How to apply for a student visa (subclass 500) through ImmiAccount

Starting the subclass 500 application

To begin a student visa application in ImmiAccount:

1. Log in to your ImmiAccount. If you do not have an account, create one as an individual applicant. MFA has been mandatory for all ImmiAccount logins since 18 June 2025, so you must configure multi-factor authentication during or immediately after registration.
2. From the dashboard, select "New application."
3. Under the "Student" category, select "Student visa (500)."
4. The form opens in draft status ("Incomplete") and is divided into multiple sections accessible via the left-hand menu.

The application auto-saves as you progress through sections, and you can return to a draft at any time by selecting "Continue application" from the dashboard. If your account is locked after failed login attempts, the lockout period is 4 hours.

Linking your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

The Confirmation of Enrolment is issued by your education provider and is a prerequisite for the student visa application. Within ImmiAccount, the CoE is linked to the application rather than uploaded as a standalone document.

How the CoE link works in the portal:

- The application form includes a field asking for your CoE number (a unique alphanumeric code).
- When you enter the CoE number, ImmiAccount validates it against the Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS) database.
- If the CoE is valid and matches your personal details (name, date of birth, passport number), the course and provider information auto-populates into the form.
- If validation fails, the form displays an error. Common causes include a typo in the CoE number, a mismatch between the name on your CoE and the name in your ImmiAccount, or the CoE not yet being active in PRISMS.

You can include multiple CoEs in a single application if you are packaging courses (for example, an English language course followed by a degree program). The form allows you to add additional CoE numbers in sequence.

The Genuine Student requirement

The student visa application includes a section formerly known as the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement, which has been replaced by the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. This section appears as a series of questions within the ImmiAccount form, not as a separate document upload (though supporting evidence can be attached).

Within the portal, you will see questions asking about:

- Your reasons for choosing the specific course and education provider
- Your understanding of the course content and how it relates to your background
- Your circumstances in your home country and how you plan to use the qualification
- Your immigration history, including any previous visa applications or refusals

The form provides text fields for your responses. There is typically a character limit on each answer, so responses should be direct and specific. You may also upload supporting documents (such as a personal statement, CV, or evidence of prior study) through the "Attach documents" function — subject to the standard 5 MB per-file limit and 60-document maximum.

Health examination and HAP ID

Student visa applicants generally need to undergo a health examination. ImmiAccount manages this through the Health Assessment Protocol (HAP) system.

The HAP ID process within the portal:

1. During or after completing the visa application form, navigate to "My Health Declarations" in your ImmiAccount dashboard.
2. Select "Organise your health examinations."
3. The system generates a HAP ID — a unique reference number linked to your application.
4. Print or save the HAP ID letter, which lists the specific examinations required (typically a medical examination and chest x-ray, though some nationalities or circumstances may require additional tests).
5. Book an appointment with a Bupa Medical Visa Services panel physician (or equivalent approved panel clinic) and bring the HAP ID letter to the appointment.
6. The panel physician uploads the results directly to ImmiAccount via the eMedical system. You do not need to upload health results yourself.

The health examination can be completed before or after lodging the visa application. If completed before lodgement, the HAP ID is linked to the application at the time of submission. If completed after, the Department accesses the results via the eMedical system once they are uploaded by the panel physician.

Results typically appear in ImmiAccount within a few days of the examination, though processing times vary by clinic.

Biometrics requirements

Some student visa applicants are required to provide biometrics (fingerprints and a facial photograph) as part of the application process. Whether biometrics are required depends on your nationality and other factors.

How biometrics work in ImmiAccount:

- After submitting the application, ImmiAccount displays a notification if biometrics are required.
- A biometrics collection letter is generated, which you can download from the portal.
- You attend an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (or, if offshore, an Australian Visa Application Centre) with the letter and your passport.
- Biometric data is captured at the centre and uploaded to the Department's systems — you do not upload anything to ImmiAccount yourself.
- The status of the biometrics requirement is visible in your application details within the portal.

If biometrics are not required for your nationality, the portal will not generate a biometrics notification, and no action is needed.

Uploading Overseas Student Health Cover evidence

Student visa applicants must hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their visa. Evidence of OSHC is uploaded through the standard document attachment process in ImmiAccount.

To upload OSHC evidence:

1. Obtain your OSHC policy document from an approved insurer.
2. In your ImmiAccount dashboard, locate the application and select "Attach documents."
3. Choose the appropriate document type (typically "Health Insurance" or similar category from the dropdown menu).
4. Upload the policy document as a PDF or image file.

Upload rules apply: the file must be under 5 MB, the filename must contain only A–Z, 0–9, dashes, and underscores, and the file must not be an encrypted or form-fillable PDF.

The OSHC policy must cover the entire period of the intended stay. If the policy start date does not align with the course start date, or the policy end date falls short of the visa period, the Department may request further evidence through the ImmiAccount message centre.

Document checklist for student visa applications

While the exact documents vary depending on individual circumstances, the following are commonly uploaded through ImmiAccount for a subclass 500 application:

- Passport (bio-data page)
- Confirmation of Enrolment (linked via CoE number, but a copy can also be uploaded)
- Genuine Student statement or supporting evidence
- OSHC policy document
- Financial evidence (bank statements, scholarship letters, sponsor declarations)
- English language test results (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, or equivalent)
- Academic transcripts and qualification certificates
- Employment references (if relevant to course selection)
- Passport-sized photographs meeting Department specifications

All documents must comply with the upload rules: 5 MB per file, 60 documents maximum, and restricted filename characters. Organise documents clearly — case officers review dozens of files per application, so logical naming conventions (for example, `english-test-result-PTE.pdf` or `bank-statement-june-2026.pdf`) help processing.

Tracking your application after lodgement

Once submitted, the application status in ImmiAccount progresses through the standard stages: Received, Initial assessment, Further assessment, and Finalised. These status names have been in use since the 2 March 2018 renaming.

Key post-lodgement actions within the portal:

- Checking for requests: The Department may send requests for additional documents or information through the ImmiAccount message centre. Check regularly, as response deadlines can be tight.
- Attaching additional documents: Use the "Attach documents" function on the application to upload anything requested post-lodgement.
- Visa grant notification: When the visa is granted, a notification and the visa grant letter appear in ImmiAccount. There is no physical visa label — the visa is linked electronically to your passport number.