Student visa (subclass 500)
This is an Australian visa subclass processed by the Department of Home Affairs.
Verified from Department of Home Affairs on 2026-09-07
Processing Time by Stream
| Stream | 25th %ile | 50th %ile | 75th %ile | 90th %ile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector | 1 Day | 3 Days | 8 Days | 15 Days |
| Higher Education Sector | 10 Days | 19 Days | 40 Days | 71 Days |
| Independent ELICOS Sector | 5 Days | 18 Days | 28 Days | 52 Days |
| Non-Award Sector | Less than 1 Day | 1 Day | 14 Days | 25 Days |
| Postgraduate Research Sector | 3 Days | 12 Days | 29 Days | 60 Days |
| Schools Sector | 15 Days | 26 Days | 50 Days | 7 Months |
| Vocational Education and Training Sector | 32 Days | 3 Months | 7 Months | 7 Months |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Student visa (subclass 500) take?
Current processing time for Student visa (subclass 500) is 1 days to 7 months, based on the latest data from Department of Home Affairs.
When was Student visa (subclass 500) processing time data last updated?
The data was last updated on 2026-09-07, sourced from Department of Home Affairs.
What factors affect Student visa (subclass 500) processing time?
Processing times vary based on application volume, case complexity, security checks, and the completeness of submitted documentation. Times shown are estimates and individual cases may differ.
People also ask
- Is Student visa (subclass 500) faster than Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)? →Student visa (subclass 500) runs 1–180 days (p25–p75); Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) runs 30–390 days (p25–p75), with substantial spread across application streams — see each page for the per-stream detail.
- Is Student visa (subclass 500) faster than Skills In Demand visa (482)? →Student visa (subclass 500) runs 1–180 days (p25–p75); Skills In Demand visa (482) runs 3–180 days (p25–p75), with substantial spread across application streams — see each page for the per-stream detail.
- Is Student visa (subclass 500) faster than Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)? →Student visa (subclass 500) runs 1–180 days (p25–p75); Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) runs 1–150 days (p25–p75), varying widely between simpler and more complex applications. Each page lists the per-stream breakdown.
- Is Student visa (subclass 500) faster than Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403)? →Student visa (subclass 500) runs 1–180 days (p25–p75); Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) runs 4–120 days (p25–p75), where processing time depends heavily on stream and case complexity. Each page lists the per-stream table.
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Source: WaitVisa.com — Department of Home Affairs, updated 2026-09-07