Your Australian student visa is expiring but your course is not finished yet. Or you have graduated and enrolled in a new program. Either way, you need to act before your visa runs out.
Here is the first thing to understand: there is no such thing as “extending” a student visa in Australia. You cannot add time to your existing visa. What you actually do is apply for a brand new Subclass 500 Student Visa. The full application process applies again, including the Genuine Student requirement, financial evidence, health cover, and fees.
This matters because students who assume the process is a simple extension often leave things too late, submit incomplete applications, or miss critical new requirements that came into effect in 2025. The result can be a lapse in lawful status, a refused application, or a Bridging Visa A that cannot support travel.
Think Higher Consultants helps international students across Australia navigate the student visa renewal process correctly. Whether your situation is straightforward or involves poor academic records, multiple course changes, or previous visa complications, our MARA-registered migration agent, Aneel Khawaja, reviews every case individually before a single document is submitted.
When Do You Need a New Student Visa?
You need to apply for a new Subclass 500 if any of the following apply:
- Your current visa expires before your course finishes
- You have completed one course and enrolled in a new one at the same or higher AQF level
- Your CoE end date has been extended due to failing a subject, taking a Leave of Absence, or needing extra time for a Higher Degree by Research thesis
- You are a research student awaiting thesis marking after your course completion date
If you are also changing your education provider or moving to a different AQF level, different rules apply. Read our course and provider change guide before lodging anything, as the wrong application type can create serious problems.
How early should you apply? Apply at least 3 months before your current visa expires. This gives you time to gather documents, obtain a new CoE, and handle any requests from the Department without risking a gap in lawful status.
Critical 2025 Update: CoE Is Now Mandatory Upfront
From 1 January 2025, Letters of Offer will no longer be accepted for onshore Student visa applications. Applicants must provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) at the time of submitting their application. Applications lodged without a CoE will be deemed invalid. Invalid applications will not be assessed by decision-makers, and no Bridging Visa will be granted in such cases.
This is one of the most significant changes affecting students renewing their visa in 2025-26. If you lodge without a valid CoE, your application is not just refused. It is treated as if it was never lodged. No Bridging Visa A is granted, meaning you could be unlawfully present in Australia if your current visa expires.
What this means practically:
- Secure your new or extended CoE from your education provider before you open an ImmiAccount
- Do not lodge your application based on a verbal confirmation or provisional enrolment
- If your provider is slow in issuing the CoE, follow up formally in writing and keep records
Genuine Student (GS) Requirement: What You Must Address
The Genuine Student (GS) requirement applies to student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024. The GS requirement is intended to include students who, after studying in Australia, develop skills Australia needs and who then go on to apply for permanent residence.
For a student visa renewal, your GS statement must address all of the following through the online ImmiAccount application form:
- Your current circumstances, including family, community, employment, and financial ties
- Why do you want to study this specific course with this specific provider
- Your understanding of the course requirements and what studying and living in Australia involves
- How completing the course will benefit you
- Any previous student visa history or time already spent in Australia
Answers must be written in English, with a maximum of 150 words per question. There is an additional question for applicants who have previously held a student visa or are lodging from within Australia from a non-student visa.
The GS statement is where most renewal applications run into trouble. Students with poor academic records, a history of course changes, or an unexplained gap in study need a carefully constructed statement. A weak or generic answer is one of the leading causes of student visa refusal in 2026.
Financial Requirements for 2025-26
You must demonstrate sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees, living costs, and travel. The minimum living cost threshold is AUD $29,710 for 12 months for the primary applicant.
If you have dependants coming with you, add:
- AUD $10,394 per accompanying partner
- AUD $4,449 per accompanying child
Acceptable financial evidence includes:
- Personal or family bank statements (showing consistent balance, not a sudden deposit)
- Education loan approval documentation
- Scholarship letter or stipend documentation for research students
- Sponsor’s financial support letter with evidence of their income
The Department looks at the accessibility and consistency of funds, not just the total amount. A bank statement showing AUD $30,000 deposited two days before lodgment raises integrity concerns and can trigger a refusal.
Documents Required for Student Visa Renewal
| Document | Notes |
| Valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) | Mandatory from 1 January 2025. Must be obtained before lodging. |
| Passport | Must be valid for the full duration of the new course |
| Academic transcripts | From your current Australian study, showing all results |
| Provider letter (if applicable) | Explaining why your course has been extended |
| GS statement | Answered in ImmiAccount form, max 150 words per question |
| Financial evidence | Bank statements, loan, scholarship, or sponsor letter |
| OSHC | Must cover full period of new CoE. For information on health cover options, visit the student visa OSHC page |
| English test results | If required based on your nationality and education background |
| Police clearance | For offshore applications or if specifically requested |
| Health examination | If the previously completed check was over 12 months ago |
All documents must be in English. Non-English documents require an authorised NAATI translation.
Visa Application Fee and Processing
Student Visa (Subclass 500) fee from 1 July 2025:
| Applicant | Fee (AUD) |
| Main applicant | $2,000 |
| Subsequent Temporary Application Charge | May apply per applicant depending on visa history |
A 1.4% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. Health examination fees, biometrics costs, and OSHC renewal are charged separately. Confirm the current fee on the Department of Home Affairs student visa page before lodging.
Processing times vary depending on your education provider’s priority status under Ministerial Direction 115 (from 14 November 2025), application completeness, nationality, and current Department workload. Check current processing times on the Department’s processing times page before planning your timeline.
What Happens After You Lodge: Bridging Visa A
If you lodge a valid, complete application while you are in Australia and your current student visa is still valid, you will automatically be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). The BVA activates only after your current visa expires and allows you to remain lawfully in Australia during processing.
Critical BVA rules:
- The BVA is cancelled if you depart Australia
- You cannot return to Australia on a BVA after leaving
- If you need to travel during processing, apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before departing. A BVB allows one return trip during a specified date range and carries its own application fee
- Work rights on the BVA continue at the same level as your student visa
If biometrics are requested after lodgment, you have 14 days to comply. Biometrics are not required for onshore applicants.
Onshore vs Offshore: Which Applies to You
Applying onshore is always the preferred approach. It provides BVA protection and avoids offshore processing delays. Applying offshore means no BVA, so if processing extends beyond your visa’s end date, you cannot re-enter until a decision is made.
Visa hopping restrictions (still in effect 2025-26):
- Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) holders cannot apply for a student visa onshore
- Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) holders cannot apply for a student visa onshore
Both groups must apply from outside Australia. If you are in either situation, Think Higher can advise on the correct approach before you take any action.
How Your Renewal Connects to Your PR Pathway
A student visa renewal is not just about staying enrolled. It affects your long-term migration strategy too.
485 Temporary Graduate Visa eligibility: The Subclass 485 visa requires at least 16 months of CRICOS-registered study physically in Australia. Your total qualifying study must be maintained across all renewals. The 485 fee increased to AUD $4,600 from 1 March 2026.
Australian study bonus points: Five bonus migration points require at least 2 years of CRICOS-registered Australian study. Every semester counts. Use the Think Higher PR Points Calculator to track how your study duration contributes to your eventual EOI score.
Professional Year: After completing an eligible degree in IT, Accounting, or Engineering, the Professional Year Program adds 5 migration points and can strengthen skills assessment outcomes. It runs for 12 months and requires you to remain on a valid visa throughout.
Skilled migration pathways post-study: Once you graduate and obtain a positive skills assessment, you can target Subclass 189, Subclass 190, or Subclass 491 pathways. Read our how Australia PR points are calculated guide to understand how each study and experience factor contributes.
For PTE Academic preparation to maximise your migration points, use PTEClasses.com, practise on the PTE practice platform, or download the app on Android or iPhone.
Why Work with Think Higher Consultants
Think Higher Consultants has extensive experience helping international students with student visa renewals across a wide range of situations. From straightforward re-enrolments to complex cases involving academic issues, multiple course changes, or previous visa complications, our team approaches every renewal as a unique case.
We work remotely with clients anywhere in Australia and internationally.
What Think Higher provides for student visa renewals:
- Full review of your current visa, CoE, and study history before lodging
- GS statement preparation tailored to your academic history and any complications
- Financial evidence review to confirm it meets Department standards
- CoE and OSHC checklist confirmation before application submission
- Advice on BVA and BVB conditions to avoid unintended travel complications
- Offshore vs onshore strategy based on your current situation
- Downstream PR strategy review so your renewal supports your long-term migration goals
If you have already received a Request for Further Information (S56 request) from the Department, or your application has been flagged for additional review, contact Think Higher immediately. Response windows are short and the quality of your reply directly affects the outcome.
For a broader understanding of the student visa, read our student visa guide and our offshore student visa success story showing how Think Higher approaches complex student visa cases.
Start your free assessment with Think Higher. | Contact our team here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I extend my current student visa instead of applying for a new one? No. Australia does not allow you to extend an existing visa. You must apply for a brand new Subclass 500 Student Visa. The full application process applies, including CoE, GS statement, financial evidence, and OSHC.
Q2. What happens if my student visa expires before I lodge a new application? You become unlawfully present in Australia. This carries serious consequences, including potential visa bars affecting future applications. Apply at least 3 months before expiry and never let your visa lapse.
Q3. Do I need a new CoE before I lodge my renewal application? Yes. From 1 January 2025, a valid CoE is mandatory at the time of lodgment for all onshore applications. Applications submitted without a CoE are invalid and no Bridging Visa A will be granted.
Q4. Will I get a Bridging Visa A when I apply for a student visa renewal? Yes, if you lodge a valid, complete application while you are in Australia and your current student visa is still valid. The BVA activates automatically when your student visa expires and allows a lawful stay during processing. You must not depart Australia on a BVA.
Q5. Can I travel while my renewal application is processing? Not on a BVA. If you need to travel, apply for a Bridging Visa B before departing Australia. A BVB allows one return trip within specified dates. Leaving on a BVA without a BVB means your BVA cancels on departure and you cannot return until a decision is made.
Q6. How much does a student visa renewal cost in 2026? AUD $2,000 for the main applicant from 1 July 2025. A 1.4% surcharge applies to credit card payments. A Subsequent Temporary Application Charge may also apply per applicant depending on individual visa history. Confirm current fees on the Department of Home Affairs fees page before lodging.
Q7. I am currently on a Visitor Visa. Can I apply for a student visa in Australia? No. Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) holders cannot apply for a student visa onshore as part of the visa hopping restrictions introduced in July 2024. You must apply from outside Australia. Think Higher can advise on the correct approach for your situation.