Student Visa Financial Requirements 2026–27: Costs, Funds and Evidence

Last checked against official sources: 11 November 2026

Planning to study in Australia involves more than paying your course deposit. You need a realistic budget and evidence that explains how you will fund your studies.

This guide explains the financial-capacity requirements for the Student visa (subclass 500), how to estimate your costs, and what to consider when preparing supporting documents.

How much money do you need?

Under the funds-based pathway, the calculation generally includes travel, unpaid tuition for the relevant first 12 months, living expenses and applicable family costs. Shorter periods may qualify for proportional calculations.

The current annual benchmarks are:

Tuition and travel costs are additional. These amounts come from the financial-capacity legislative instrument.

A worked example for one student

For illustration, assume a student calculates:

The $2,000 travel figure is an example, not a universal requirement. Your calculation must reflect your circumstances.

Use the A2MS Student Visa Funds Calculator to explore an indicative estimate. Keep a separate budget for insurance, visa charges and settling-in expenses.

How should you calculate tuition?

Use the relevant first 12 months of course fees, or the applicable shorter period. Deduct tuition already paid only where you can substantiate the payment. If your course has already started, the calculation needs to reflect the relevant study period from application. See the official financial-capacity rules.

Keep your fee schedule, Confirmation of Enrolment and payment receipts together so that the figures can be reconciled.

What financial evidence can you use?

Depending on your circumstances, evidence can include financial-institution deposits or loans, government loans, scholarships or financial support.

Home Affairs also considers whether you genuinely have access to the money. Explain significant deposits and provide records showing their source. If another person supports you, document the relationship, their identity and the support arrangement. A certificate showing one day’s bank balance does not explain how the money accumulated. Home Affairs: financial evidence and genuine access.

A useful preparation question is: Can someone reading these documents follow where the money came from and how it will be available for my studies?

Can you use annual income instead of savings?

An alternative pathway uses qualifying parental or partner income:

• $87,856 where there is no secondary applicant.
• $102,500 where there is a secondary applicant.

This pathway requires official government income documentation issued within the preceding 12 months, relating to the qualifying person’s income over the relevant period. It is a different evidence pathway from demonstrating an available savings balance. Financial-capacity instrument, section 6.

Home Affairs explains that both parents’ income may be considered together. Bank statements or employer evidence do not substitute for the required official income documents. Home Affairs: annual-income pathway.

Check family eligibility before adding family costs

Having enough funds does not establish that a partner or child can be included.

Under the October 2026 arrangements, family inclusion is restricted to eligible exceptions. Home Affairs also states that family members cannot be added as subsequent entrants after a Student visa is granted. Check the official family-member rules before making financial or travel commitments.

When must financial documents be provided?

If the Document Checklist requires financial evidence, attach it when lodging. Home Affairs may refuse an application without requesting missing required evidence. It may also request financial documents later even if the initial checklist did not require them. Home Affairs: Student visa documents.

Are further financial-capacity changes coming?

Budget for your actual life in Australia

Visa benchmarks are minimum financial-capacity measures. Your actual accommodation, transport and other living expenses may be higher. Research your intended location and arrange appropriate Overseas Student Health Cover. Study Australia: visa preparation.

General information only. Requirements can change, and meeting financial requirements alone does not guarantee a visa.