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Australia student visa guide
Australia student visa proof of funds: AUD 29,710 and what else to show
For a subclass 500 Student visa, you must show financial capacity for 12 months of living costs, currently published as AUD 29,710 for the main applicant, plus your first year of tuition from your Confirmation of Enrolment and your travel costs. The amounts for a partner and children are added on top, and the money must be genuinely available to you.
Check my eligibilityJump to the FAQAt a glance
- Main applicant living costs
- AUD 29,710 a year
- Partner
- AUD 10,394
- Each child
- AUD 4,449
- School-age child costs
- AUD 13,502 a year
- Also show
- First-year tuition and travel
The amounts Home Affairs expects
| Item | Amount (12 months) |
|---|---|
| Main applicant living costs | AUD 29,710 |
| Spouse or de facto partner | AUD 10,394 |
| Each dependent child | AUD 4,449 |
| School costs per school-age child | AUD 13,502 (on top of the child amount) |
| First-year tuition | As on your Confirmation of Enrolment. Fees already paid count |
| Travel costs | Return airfare for you and any accompanying family |
These amounts have applied since 10 May 2024 and are reviewed regularly, so confirm them on the Home Affairs website before you lodge. An alternative route using a parent's or partner's annual income may be available. Check the official thresholds before you rely on it.
Worked example for a single student
Add the three required parts. If your first-year tuition is AUD 40,000, you should plan to show about AUD 40,000 + AUD 29,710 + your airfare, which comes to roughly AUD 70,000 or more. The AUD 29,710 living figure works out to about AUD 2,476 a month, which is a visa floor, not a realistic budget for Sydney or Melbourne.
This is an illustration only. Your tuition and exact funds depend on your course and the date you lodge. Use our Australia cost guide for typical tuition ranges.
The money must be genuinely available
Home Affairs looks at whether funds are genuinely available to you, not just present on the day you apply. A balance that has held steady for a reasonable period is more persuasive than a recent large deposit. Education loans can count if they come from a genuine source and are documented, so see our education loan guide. Informal or temporary loans used to inflate a balance are a common cause of refusal.
Step-by-step: preparing your financial evidence
- Get your Confirmation of Enrolment and note the first-year tuition and any fees paid.
- Add your living-cost amount for yourself and any family members who will join you.
- Choose your evidence: bank statements, a loan sanction letter, a sponsor's documents, or a combination.
- Explain unusual deposits with documents showing where the money came from.
- Write a clear Genuine Student statement that is consistent with your finances. See the subclass 500 guide.
Working while you study and planning beyond
Student visa holders have a limit on work hours during study periods, which is currently 48 hours per fortnight at the time of writing. Confirm the current cap on the official site. Do not count on work to meet the funds requirement. For what comes after your degree, read our 485 visa guide.
Not sure your funds will satisfy Home Affairs?
AbroBot checks your tuition, loan and sponsor documents against the current requirement and flags problems before you lodge.
Get my free eligibility checkAsk the AI counsellorFrequently asked questions
How much money do I need for an Australian student visa in 2026?
Published amounts are AUD 29,710 for the main applicant's living costs, plus first-year tuition from your Confirmation of Enrolment and travel costs.
How much extra do I need for a partner or child?
AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 for each dependent child, plus AUD 13,502 per school-age child for schooling.
Can I use an education loan as proof of funds?
Yes, if it comes from a genuine source and is documented. Informal or temporary loans used to inflate a balance are a refusal risk.
Do funds have to be in my own account?
The money must be genuinely available to you. You can use a parent's or sponsor's funds with proper documents, but check the official rules.
Do these amounts change?
Yes. They are reviewed regularly, so confirm the figures on the Home Affairs website on the day you lodge.
Can I use part-time work to meet the funds requirement?
No. Treat work as extra support, not as proof of funds.
Sources and how we verify
Facts on this page were checked in October 2026 against the official sources below and cross-checked with current university and immigration guidance. Fees, thresholds and deadlines change, so confirm the final figure on the official site before you pay or submit anything.