To get an Australian Student visa (subclass 500), you must show enough money for your first 12 months. For a single student, the Australian Department of Home Affairs sets the minimum living-cost amount at AUD29,710 (Australian dollars, checked October 17, 2026). That number only covers the visa test. It does not include tuition, and it is not what a year in Sydney or Melbourne will really cost you.
This guide separates the two numbers so you can plan a real budget. It is general information based on official Australian Government pages.
AIA helps with admission applications only and does not give visa advice outside Canada. See our Australia study guide for programs and next steps.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Visa minimum: AUD29,710 for 12 months of living costs for one student, according to Home Affairs (checked October 17, 2026).
- Not the full bill: Home Affairs says actual living costs may be much higher than the visa amount.
- Tuition is extra: the rule covers travel, tuition, living and school costs together, so tuition counts on top of living costs.
- Work is not a funding plan: Home Affairs says you should not rely on work to support yourself.
- Family rules changed: from 2 October 2026, most Student visa applicants cannot include a partner or children.
What does the Australian Student visa money rule require?
You must prove you can pay for your first 12 months in Australia. The Department of Home Affairs says the evidence must cover travel, tuition, living and school costs for you and any accompanying family members, or show qualifying annual income from a spouse, partner or parent who is not traveling with you.
The income option has a set floor. Your parents or partner must have earned at least AUD87,856 in the 12 months before you apply, or AUD102,500 if family members come with you. Home Affairs wants official government documents, such as tax assessments, as proof.
If your course is shorter than 12 months, the amount is cut to the matching share of a year. Always use the official Document Checklist Tool for your passport country and education provider, because the checklist can differ by case. Home Affairs says the tool is routinely updated on 31 March and 30 September, and can change at any time.
Read the full rule on the Australian Department of Home Affairs Student visa (subclass 500) page. Check it again just before you submit anything.
How much money is the visa minimum?
For one student, the living-cost minimum is AUD29,710 for 12 months, according to the Home Affairs Student visa page (checked October 17, 2026). Home Affairs calls living costs the minimum amount of money you need for the visa, not a spending estimate.
Tuition and travel are counted separately from that figure. So your proof of funds is roughly three parts added together: your living-cost amount, your first-year tuition from your Confirmation of Enrolment, and your travel costs.
| Part of your funds proof | What it covers | Where to find the number |
|---|---|---|
| Living costs | 12 months for one student | Study Australia and the Home Affairs checklist |
| Tuition | Your first year at your provider | Your Letter of Offer and Confirmation of Enrolment |
| Travel | Your trip to Australia | Your airfare quote |
| School costs | Only if school-age children are included | Home Affairs checklist |
Home Affairs lists these 12-month amounts:
- Student: AUD29,710
- Partner coming with you: AUD10,394
- Each child coming with you: AUD4,449
- School costs: at least AUD13,502 a year for each school-age child
Since 2 October 2026, most students cannot bring family, so the partner and child amounts only matter if you meet an exemption.
What does study in Australia really cost?
Your real cost depends on three things: your education provider, your level of study and your city. Study Australia says the same in its costs guide, and Home Affairs warns that real living costs vary across Australia and may be much higher than the visa amount.
Tuition for international students is set by each provider, so check your Letter of Offer for the exact figure. Study Australia also notes extra course costs, such as learning materials or safety boots and lab coats for some programs.
Study Australia runs a Cost of Living Calculator that compares housing and transport choices. It says its costs are an approximate guide and were last updated in November 2023, so treat its numbers as a rough starting point and check current rents yourself.
Can you count on work to pay your way?
No. Home Affairs says you should not rely on work to support yourself or your family while in Australia. The visa allows you to work up to 48 hours a fortnight when your course is in session.
Having permission to work is not the same as having a job. Hours, pay and availability vary, so build your budget as if work income may be small or late.
Can your family come with you now?
For most students, no. From 2 October 2026, Home Affairs says new rules change whether family members can be included in a Student visa application, and its eligibility list says you must not bring partners and children unless you are exempt.
Home Affairs lists who may qualify for an exemption. The list includes PhD students, students sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Department of Defence, students on a fully funded foreign government scholarship, and eligible nationals of Pacific Island or ASEAN countries. It also says family members cannot apply later as subsequent entrants.
If this affects your plans, read the Home Affairs changes page before you pay a deposit or book travel.
How do you build a realistic budget?
- Step 1: Write down your first-year tuition from your Letter of Offer.
- Step 2: Add your living-cost proof amount from the Home Affairs checklist for your case.
- Step 3: Add airfare and Overseas Student Health Cover, which the visa requires.
- Step 4: Price housing in your actual city, then compare it with the visa minimum.
- Step 5: Keep a cushion for months when rent or exchange rates rise, and do not count on work income.
If the real number is higher than the visa minimum, that is normal. Plan for the higher number, because funds you can show on paper do not pay your rent.
Want help choosing a program and city that fit your budget?
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Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for an Australian student visa?
For one student, Home Affairs sets the living-cost minimum at AUD29,710 for 12 months (checked October 17, 2026). You must also cover tuition and travel, so your total proof is higher than that figure.
Is the visa amount enough to live on in Australia?
Not necessarily. Home Affairs says actual living costs vary across Australia and may be much higher than the amount needed for the visa.
Can I use my parents’ income instead of savings?
Home Affairs says you can show annual income above a set amount from a spouse, de facto partner or parent who is not traveling with you, instead of funds. The threshold is AUD87,856 in the 12 months before you apply, or AUD102,500 if family comes with you.
Can I work to pay for my tuition?
You may work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session. Home Affairs says you should not rely on work to support yourself, and it does not cover a tuition bill.
Can I bring my spouse and children on a student visa?
Only if an exemption applies. From 2 October 2026, Home Affairs says applicants must not bring partners and children unless exempt, and family members cannot apply later as subsequent entrants.
Amir Ismail, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC #R412319), is the founder of Amir Ismail & Associates, which helps international students plan their studies and admission applications.
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