount with all required documents.
Common Australia Visa Mistakes
- Generic GS answers that do not explain course progression.
- Large unexplained recent bank deposits.
- Weak connection between previous studies/work and the new course.
- Ignoring the exact Home Affairs document checklist.
- Assuming a university English waiver automatically satisfies the visa requirement.
- Using old financial-capacity figures.
- Not checking the post-2 October 2026 application rules.
Useful Australia Guides
FAQs
What is the current annual living-cost amount for an Australia student visa?
The current primary-applicant annual living-cost reference is AUD29,710, in addition to relevant tuition, travel and family costs.
What is the current IELTS minimum for the Student visa?
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the standard Student visa minimum is currently IELTS 6.0, with lower thresholds possible for eligible packaged ELICOS or pathway arrangements.
What changed on 2 October 2026?
Home Affairs introduced new rules affecting who can apply for and be granted Student visas while in Australia, and whether family members can be included. Applicants should check the current rules for their situation.
Need Australia 2027 Visa Planning?
TcollegeDayz can help review university fit, GS preparation, financial documents, CoE readiness and the overall Student visa file.
Official Sources
Verify all current requirements using Home Affairs Student visa (subclass 500), the GS requirement, and the 2 October 2026 rule changes.