Australia subclass 500 visa fee and processing time. It now charges the most and asks the most:

  • Fee: AUD 2,500 since 1 July 2026, up from 1,600 two years ago. Non-refundable.
  • Show 29,710 AUD a year in living costs plus first-year tuition, plus Overseas Student Health Cover for the whole stay.
  • Write four Genuine Student answers, 150 words each: your circumstances, why this course, why Australia, your future plans. They are assessed, not filed.
  • Allow up to 3 months for processing.
Australia Subclass 500 Visa: Fee and Processing Time
Image via Wikimedia Commons

The fee tripled in two years, which tells you demand is not the problem. Get the CoE first, write honest Genuine Student answers, keep every receipt. Sources: IATA Travel Centre The fee tripled in two years, which tells you demand is not the problem. Get the CoE first, write honest Genuine Student answers, keep every receipt.

The Australia visa 500 fee is set per applicant and rises most years; budget it early.