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By Olami, AbroadPilot · Reviewed September 2026 · Source: Department of Home Affairs
Quick summary: Australia’s student visa financial requirement isn’t set on the visa’s own webpage — it’s fixed in a separate legislative instrument that the Department of Home Affairs updates periodically. Any figure you see quoted on a blog or forum could be from an outdated instrument. Always check the current instrument directly, not a third-party summary.
Why there’s no figure printed on this page
Unlike the UK’s flat monthly rate, Australia’s Student visa (subclass 500) financial capacity requirement is set out in a legislative instrument under the Migration Regulations, separate from the main visa guidance page. The amount is reviewed and can be adjusted without necessarily being reflected immediately across every government page that references it.
What you generally need to demonstrate
Regardless of the exact current figure, applicants generally need to show funds covering: travel costs, 12 months of living costs (for yourself and any accompanying family members), and 12 months of course fees, or evidence of a scholarship or sponsorship covering these. The specific dollar thresholds for living costs are what the legislative instrument sets and periodically revises.
The mistake to avoid
Because the figure lives in an instrument rather than the visa page itself, it’s the easiest of the five major destinations to get wrong by relying on a guide instead of the primary source. Confirm the live figure on the Department of Home Affairs page before you start gathering evidence.
Free tools for this
- Proof of Funds Calculator — check your figure against the current published threshold
- Proof of Funds by Country — how Australia’s approach compares to the UK, Canada, US and Germany
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for an Australian student visa?
The figure is set in a legislative instrument under the Migration Regulations rather than printed as a fixed amount on the main visa page. Check the Department of Home Affairs’ current instrument directly before relying on any third-party figure.
What does the financial requirement generally need to cover?
Travel costs, 12 months of living costs for you and any accompanying family, and 12 months of course fees — or evidence of a scholarship or sponsorship covering these.
Why do guides avoid quoting a specific Australian dollar figure?
Because it changes via a legislative instrument that can be updated separately from the visa’s main guidance page, a specific number risks going stale faster than for destinations with a figure printed directly on the visa page.
Official & verified sources
Checked against the Department of Home Affairs’ guidance on 27 July 2026. Because the specific dollar threshold lives in a separate legislative instrument, confirm the current figure directly before applying.
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