Complete guide for Pakistani students — Subclass 500 (Student Visa), Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate Visa) & Dependent/Subsequent Entrant eligibility, financial proof, fees, processing time, documents and post-study options. Content last verified July 2026.
Subclass 500 (Student Visa)
Bachelor's through to PhD at CRICOS providers
CoE via PRISMS, lodged through ImmiAccount
Commonly IELTS 6.0 overall
AUD $29,710/year living costs (2026)
Up to 48 hrs/fortnight during term
Subclass 485 (2–6 years by qualification/region)
Included at application, or as Subsequent Entrant
Australia remains a leading study destination for Pakistani students, offering globally ranked universities and a genuine, multi-year post-study work pathway through the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa. Australia operates a National Planning Level (295,000 international student commencements for 2026) — a prioritisation framework rather than a hard cap — and assesses all applicants under the Genuine Student (GS) requirement, which replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test in March 2024.
7 Continents Migration Experts guides Pakistani applicants through the category that matches their circumstances — Subclass 500 (Student Visa), Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate Visa), or Subclass 500 Dependent/Subsequent Entrant.
the Subclass 500 student visa application charge rose to AUD $2,500 from 1 July 2026 (up from $2,000 the previous year) — one of the most expensive student visa fees globally. The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa fee DOUBLED from AUD $2,300 to $4,600 on 1 March 2026. Both increases should be clearly and proactively communicated to clients budgeting for Australian study.
Explore the three categories covered for Pakistani students applying to Australia — select one to see full eligibility, fees and documents.
The principal visa for full-time study at a CRICOS-registered provider.
Post-study work rights for eligible graduates, without employer sponsorship.
For accompanying partners and dependent children of the student.View det
Australia's principal visa for international students undertaking full-time study at a CRICOS-registered education provider — covering the large majority of degree-seeking Pakistani students, from bachelor's through to PhD level.
Australia's post-study work visa for eligible graduates of Australian institutions, allowing extended work rights without employer sponsorship — one of the more generous multi-year post-study work windows among major study destinations, especially for regional-area graduates.
Provisions allowing a Subclass 500 holder's partner and dependent children under 18 to accompany them to Australia — either included in the original application or added later as a 'Subsequent Entrant' if not ready to travel at the same time.
The permanent discontinuation of the Student Direct Stream (8 November 2024) is the most consequential recent change for Pakistani applicants specifically — it removed the distinct ~20-day fast-track route many previously relied on, and realistic processing under the Regular Study Permit Stream is now 8–12 weeks for all applicants regardless of nationality.
Both the Subclass 500 fee increase (to AUD $2,500 from 1 July 2026) and the Subclass 485 fee doubling (to AUD $4,600 from 1 March 2026) are genuine, significant, and recent cost increases — clients budgeting for Australian study based on older guidance may substantially under-estimate their total visa-related costs across the full study-to-graduation journey.
The shift from GTE to the Genuine Student (GS) requirement in March 2024 remains the most consequential assessment change for current applicants — clients should be clearly advised that generic, templated GS responses are a leading cause of refusal, and that specific, evidenced answers naming real qualifications and a realistic career step consistently perform better.
A possible new $250 "visa integrity fee" has been discussed for introduction in 2026, but official implementation guidance had not been released at the time of this review — monitor for confirmation before treating this as a settled cost.
Confirm Pakistan's current Evidence Level classification directly via the Department of Home Affairs before advising on specific processing-time expectations — the 8 January 2026 reclassification of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan to Evidence Level 3 was confirmed, but Pakistan's own current classification was not explicitly confirmed in the sources reviewed for this page, and this materially affects expected document scrutiny and realistic timelines.
Degree/certificate equivalency and attestation through the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) is commonly required during the Australian institution's admission process itself, and a common source of delay when not understood in advance. Confirm the specific documents each target institution requires attested.
HEC Attestation
IBCC Attestation
Degree Equivalency
Relevant scholarship options for Pakistani students pursuing Australian study include HEC-affiliated scholarships and select Australia Awards, which can help address the financial-proof barrier that prevents many qualified students from applying. Check current eligibility criteria and application windows well ahead of your intended intake.HEC Scholarships Australia Awards
HEC Scholarships
Australia Awards
Get a free, personalised assessment from our migration experts in Islamabad.
