Australia remains a strong study option for UAE families — good universities, a large South Asian and Arab community, generous work rights and a clear path from study to skilled migration. But it now has the highest student visa application fee of the major destinations (A$2,500 from 1 July 2026), it limits new international student places, and every applicant must pass the Genuine Student test in writing. This guide explains what UAE residents need, what it costs, and how your passport changes the paperwork.
Checked on 16 October 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs and published fee changes. Sources at the end.
On this page
- The short answer
- The numbers
- Your passport decides, your residence changes the route
- The Genuine Student test
- Money you must show
- Step by step from the UAE
- Work, family and after graduation
- Mistakes to avoid
- Questions people ask
The short answer
| Item | 2026 rule |
|---|---|
| Visa | Student visa (subclass 500) |
| Visa fee | A$2,500 for most applicants from 1 July 2026 (A$2,000 before) |
| Enrolment | Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a registered provider |
| Living costs to show | A$29,710 for 12 months (student), plus tuition and travel |
| Genuine Student test | Written answers on why you chose the course, provider and Australia |
| English | Commonly IELTS 6.0 overall (or equivalent) for degree study; providers may ask more |
| Health insurance | Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole stay |
| Work | Up to 48 hours per fortnight in term, unlimited in breaks |
| After study | Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — fee A$5,750 from 1 July 2026 |
The numbers
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Student visa fee, 2023 | A$710 |
| Student visa fee, July 2024 | A$1,600 |
| Student visa fee, July 2025 | A$2,000 |
| Student visa fee, July 2026 | A$2,500 |
| 485 graduate visa fee from 1 July 2026 | A$5,750 (A$4,600 before) |
| National Planning Level for new international students (2026) | about 295,000 places |
The fee has more than tripled in three years. Combined with the planning level, Australia now prioritises fewer, better-prepared students — which favours well-documented UAE applicants.
Your passport decides, your residence changes the route
Your passport sets your evidence level. Home Affairs combines your country of citizenship with your education provider’s risk rating to decide how much evidence of money and English you must upload:
- Evidence level 1–2: often no financial or English evidence needed up front (but you must still meet the rules).
- Evidence level 3: full financial and English evidence required. India was reported as moved to level 3 in April 2026, along with Nepal and Bhutan.
Use the official Document Checklist Tool with your passport and provider to see exactly what you must upload.
Your UAE residence changes:
- Where you apply: online through ImmiAccount from the UAE; biometrics at the Australia visa application centre if requested.
- Health exams: done with an approved panel clinic in the UAE if requested. See our medical exam guide.
- Genuine Student answers: must explain your circumstances in the UAE and your home country — for example, a student raised in Dubai whose parents are sponsored residents.
The Genuine Student test
Since March 2024, the Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced the older GTE statement. In the application you answer specific questions (each up to about 150 words):
- Your current circumstances — family, community, employment, finances.
- Why you want to study this course with this provider.
- How the course will benefit your future.
- Your immigration history, including previous refusals.
- For school-age or family situations, any other relevant information.
What officers look for: a logical link between your previous studies, the course and your career; knowledge of the course content; and a realistic plan. Generic answers copied from agents are easy to spot.
Money you must show
For a 12-month period you must show:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Living costs (student) | A$29,710 |
| Living costs (partner) | additional amount set by Home Affairs |
| Living costs (each child) | additional amount set by Home Affairs |
| Tuition | First-year fees (minus amounts paid) |
| Travel | Reasonable return airfare |
Example: a single student with A$40,000 tuition, A$10,000 already paid, shows A$30,000 + A$29,710 + about A$2,000 travel = about A$61,700 — roughly AED 150,000.
Alternatively, some applicants can show a parent’s or partner’s annual income above a set threshold instead of savings. See our UAE bank statement guide for documenting UAE funds.
Step by step from the UAE
- Choose a course and provider registered on CRICOS.
- Take an English test at a test centre (at-home tests are not accepted). See our test comparison.
- Accept the offer, pay the deposit and buy OSHC.
- Receive your CoE.
- Check your evidence level in the Document Checklist Tool.
- Create an ImmiAccount and complete the subclass 500 application, including the Genuine Student answers.
- Upload passport, CoE, OSHC, English results, funds and any relationship documents.
- Pay A$2,500.
- Biometrics and health checks if requested.
- Receive your decision by email. The grant letter lists your conditions.
Published estimates for offshore processing range from a few weeks for priority-sector applications to 8–14+ weeks for higher-risk files. Apply at least 3 months before your course starts.
Work, family and after graduation
- Work: up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods; unlimited during scheduled course breaks.
- Family: partners and children can be included, with extra funds and their own fees.
- After graduation: the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — now A$5,750 — gives post-study work rights, after which some graduates move to skilled visas. See our Australia PR guide.
Mistakes to avoid
- Generic Genuine Student answers that could apply to anyone.
- Choosing a lower-level course than your previous qualification without a strong reason.
- Using an at-home English test.
- Forgetting OSHC for the whole visa period.
- Undeclared previous refusals for any country.
Questions people ask
How much is the Australian student visa fee in 2026?
A$2,500 for most applicants who lodge on or after 1 July 2026.
How much money do I need to show?
A$29,710 for 12 months of living costs, plus tuition and travel. Your evidence level decides whether you must upload proof.
What IELTS score do I need?
Often 6.0 overall for degree study, but your university may require more. At-home tests are not accepted.
Can I work while studying in Australia?
Yes, up to 48 hours per fortnight during term and unlimited during breaks.
What is the Genuine Student requirement?
A set of written questions in the application about your circumstances, why you chose the course and provider, and how the course helps your future.
Related guides
- Australia PR from the UAE
- Australia visitor visa from the UAE
- Canada study permit from the UAE
- UK student visa from the UAE
- IELTS vs PTE vs CELPIP in the UAE
- Immigration medical exam in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500): immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Department of Home Affairs — Genuine Student requirement: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Department of Home Affairs — Document Checklist Tool (evidence levels): immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- IDP — Australia student and 485 visa fee changes from 1 July 2026
- AECC Global — Australia student visa 2026 (National Planning Level, evidence levels), September 2026
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 16 October 2026. Rechecked every July (fee indexation) and when Home Affairs changes student visa settings. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.