Study in Australia: Genuine Student Rule and Work Limits

By Sumit Manwal, Founder, Hospitality Vacancy | Updated: 11 November 2026

In short: To study in Australia, Indian students need a CoE, OSHC, funds covering AUD 29,710 living costs plus first-year fees and travel, and short evidence-backed answers to the Genuine Student questions. Students can work up to 48 hours a fortnight in term. The visa fee rose to AUD 2,500 on 1 July 2026.

If you plan to study in Australia, the two rules that decide most outcomes for Indian students are the Genuine Student (GS) requirement and the student visa work conditions. GS replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement in March 2024, and visa fees, family rules and onshore rules have all changed again in 2026. Many students still prepare using outdated advice from friends or agents, and that is where refusals start.

This guide explains how the GS test works, how many hours you can legally work, how much money you must show, and what changed this year, using the Department of Home Affairs and Study Australia as sources. It is written for students applying from India and for Indian families in the Gulf whose children plan to study in Australia.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Visa rules change often. Always check the Department of Home Affairs before applying, and use only registered migration agents or your university's international office for advice.

Study in Australia: the student visa in brief

Item	Position as of November 2026	Source
Visa	Student visa (subclass 500), applied for online through ImmiAccount	Home Affairs
Enrolment	Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a registered provider, valid at decision time	Study Australia
Main assessment	Genuine Student requirement, for applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024	Home Affairs
Living-cost funds	AUD 29,710 a year for the student, plus first-year fees and travel	Financial capacity instrument (LIN 19/198)
Visa application charge	AUD 2,500 for most primary applicants from 1 July 2026 (up from AUD 2,000)	Study Australia
Work in term	Up to 48 hours a fortnight; unlimited in scheduled course breaks	Study Australia
Health cover	Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) unless exempt	Study Australia

What the Genuine Student requirement means

Under the GS requirement, every applicant must show they are a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student and that studying in Australia is the main reason for applying. According to the Home Affairs Genuine Student page, wanting to apply for permanent residence later does not count against you. That is a real change from the old GTE test, which focused on whether you would leave.

How you answer the GS questions

Instead of a long personal statement, the online form asks short questions, with a limit of 150 words per answer, in English. You are asked to explain:

your current circumstances, including family, community, employment and economic ties;
why you chose this course and this provider in Australia, and what you understand about the course and living in Australia;
how the course will benefit you;
any other relevant information, plus an extra question if you have held a student visa before or are applying from another visa in Australia.

Home Affairs says it gives more weight to statements backed by evidence. So every claim should point to a document: transcripts, employment letters, salary slips, bank statements or a job offer you could take after graduating.

What officers look at

Study history: whether the course fits your past education. A commerce graduate choosing a cookery diploma needs a clear career reason.
Gaps: study gaps of more than two months in an academic year and course changes in Australia must be explained.
Home-country reasons: why you are not studying a similar course in India.
Value of the course: expected jobs and salaries after the course, in India or elsewhere.
Immigration history: previous visas, refusals or cancellations for Australia or other countries. Always declare them.

Money: how much you must show

The financial capacity instrument sets the living-cost figure at AUD 29,710 a year for the main student, in force since 10 May 2024. You must also cover the first 12 months of course fees (less any amount already paid) and travel costs. Partners and children have their own amounts if they are allowed in the application. Instead of savings, you may be able to show a parent's or partner's annual income above a threshold set by Home Affairs.

Whether you must upload financial documents depends on your country and your provider, but prepare them anyway. Funds should be genuinely available, with a clear source. Large unexplained deposits shortly before applying raise questions. Families in the Gulf who move money across borders should compare exchange-rate margins as well as fees; our money transfer comparison for Indian families shows how to work out the real cost.

Part-time work rules while you study

A student visa lets you work, but with limits. According to Study Australia's student visa guide:

you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, including exam periods;
you can work unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks and after you finish the course on your CoE while your visa is still valid;
master's by research and doctoral students can work unlimited hours once the course starts;
you cannot work before your course starts unless another visa allowed it.

The limit is per fortnight, not per week, so plan rosters carefully. Hospitality is one of the most common student job sectors, from cafés to hotel banqueting, and shift patterns can push you over the cap without you noticing. Keep your own record of hours. International students have the same workplace rights as other workers in Australia, including minimum wages, so be wary of cash jobs paid below award rates.

What changed in 2026

Higher fee: the student visa application charge rose from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500 on 1 July 2026, with concessions for ASEAN and Pacific passport holders and independent ELICOS or non-award courses.
Family members: since 2 October 2026, you can only include a partner or children in a student visa application if an exemption applies (for example PhD students, DFAT- or Defence-sponsored students, foreign government scholarship holders and some Pacific or ASEAN students), and family members cannot be added after the visa is granted.
Where you apply from: if you are outside Australia you can apply as normal. If you are in Australia, including on another student visa, you can only apply onshore if you hold an eligible visa and meet an exemption.
Graduate visa cost: the Temporary Graduate visa charge also increased on 1 July 2026, so budget for it if you plan to stay on after studying.

Step-by-step plan for Indian students

Shortlist courses that fit your background. Compare course content and job outcomes, not just fees.
Take an accepted English test. Check both your university's requirement and the visa requirement for your test. Our guide to PTE vs IELTS vs TOEFL helps you choose.
Accept your offer and get a CoE. Pay only to the provider's official account and keep receipts.
Buy OSHC for the full visa period unless you are exempt.
Prepare GS evidence. Write each 150-word answer in your own words, then attach documents for every claim.
Prepare financial documents covering AUD 29,710 living costs, first-year fees and travel.
Lodge in ImmiAccount and allow enough time; do not book non-refundable flights before a decision.
After arrival, check your conditions in VEVO, give your provider your address within seven days, and keep attendance and progress on track.

Mistakes that lead to refusals

Copying a GS answer from the internet or an agent template. Officers see the same wording repeatedly.
Choosing a course with no link to your past study or work and no explanation.
Hiding a previous refusal from another country.
Showing funds borrowed for a few days to pass the check.
Planning your budget around full-time work. The 48-hour fortnightly cap is enforced.

If you are comparing destinations, read our guides to studying in the UK and studying in Canada before you decide.

FAQ

Is GTE still required to study in Australia?

No. Applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024 are assessed under the Genuine Student requirement. GTE applies only to applications lodged before that date.

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. Research master's and PhD students have no limit once their course starts.

How much bank balance do I need for an Australian student visa?

Enough to cover AUD 29,710 in annual living costs, your first year of course fees and travel. Other forms of evidence, such as qualifying parental income, may be accepted.

What is the student visa fee in 2026?

AUD 2,500 for most primary applicants from 1 July 2026, with lower amounts for some ASEAN and Pacific passport holders and for independent ELICOS or non-award courses.

Can I bring my spouse on a student visa?

Since 2 October 2026, family members can only be included if an exemption applies, such as for PhD students or certain sponsored and scholarship students, and they cannot be added after grant. Check your eligibility with Home Affairs before planning.

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