Australia Subclass 500: how much money to show.
The figures a counsellor needs for a Pakistani student's Australian student visa, the two ways to meet the funds requirement, and what else goes in the file.
Figures checked 5 October 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs · 5 minute read
The two ways to meet the funds requirement
Route one: show the money. Enough to cover twelve months of living costs, travel and the first year of tuition.
| Living costs | AUD 29,710 for twelve months |
| Travel | AUD 2,000 |
| Tuition | The first year's course fees, less anything already paid |
Route two: show income. Evidence that a parent (or spouse) earns at least AUD 87,856 a year, usually through tax records and employment documents.
Whether the student must attach this evidence when applying depends on their circumstances. The Document Checklist Tool on the Home Affairs website tells you what to attach; prepare the evidence either way, because it can be requested later.
English
Minimum scores for the visa: PTE Academic 47, IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 67, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Universities often ask for more for admission, so check the offer conditions too.
The Genuine Student requirement
The application asks the student to explain, in their own words, why they chose this course and provider, how it fits their past study and plans, and their circumstances at home. Answers that read like a template are a risk. Build them from the student's real history and the course's own description.
Fee and file checklist
- Visa application fee: AUD 2,500.
- The Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from the provider.
- Funds or income evidence, as above.
- English test results.
- Genuine Student answers.
- Passport and health insurance (OSHC) for the length of the visa.
Polaris works the file for you
The visa desk holds these figures with their sources, checks the funds against them, tracks the CoE and dates, and prepares the student for Genuine Student questions from their own file.
Quick answers.
How much money does an Australia Subclass 500 applicant need to show?
AUD 29,710 for twelve months of living costs, AUD 2,000 for travel and the first year's tuition, or a parent's annual income of at least AUD 87,856 (figures checked 5 October 2026).
What English score does a Subclass 500 visa need?
PTE Academic 47, IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 67, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Universities may ask for higher scores.
What is the Subclass 500 visa fee?
AUD 2,500 for the main applicant (checked 5 October 2026).
Sources: Australian Department of Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500), checked 5 October 2026. Rules change; always confirm on the Home Affairs website before a student applies.