Visa Options for Vietnamese Citizens Moving to Australia in 2026

Student Visa (Subclass 500)

The primary pathway for Vietnamese citizens.

Application Requirements

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE): From a CRICOS-registered institution in Australia. You must be accepted into a course before applying for the visa.

English proficiency: for tests taken from 7 August 2025, the visa itself needs IELTS 6.0 overall (or the equivalent on another accepted test), or 5.5 overall with at least 10 weeks of packaged ELICOS, or 5.0 overall with at least 20 weeks of packaged ELICOS. Your institution can and often does set a higher entry bar than this visa minimum, especially for degree-level courses — check your offer letter for the score you actually need to be admitted. Nursing is separate again: AHPRA's registration standard, changed 23 April 2026, is IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with 7.0 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing (or the equivalent on OET, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT or Cambridge C1 Advanced)

Financial capacity: Demonstrate funds for:

• Full first-year tuition
• AUD 29,710 for living costs (per year, primary applicant)
• AUD 10,394 for an accompanying partner and AUD 4,449 per accompanying child (per year)
• Return travel

Financial evidence includes bank statements (showing funds held for at least 3 months), scholarship letters, sponsor declarations, or government funding letters.

OSHC: Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of your visa, priced and charged annually by the insurer you choose — check current premiums with the provider rather than relying on a fixed figure.

Genuine Student requirement: answered as online questions in the application explaining why you want to study in Australia, how the course relates to your career, and your ties to Vietnam. This is critically important for Vietnamese applicants — the Genuine Student assessment is a key reason applications get refused.

Genuine Student Tips for Vietnamese Applicants

Vietnam is in a higher risk assessment category. Strengthen your application by:

• Choosing a course that logically follows your previous study or work. A business graduate applying for an IT master's needs a strong explanation. A nursing graduate applying for nursing in Australia is logical.
• Demonstrating ties to Vietnam. Family members, property, employment history, and a stated intention to return (even if your long-term plan is migration — the Genuine Student assessment looks at your intentions at the time of application).
• Showing career relevance. How will this Australian qualification advance your career? What specific roles or industries are you targeting?
• Using a reputable education agent. Agents registered with your chosen institution understand the Genuine Student requirements and can help you present your case effectively.
• Avoiding "visa shopping" patterns. Multiple refused visas, previous visa breaches, or applications for courses unrelated to your background raise red flags.

Cost

Visa application fee: AUD 2,500. Tuition varies significantly by course, level and institution — check the specific provider's published fees before budgeting. Home Affairs' living-costs benchmark is AUD 29,710 a year, and OSHC is charged annually and priced by the insurer. This is a significant investment, which is why course selection matters so much.

Work Rights

48 hours per fortnight during term (condition 8105). Unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Part-time earnings can help with living costs but are unlikely to cover tuition on their own.

Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

The bridge between study and long-term migration.

Post-Vocational Education Work Stream

For graduates whose qualification relates to an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Duration: 18 months. Requires a skills assessment.

Post-Higher Education Work Stream

For graduates of a bachelor's degree or higher from an Australian institution (at least 2 years of study). Duration:

• Bachelor's degree: 2 years
• Master's by coursework: 2 years
• Master's by research: 3 years
• Doctorate: 3 years

No skills assessment required for this stream. No occupation list restrictions.

Work rights: Unlimited. You can work full-time for any employer in any occupation.

Cost

AUD 5,750 for the primary applicant, current as at 1 July 2026. Dependants cost AUD 2,875 each for applicants aged 18 or over and AUD 1,450 per child under 18.

Application Deadline

You must apply within 6 months of completing your course (receiving your completion letter). Do not miss this deadline — there's no extension.

Using the 485 Strategically

The 485 is your window to build the profile needed for permanent residency:

• Gain Australian work experience in your field (adds points for 189/190)
• Improve your English score — aim for IELTS 8.0, or from 7 August 2025 PTE 69/70/85/88, for maximum points (20 points)
• Get a skills assessment for your occupation
• Find an employer willing to sponsor you on a 482
• Build professional networks that can provide references and opportunities

Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)

Available but limited for Vietnamese citizens.

Requirements

• Aged 18-30
• Completed at least two years of tertiary study
• Functional English (IELTS 4.5 overall)
• A pre-application ballot for your first 462: Vietnam is one of three countries (with China and India) that must be randomly selected in an annual ballot (AUD 25 registration fee) before lodging — it is not a government letter requirement
• Annual cap applies — places may fill up

Cost

AUD 840 for a first visa (≈VND 13.8 million); AUD 1,000 for a second or third, plus the AUD 25 ballot fee for the first.

Practical Considerations

The 462 is harder to access for Vietnamese citizens than the student visa because of the ballot requirement and the annual cap. It's also a shorter-term option — 12 months initially, extendable with regional work.

However, it's useful if:

• You want to experience Australia before committing to expensive study
• You're considering a career change and want to test the Australian job market
• You don't meet the financial requirements for a student visa

Employer Sponsorship (Subclass 482)

For Vietnamese professionals with a job offer from an Australian employer. Since December 2024 the 482 has been the Skills in Demand visa, with three streams: Specialist Skills, Core Skills, and Labour Agreement.

Requirements

• Occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
• Minimum salary meeting the Core Skills Income Threshold (AUD 79,423 from 1 July 2026, indexed each 1 July) or market rate
• Skills assessment (sometimes required)
• English proficiency (IELTS 5.0 overall, 5.0 in each band)

Common Occupations for Vietnamese Applicants

Software engineers, IT professionals, accountants, chefs, cooks, automotive mechanics, electricians, and nurses are frequently sponsored. Check current occupation lists for your specific role.

Pathway to PR

The Core Skills stream leads to PR through the subclass 186 after 2 years with the sponsor. Check your occupation is on the relevant occupation list if you want this pathway.

Points-Tested Skilled Visas (189/190/491)

Direct skilled migration for qualified professionals.

Points Calculation for Vietnamese Applicants

Typical points profile for a 28-year-old Vietnamese applicant with a master's degree, 5 years' experience, and competent English:

• Age (25-32): 30 points
• English (competent, IELTS 6.0): 0 points
• Qualification (master's): 15 points
• Overseas experience (5 years): 10 points
• Total: 55 points — below the 65 minimum

To reach competitive scores, Vietnamese applicants typically need:

• Superior English (IELTS 8.0, or from 7 August 2025 PTE 69 listening / 70 reading / 85 writing / 88 speaking): +20 points
• Australian study requirement (2 years): +5 points
• Australian work experience: +5-15 points
• State nomination (190): +5 points
• Regional nomination (491): +15 points

This is why the student pathway is so important — it adds Australian qualifications, work experience, and English improvement that dramatically increase your points score.

Document Authentication for Vietnamese Applicants

Translation: All Vietnamese documents must be translated into English by a NAATI-certified translator (in Australia) or a sworn/official translator recognised by the Australian Embassy in Hanoi or HCMC.

Police clearance: Obtain from the Vietnamese police authority. Known as "Lý lịch tư pháp" — apply through the Ministry of Justice or local Justice Department. Processing: 10-20 business days.

Academic documents: Certified copies of degrees, transcripts, and graduation certificates. Some institutions require documents authenticated by Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (consular legalisation).

Medical examination: Must be done by a panel physician approved by the Department of Home Affairs. Panel physicians are available in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Cost: approximately VND 3-5 million.

Choosing Your Pathway

Recent graduate in Vietnam wanting to study: Student visa (500) → 485 → skilled or sponsored pathway. The most reliable long-term route.

Experienced professional in Vietnam: Direct 482 employer sponsorship if you have a job offer, or 189/190 if you have high English and an in-demand occupation.

Young and flexible (18-30): Consider the 462 Working Holiday to test the waters, especially if you're selected in the pre-application ballot and can secure a place before the cap fills.

In a relationship with an Australian: Partner visa (820/801). Can be combined with student or work visa in the meantime.

Next Steps

Read the overview guide for the broader picture.

If you're planning the student route, start researching courses that align with skilled occupation lists. Our guide on the student to 485 pathway covers the transition in detail.

For settling-in advice, see our Vietnam settling guide.

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Related Resources

• Vietnam to Australia: Complete 2026 Guide
• Settling in Australia from Vietnam
• Student Visa to 485 Graduate Pathway
• Student Visa Expiring? Your Options
• Change Course on Student Visa
• Best OSHC for International Students
• 482 to PR Pathway
• First Week in Australia Checklist

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What English score do I need for an Australian student visa?

For tests taken from 7 August 2025, the visa itself needs IELTS 6.0 overall, or 5.5 overall with at least 10 weeks of packaged ELICOS, or 5.0 overall with at least 20 weeks. Your institution can set a higher entry bar for the course itself. PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT equivalents are also accepted.

How long is the 485 post-study work visa?

The duration depends on your qualification: 2 years for a bachelor's degree or a master's by coursework, and 3 years for a master's by research or doctorate (up to 5 years for Hong Kong or BN(O) passport holders).

Can I bring my family on a student visa?

Yes. You can include your spouse/de facto partner and dependent children in your student visa application. Your partner gets work rights (48 hours per fortnight). Children can attend Australian schools. However, adding dependents increases the financial requirement significantly.

Is it better to study at a university or TAFE?

Both can lead to migration outcomes. Universities offer bachelor's and master's degrees that give longer 485 work rights. TAFEs offer trade and vocational qualifications that can lead to trade assessments and 482 sponsorship. Choose based on your career goal and the relevant skilled occupation list.