Short answer
To study in Australia from Pakistan you need a Student visa (subclass 500). As of 18 September 2026, you first need a Confirmation of Enrolment in a full-time CRICOS course, then you apply online in ImmiAccount and pay a base charge of AUD 2,500. You must show you are a genuine student, have enough money (AUD 29,710 a year for living costs alone), meet the English rules, hold OSHC and pass health and character checks.
Can Pakistani students apply for an Australian Student visa in 2026?
Yes. Pakistani citizens can apply for the Student visa (subclass 500) from Pakistan, and many do every year. There is one Student visa for all course types: university degrees, vocational courses, English language courses, school study and postgraduate research.
What the visa lets you do
As of 18 September 2026, the Department of Home Affairs says the visa lets you take part in an eligible course, travel in and out of Australia, and work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session. The length of stay follows your enrolment. Study Australia, the government’s student website, describes it as the duration of your course, and Home Affairs lists a maximum of up to six years.
Who decides what
Two separate systems are involved, and families often mix them up. The education provider decides whether to admit you and issues the CoE. The Department of Home Affairs decides the visa. A university offer does not mean a visa, and a strong visa file cannot rescue an enrolment that is not valid.
If you are still choosing between countries, the guide comparing study destinations sets Australia beside the UK, Canada and others. The UK study guide and the Canada study guide cover those routes in the same detail.
What are CRICOS courses and the CoE, and why do they matter?
CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. Home Affairs says you must be enrolled in a full-time course registered on CRICOS. The Confirmation of Enrolment, or CoE, is the electronic document your provider issues to show that enrolment.
No CoE, no valid application
As of 18 September 2026, Home Affairs says you must provide a CoE for all intended courses when you apply, and an application without one is invalid and cannot be processed. The CoE must also still be valid when the decision is made. A cancelled CoE means no visa.
Packaged courses
Many Pakistani students start with an English course or a foundation year and then move into a degree. You can package two or more courses on one visa where one clearly leads to the next. Home Affairs says the gap between courses must be less than two calendar months, unless the first course ends at the end of the academic year and the next starts at the beginning of the following one. You need a CoE for each course, and the last course is treated as your main course.
The Pakistani paperwork behind the offer
- University degrees. Providers often ask for transcripts and degrees attested by the Higher Education Commission, so start HEC attestation early.
- School certificates. For Matric and Intermediate or their equivalents, many providers accept IBCC attested copies, and O and A Level students may need an IBCC equivalence certificate.
- Gaps and changes. Keep experience letters and records that explain any study gap, because the same facts matter for the Genuine Student assessment.
Each provider sets its own document list, so follow the offer letter rather than a general checklist.
How much does an Australian Student visa cost in 2026?
As of 18 September 2026, the Home Affairs pricing data lists a base charge of AUD 2,500 for the main applicant. Study Australia confirms that from 1 July 2026 Student visa fees start from AUD 2,500. Family members who apply with you pay their own charge.
| Charge | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main applicant | AUD 2,500 | Base charge, set by the date you lodge |
| Family member aged 18 or over | AUD 1,530 | Usually a partner |
| Family member under 18 | AUD 500 | For each dependent child |
| Subsequent temporary application charge | AUD 700 | Can apply to a further visa lodged in Australia |
| Health checks, police certificates, biometrics | Extra | Paid to the clinic or service provider |
The rest of the budget
The visa charge is small next to tuition, OSHC, flights and rent. Tuition varies by provider, level and city, and Study Australia points students to each provider’s published fees. A reduced visa charge exists for some ASEAN and Pacific citizens and for some English and non-award courses, but it does not apply to a Pakistani degree student.
I would not convert these figures into rupees for planning purposes months in advance. The exchange rate moves, and a family that plans on last year’s rate often finds a gap in the bank statement at the worst moment. Work in Australian dollars and check the rate on the day you transfer money.
How much money do you need to show for an Australian Student visa?
You must have enough money for your travel, your first 12 months of tuition, and 12 months of living costs for you and any family who come with you. As of 18 September 2026, Home Affairs sets the living cost figure for a student at AUD 29,710 a year.
| Item | Amount for the visa |
|---|---|
| Living costs, student | AUD 29,710 for 12 months |
| Living costs, partner coming with you | AUD 10,394 for 12 months |
| Living costs, child coming with you | AUD 4,449 for 12 months |
| School costs, each school-age child | At least AUD 13,502 a year |
| Travel, applying from outside Australia (not Africa) | AUD 2,000 |
| Tuition | First 12 months of fees, less amounts already paid |
| Alternative: annual income of parents or partner | At least AUD 87,856, or AUD 102,500 with family |
A simple calculation
Suppose a single student’s course costs AUD 36,000 a year and they have paid AUD 10,000 as a deposit. The minimum is AUD 26,000 in remaining first-year tuition, plus AUD 29,710 living costs, plus AUD 2,000 travel, which comes to AUD 57,710. Home Affairs is clear that this is the minimum for the visa, and actual living costs may be much higher.
What counts as evidence
Home Affairs lists deposits with a financial institution, government loans or loans from a financial institution, and scholarships. The income alternative must be shown with official government documents, such as tax assessments less than 12 months old. Home Affairs says it will not accept bank statements or direct evidence from an employer for the income route. In Pakistan, that points to FBR records rather than a salary slip.
Making Pakistani bank evidence believable
- Show where the money came from: salary, business income, sale of property or agricultural income, with papers.
- Avoid large unexplained deposits just before you apply, and explain any that exist.
- Where a parent or relative sponsors you, include their relationship to you and their own income evidence.
- A bank letter confirming the account holder, balance and account age helps a caseworker check the statement.
Which English test scores does Australia accept for a Student visa?
Home Affairs approves a list of English tests and sets minimum overall scores. The Document Checklist Tool tells you whether you must attach a result when you apply, but Home Affairs can ask for it at any time during processing.
| Test | Standard minimum | With 10+ weeks ELICOS or foundation | With 20+ weeks ELICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 39 | 31 |
| TOEFL iBT | 67 | 51 | 37 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 61 | 54 | 46 |
| C1 Advanced | 161 | Not accepted | Not accepted |
Rules that catch people out
- Home Affairs does not accept tests delivered entirely online or at home, and names IELTS Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition among them.
- From 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT takers must select the option for taking the test for Australia when registering.
- If you are Regular Evidence level, the test must be taken within the two years before you lodge the visa application.
- The visa minimum is not the admission minimum. Many universities ask for more, and your provider sets that.
A letter saying your degree was taught in English does not, on its own, meet the visa rule for a Pakistani student. The exemptions Home Affairs lists include study of at least five years in English in a small set of countries, which does not include Pakistan.
What is the Genuine Student requirement and how do you answer it?
Every applicant must be a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student, and must understand that study is the primary reason for the visa. The Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant test for applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.
The questions in the form
As of 18 September 2026, Home Affairs says the online form asks you to cover four points, each with a 150 word limit, in English:
- your current circumstances, including ties to family, community, employment and your economic situation;
- why you want this course in Australia with this provider, and your understanding of the course and of living in Australia;
- how completing the course will benefit you;
- any other relevant information.
There is an extra question if you have held a Student visa before. Home Affairs prefers answers in the form rather than a separate statement, and gives more weight to statements supported by evidence.
What the caseworker looks at
- your reasons for not studying a similar course in Pakistan, if one is available;
- whether the course fits your previous study and work;
- how much research you have done on the course, the provider and living costs;
- expected salary or benefits after the course;
- your visa history for Australia and other countries, including refusals.
Home Affairs also says the GS requirement recognises that genuine students may later choose to apply for permanent residence, and that this kind of future intention does not count against you. What counts against you is a story that does not fit: an accountant with eight years of experience enrolling in a diploma in an unrelated field, with no reason given.
What is the Simplified Student Visa Framework and your evidence level?
The Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) is the system Home Affairs uses to decide how much evidence each applicant must attach. Under SSVF, a combined evidence level is worked out from your country of citizenship and your education provider.
How it affects a Pakistani applicant
The practical tool is the Document Checklist Tool on the Home Affairs website. You enter your passport country and your provider, and it tells you whether you must attach evidence of funds and English with the application. Home Affairs says the tool is routinely updated on 31 March and 30 September each year, so run it again just before you lodge.
Two cautions matter. First, the tool tells you what to attach, not whether you will be granted a visa, so treat any claim that a provider makes approval easy with suspicion. Second, even if the tool says you need not attach financial evidence, Home Affairs says it may still ask for it. I tell every family to prepare the full financial file anyway.
What are OSHC and the health checks for Pakistani students?
You and any family members must hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) from an approved Australian insurer for your whole stay, and most Pakistani applicants will need health examinations.
Overseas Student Health Cover
As of 18 September 2026, Home Affairs says your cover must start on the day you arrive in Australia, not the day your course starts, and that you may be refused entry if you cannot prove you have health insurance on arrival. If you arrange OSHC yourself, you need the policy number for the visa form. Study Australia names the OSHC insurers as ahm, Allianz Care Australia, Bupa, CBHS International Health, Medibank and nib.
Basic OSHC usually covers GP visits, some hospital treatment, ambulance and limited medicines. It does not cover dental, optical or physiotherapy. If your partner or children come, consider a family policy, because each of them must be insured.
Health examinations
Pakistan is not on the Home Affairs list of countries with a low risk of tuberculosis. For a temporary stay of six months or more, Home Affairs says applicants from higher risk countries generally need a medical examination, a chest x-ray from age 11, and a serum creatinine test from age 15. Students training to be doctors, nurses or other health workers may need further tests.
The tests are done at a panel clinic approved by Home Affairs. You can have them before you apply, which can save time later. Keep the reference your clinic gives you.
Students under 18
If you will be under 18 in Australia, you must have adequate welfare arrangements in place, such as living with a parent or an approved relative, or care arranged by your school.
Is there a cap on international students, and how long does processing take?
There is no hard cap on visas, but there is a planning level that affects how fast applications are processed. The National Planning Level for 2026 is 295,000 new international students, and Study Australia reported on 15 July 2026 that it stays at 295,000 for 2027.
How the planning level works
Each provider receives an allocation of new overseas student commencements. Study Australia says the National Planning Level is not a cap or a limit on student numbers, and that any genuine student who meets the requirements can still apply and be granted a visa. What changes is the queue.
Offshore applications lodged on or after 14 November 2025 are processed under Ministerial Direction 115. Home Affairs gives Priority 2 to applications linked to providers that have reached 80 per cent of their allocation, and Priority 3 to providers that have gone 15 per cent over it. Your priority depends on the provider of your main CoE on the day you lodge. University students can check the provider’s status on the Visa Prioritisation Status page.
Processing times
As of 18 September 2026, Home Affairs says it aims to start processing Priority 1 applications within 1 to 4 weeks of lodgement, Priority 2 within 5 to 8 weeks and Priority 3 within 9 to 12 weeks. That is when work starts, not when a decision arrives. Incomplete files, identity checks, health and character checks all add time.
Home Affairs says the priority level does not affect whether the visa is granted or refused. It only affects speed. For a February intake, a student with a provider near its allocation should lodge as early as the CoE allows.
How many hours can you work, and can your family come with you?
You can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, and your partner and children can come with you if you show extra funds for them.
The work condition
Study Australia says the 48 hour limit applies during terms and exams, and before your course starts. You can work unlimited hours in scheduled course breaks. Students in a master’s by research or a doctorate have no limit once the course has started. Failing to follow the condition can lead to cancellation of the visa.
Home Affairs also warns that you should not rely on work to support yourself or your family. Part-time wages help with day-to-day costs, but they are not a funding plan for tuition. Other conditions include keeping your enrolment, attendance and progress, keeping OSHC, and telling your provider your address within 7 days of arriving.
Changing course
Condition 8202 requires you to stay enrolled at the same or a higher qualification level. Moving to a lower level course needs a new Student visa first. Since 31 March 2026, Australian providers may not pay agents commission for most onshore transfers, which removes one reason agents pushed students to switch.
Bringing your family
Your partner and dependent children under 18 can come as family members. Home Affairs says you must declare them in your application even if they are not travelling with you, or they cannot join you later. They can apply with you or later as subsequent entrants, and they must meet the health and character requirements and hold OSHC. A family application raises the funds needed and adds to the Genuine Student questions, so plan it as one file.
After the course
Some graduates may qualify for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after finishing an eligible qualification. The rules are separate and can change, so check the current Home Affairs criteria before relying on it.
Why are Australian Student visas refused?
Most refusals I see come down to four things: doubts about the Genuine Student requirement, weak or unexplained funds, false or inconsistent documents, and a poor visa history. Each is avoidable with honest preparation.
The common grounds
- Genuine Student concerns. The course does not fit your background, the answers are generic, or you cannot explain why Australia and why this provider.
- Financial capacity. Home Affairs says that if the checklist requires financial evidence and you do not attach it, it may refuse without asking for more.
- Missing information. Missing OSHC details can lead to refusal, and so can an incomplete application where an English test or health examination is not done in time.
- Identity and honesty. Home Affairs warns that if you cannot prove your identity, it may refuse the application and not grant you or listed family another visa for 10 years.
- History. Earlier refusals or cancellations for Australia or other countries are considered. Declare them, and explain what has changed.
If you have already been refused, read the decision letter before you do anything else. The guide on student visa refusals explains how to work out what went wrong and what a new application needs.
How do you check an education agent before you pay?
Most Pakistani students use an education agent, and many agents are honest. The ones to avoid are those who promise results, invent documents or steer you towards a provider because of their commission.
Education agent or migration agent?
An education agent helps with admissions and is usually paid a commission by the provider. Visa help is different. As of 18 September 2026, Home Affairs says that if you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance, they must be a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner or an exempt person. You can check a migration agent on the official register kept by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Australia’s rules on agents and commissions
Australian providers must take responsibility for the agents who recruit for them under the National Code, the rules made under the Education Services for Overseas Students framework. Since 31 March 2026, providers have been banned from paying agents commission for onshore transfers, according to Study Australia. Commission for your first enrolment is still allowed, so it is fair to ask an agent which providers pay them.
Warning signs
- A promised visa, or a “100 per cent success” claim.
- Offers to arrange bank balances, experience letters or sponsors.
- Pressure to choose a provider you have never heard of, with no reason given.
- Refusal to let you see your own ImmiAccount or copies of what was lodged.
- Cash with no receipt, or fees far above what the work involves.
Ask the provider directly whether the agent is authorised to represent it. The guide to checking a visa consultant in Pakistan covers the Pakistani side of the checks, and the how it works page explains what a consultation with me covers.
How do you apply, step by step?
The order below works for most Pakistani degree students. Start the money and document work early, because the CoE, the funds and the Genuine Student answers must all tell the same story.
Choose a CRICOS course and a provider you have checked
Pick a full-time course that is registered on CRICOS, the official register of institutions and courses for overseas students. Check the provider’s entry and English requirements, the tuition fee and, for university study, its current visa prioritisation status.
Apply for admission and accept the offer
Send attested transcripts and degrees, your IBCC equivalence where needed, your English test result and a passport copy. Read the written agreement and refund policy before you accept, then pay the deposit the provider asks for.
Receive your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
The provider issues a CoE once you have accepted and paid what it requires. Check your name, course, dates and CRICOS code. A Student visa application lodged without a CoE is invalid.
Prepare funds, OSHC and health checks
Work out the funds you need using the Home Affairs figures, and gather bank, loan, scholarship or income evidence. Buy Overseas Student Health Cover starting from your arrival date, and book a health examination with a panel clinic if you need one.
Write your Genuine Student answers
Answer the Genuine Student questions in the online form, in English, within 150 words each. Explain your ties in Pakistan, why this course and provider, and how the course helps your future, and attach documents that back up each point.
Lodge in ImmiAccount and pay the charge
Run the Document Checklist Tool with your passport country and provider, then lodge the Student visa (subclass 500) application in ImmiAccount. Pay the visa application charge and give biometrics if asked.
Check the grant, then plan travel
Read the grant letter and visa conditions in VEVO. Book flights only after the grant, make sure your OSHC starts on the day you land, and give your provider your Australian address within 7 days of arriving.
What goes wrong most often?
Choosing the provider for the agent, not the student
A student is steered to a provider because it pays well or has space, without checking the course, the location or its processing priority. The result can be a slower queue and a course that is hard to justify in the Genuine Student answers.
Parking money in an account just before lodging
A relative moves a large sum into the student’s account a week before the application. With no explanation of its source, the deposit raises questions instead of answering them.
Copying a Genuine Student statement
Template answers that read like everyone else’s give the caseworker nothing about you. Short, specific answers backed by documents carry more weight.
Taking an at-home English test
IELTS Online and other at-home versions are not accepted for the visa. Students who sit one have to test again, which can mean missing the intake.
OSHC dates that start with the course
Home Affairs wants cover from the day you land. A policy that starts on the course date, while you fly two weeks earlier, leaves a gap that can cause problems at the border.
A realistic example
This is a hypothetical illustration, not a real client. Hamza, 23, from Faisalabad, has a BS in Computer Science from a Pakistani university and 18 months of work at a software house. He wants a Master of Information Technology in Adelaide starting in February 2027.
- July. He shortlists three CRICOS-registered master’s courses, checks each university’s priority status, and gets his degree and transcripts attested by HEC.
- August. He sits IELTS Academic at a test centre, not online, and scores 6.5 overall.
- September. He accepts an offer with first-year fees of AUD 38,000 and pays AUD 12,000. His minimum funds are AUD 26,000 tuition, AUD 29,710 living costs and AUD 2,000 travel, AUD 57,710 in total.
- October. His father’s savings, held for years and backed by FBR returns and property sale papers, cover the amount. He has his medical, chest x-ray and blood test at a panel clinic.
- November. With his CoE and OSHC policy number, he writes four short Genuine Student answers linking his software work to the course and a named job path back in Pakistan, and lodges.
Nothing in his file is unusual. It is simply consistent: the course follows his degree, the money has a history, and his answers match his documents.
The version that goes wrong
Now imagine his friend Bilawal, from Sialkot. An agent enrols him in a diploma in an unrelated field because the college “has space”, tells him a relative’s large deposit last week is fine, and writes a GS statement copied from another student. Bilawal takes IELTS Online to save time. Each problem alone could be explained. Together they make a refusal likely, and the refusal will follow him to his next application.
Key takeaways
- You need a CoE in a full-time CRICOS course before you can lodge a valid Student visa (subclass 500) application.
- As of 18 September 2026, the base visa charge is AUD 2,500, plus AUD 1,530 for an adult family member and AUD 500 for a child.
- Home Affairs sets living costs at AUD 29,710 a year for a student, on top of first-year tuition and AUD 2,000 travel.
- IELTS 6.0, PTE 47 or TOEFL iBT 67 are the standard minimums for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, and at-home tests are not accepted.
- The Genuine Student answers must be specific, in English, within 150 words each, and backed by documents.
- OSHC must start on the day you land, and most Pakistani students need a medical, chest x-ray and blood test.
- The 2026 National Planning Level of 295,000 affects processing speed, not whether a genuine student can be granted a visa.
- Check any agent carefully, and remember that visa help must come from a registered migration agent, a lawyer or an exempt person.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Australian Student visa fee for Pakistanis in 2026?
As of 18 September 2026, the Department of Home Affairs lists a base charge of AUD 2,500 for the main applicant. A family member aged 18 or over adds AUD 1,530, and a child under 18 adds AUD 500. Health checks, police certificates and biometrics cost extra, and the charge is based on the day you lodge.
How much bank balance do I need for an Australian Student visa from Pakistan?
There is no single figure, because it depends on your course fee. Home Affairs asks for 12 months of living costs (AUD 29,710 for a student as of 18 September 2026), the first 12 months of tuition fees less anything already paid, and a travel allowance of AUD 2,000 for applicants outside Australia. Family members and school fees add more.
Is IELTS 6.0 enough for an Australian Student visa?
For the visa, an IELTS Academic or General Training overall score of 6.0 meets the standard minimum for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. It can be 5.5 with at least 10 weeks of English study or a foundation programme, and 5.0 with at least 20 weeks of English study. Your university may still ask for a higher score.
Does Australia accept PTE, TOEFL or online English tests for a Student visa?
PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT are approved, along with IELTS and several others. The PTE standard minimum is 47 and TOEFL iBT is 67 for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Home Affairs does not accept tests delivered entirely at home, such as IELTS Online, and TOEFL takers must select the Australia option when registering.
Can I apply for the Student visa before I receive my CoE?
No, not as an ordinary student. Home Affairs says you must provide a Confirmation of Enrolment for all intended courses when you apply, and an application lodged without one is invalid. The narrow exceptions are for government sponsored students, secondary exchange students and some postgraduate research students.
How long does an Australian Student visa take from Pakistan?
It varies. Offshore applications lodged on or after 14 November 2025 are handled under Ministerial Direction 115. Home Affairs says it aims to start processing Priority 1 cases within 1 to 4 weeks, Priority 2 within 5 to 8 weeks and Priority 3 within 9 to 12 weeks, and a decision can take longer. Check the official processing time tool before you lodge.
How many hours can I work on an Australian Student visa?
Up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Students in a master’s by research or a doctorate have no limit once the course starts. Home Affairs says you should not rely on work to support yourself, and breaking the work condition can lead to cancellation.
Can I take my wife or husband with me on an Australian Student visa?
Yes. Your partner and dependent children under 18 can be included in your application or apply later as subsequent entrants. You must declare them in your application even if they are not travelling, or they will not be eligible to join you later. You must also show extra funds for each of them.
Do Pakistani students need a medical exam for Australia?
Usually yes. Pakistan is not on the Home Affairs list of countries with a low risk of tuberculosis. For a temporary stay of six months or more, applicants from higher risk countries generally need a medical examination, a chest x-ray from age 11, and a serum creatinine test from age 15, done at an approved panel clinic.
Is there a cap on international students in Australia in 2026?
Not a hard cap. The National Planning Level for 2026 is 295,000 and it stays at 295,000 for 2027, according to Study Australia. The government says it is not a limit on student numbers. It sets processing priority, so applications to providers that have used most of their allocation are processed more slowly.
Can I switch from a visitor visa to a Student visa inside Australia?
No. As of 18 September 2026, Home Affairs lists the Visitor visa (subclass 600) and the Temporary Graduate visa among the visas whose holders cannot apply for a Student visa while in Australia. A Pakistani student should apply from Pakistan, with a CoE, before travelling.
Can Ch. Bilal Rasheed help me study in Australia?
Yes, with general guidance. The first consultation is free, in Lahore, on WhatsApp or by phone. You get general guidance on courses, admissions and the published visa requirements. No one can guarantee a visa. He is a qualified lawyer in Pakistan, and not a registered migration agent with OMARA in Australia.
