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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →On 10 May 2024, Australia raised the student visa living-cost amount for a primary applicant from AUD 24,505 to AUD 29,710 for 12 months. The change was a minimum financial-capacity requirement—not a guarantee that the amount would cover a student’s actual expenses. Applicants also need to account for course fees, travel and, where relevant, costs for family members and school-age children.
The figures below explain the 2024 change. They are not confirmation that every amount remains the applicable threshold for every application in 2026: check the Department of Home Affairs’ current guidance and the document checklist for your specific application.
What changed on 10 May 2024?
The Department of Home Affairs increased the listed financial-capacity amounts for Student and Student Guardian visa applicants. It said applications lodged before 10 May 2024 would be assessed under the requirements in effect when lodged. The comparison below reproduces the Department’s 2024 announcement; each figure is in Australian dollars.
| Category | Before 10 May 2024 | From 10 May 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary student applicant, living costs for 12 months | AUD 24,505 | AUD 29,710 — Australian Department of Home Affairs, 2024 |
| Spouse or de facto partner | AUD 8,574 | AUD 10,394 — Australian Department of Home Affairs, 2024 |
| Dependent child | AUD 3,670 | AUD 4,449 — Australian Department of Home Affairs, 2024 |
| Annual school costs, where applicable | AUD 9,661 | AUD 13,502 — Australian Department of Home Affairs, 2024 |
| Personal annual income evidence, without a family member | AUD 72,465 | AUD 87,856 — Australian Department of Home Affairs, 2024 |
| Personal annual income evidence, with a family member | AUD 84,543 | AUD 102,500 — Australian Department of Home Affairs, 2024 |
These are distinct ways the Department described financial capacity: living-cost amounts for the student and relevant family members, school costs where applicable, and annual-income evidence thresholds. The applicable evidence and amounts depend on the application. See the Department’s 10 May 2024 announcement and consult the current application checklist rather than assuming one figure applies to every case.
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Why did Australia raise the requirement?
The Department said the financial-capacity requirement was aligned to 75 per cent of the national minimum wage. It described the change as a way to better represent a reasonable minimum standard of living while studying, taking into account the part of the year students are out of course session. It also said the change was intended to reduce the risk of financial distress, breaches of work limits and vulnerability to worker exploitation. Those are the Department’s stated policy aims, not evidence that the increase by itself prevents those outcomes. The rationale appears in the Department’s announcement.
What costs should a student visa applicant include?
The Department’s current Subclass 500 Student visa guidance says applicants need to account for more than living costs. Relevant costs include:
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- Living costs: The guidance lists 12-month amounts for the student and eligible family members. It also cautions that actual expenses vary by location and can be higher than the visa minimum.
- Travel: Allow for travel costs; the Department’s estimate depends on where the applicant is located.
- Course fees: Include the first 12 months of fees, or the total course fees if the course is shorter.
- School fees: Where an accompanying school-age child is relevant, budget at least AUD 13,502 a year per child under the figures shown on the current guidance page. Actual fees vary by state or territory and school.
For a stay shorter than a year, the Department says to divide the annual cost by 365 and multiply by the number of days the applicant intends to be in Australia. That calculation applies to the costs the guidance identifies; use the live page and application checklist to determine which amounts and documents apply to your circumstances.
What proof of funds may be required?
The Department lists possible evidence such as deposits with a financial institution, loans from a government or financial institution, scholarships and similar financial support. If another person will provide funds, applicants may need to show evidence of their relationship to that person as well as the person’s identity.
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Do not assume evidence can always be provided after submitting an application. The document checklist may require financial evidence at lodgement, and the Department may also request it later. Subsequent entrants must attach evidence of financial capacity. Check the checklist generated for the application and follow its requirements.
The Department’s guidance also warns: “You should not rely on work to support yourself or your family while in Australia.” Treat work income as no substitute for meeting the applicable financial-capacity requirement.
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What if the application is for a Student Guardian visa?
For a Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa, the Department identifies travel, the student’s course fees, living costs for both the guardian and student, and school fees for accompanying children as relevant costs. Its Student Guardian visa guidance describes evidence examples and recommends researching likely living costs in the intended location. Use that visa’s guidance and checklist rather than applying the Student visa requirements without checking.
Are the 2024 figures still current?
The 2024 figures above describe the change announced on 10 May 2024. The Department’s retrieved Subclass 500 page shows the same student, partner, child, school-cost and income values, but a later Department publication in 2025 refers to further increases and a changed methodology. The scope and exact applicable amounts for those later changes are not established here. Therefore, do not treat the 2024 table as a definitive statement of the threshold for every application in 2026. Before lodging, verify the current Department guidance, the checklist for your application and any applicable legislative instrument.
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