How Much Money Do You Need for an Australian Student Visa? (2026 Proof of Funds)

For an Australian Student visa (subclass 500) in 2026, you must be able to show enough money for 12 months of living costs (AUD 29,710 for the student), the first 12 months of course fees and travel (AUD 2,000 for most offshore applicants). For a typical undergraduate paying AUD 35,000 a year in tuition, that adds up to about AUD 66,710. Instead of savings, you can show that a parent or partner earned at least AUD 87,856 in the past 12 months.

Key points

• Living costs: AUD 29,710 for the student, AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 for each child (only if they are allowed on your application).
• Course fees: the first 12 months, minus anything you have already paid.
• Travel: AUD 2,000 for most offshore applicants, AUD 2,500 from East or Southern Africa, AUD 3,000 from West Africa, AUD 1,000 if applying in Australia.
• Income alternative: AUD 87,856 a year (AUD 102,500 with family), using government tax documents.
• You must also show genuine access to the money, not just a balance.

These figures are from the Home Affairs Student visa page, section “Evidence you have enough money for your stay”, as of October 2026. Not every applicant is asked for this evidence, but Home Affairs can ask for it, so prepare it anyway.

The two ways to show financial capacity

Option 1: Funds for your costs

Show that you have access to enough money to cover:

1. Your travel.
2. 12 months of course fees (or pro rata if the course is shorter).
3. 12 months of living costs for you and any family members coming with you (or pro rata).
4. School fees for any school-age children coming with you.

Option 2: Annual income

Show that your parents or partner had a personal annual income of at least AUD 87,856 in the 12 months before you apply. If family members are coming with you, the income must be at least AUD 102,500. If both parents work, their combined income can be considered.

Evidence must be official government documents, such as tax assessments less than 12 months old. Home Affairs says it will not accept bank statements or direct evidence from an employer for this option.

Official amounts (as of October 2026)

Item	Amount
Living costs, student	AUD 29,710 a year
Living costs, partner	AUD 10,394 a year
Living costs, each child	AUD 4,449 a year
School fees, each school-age child	At least AUD 13,502 a year
Travel, most offshore applicants	AUD 2,000
Travel, East or Southern Africa	AUD 2,500
Travel, West Africa	AUD 3,000
Travel, applying in Australia	AUD 1,000 (add AUD 1,500 if returning to Africa)

These are minimums for the visa. Home Affairs points out that actual living costs vary across Australia and may be much higher, and that you should not rely on work to support yourself.

How to calculate course fees

Home Affairs gives three rules:

• Multi-year course: divide the total fee by the number of years. A 3-year course costing AUD 50,000 means AUD 16,666 for 12 months.
• Course of 12 months or less: use the total cost, minus anything already paid.
• Course longer than 12 months but not in whole years: divide by the number of months and multiply by 12. An 18-month course costing AUD 20,000 means AUD 13,333.

Deduct any fees you have already paid, with proof such as a receipt or your Confirmation of Enrolment.

Pro rata amounts

If you will stay less than 12 months, divide the annual living cost by 365 and multiply by the number of days you will be in Australia.

Worked examples

These are illustrations using the official rules. Your own amounts will depend on your course and circumstances.

Example 1: Undergraduate from India, applying offshore

A 3-year Bachelor degree costing AUD 105,000 in total.

Item	Amount
Course fees (AUD 105,000 ÷ 3)	AUD 35,000
Living costs, student	AUD 29,710
Travel	AUD 2,000
Total to show	AUD 66,710

Example 2: Masters student from Nigeria, deposit paid

An 18-month Masters costing AUD 54,000, with an AUD 10,000 deposit already paid.

Item	Amount
Course fees (AUD 54,000 ÷ 18 × 12)	AUD 36,000
Less deposit paid	− AUD 10,000
Living costs, student	AUD 29,710
Travel (West Africa)	AUD 3,000
Total to show	AUD 58,710

Example 3: PhD student from Kenya with partner and one school-age child

PhD students are exempt from the October 2026 family restrictions, so they can still include family. Assume tuition of AUD 40,000 a year that is not covered by a scholarship.

Item	Amount
Course fees (12 months)	AUD 40,000
Living costs: student + partner + child (29,710 + 10,394 + 4,449)	AUD 44,553
School fees, one child	AUD 13,502
Travel, 3 people from East Africa (3 × AUD 2,500)	AUD 7,500
Total to show	AUD 105,555

Home Affairs says PhD students do not need to show school costs if their child is enrolled in an Australian government school where the fees have been waived. In that case, the total would fall to AUD 92,053. Alternatively, a partner or parent income of at least AUD 102,500 would meet the requirement.

Showing genuine access to the money

Having the money is not enough. Home Affairs may ask you to prove you have genuine access to it. Key points from the official guidance:

• If someone else is paying, provide evidence of your relationship, their identity documents and any past financial support they have given you or another student.
• If money comes through a business, show the business is operating.
• Explain large deposits. Show how funds were built up, such as salary payments or regular savings over time.
• A one-day balance is weak evidence. Home Affairs says a bank balance certificate across a single day does not show how you increased your funds.
• Education loans should be paid out according to the loan agreement. The strongest evidence for a loan is proof of disbursement. Tell your provider about any conditions on the loan.

Financial evidence also feeds into the Genuine Student assessment, so make sure your funds story matches your study plans (GS requirement).

Do not forget the other costs

Proof of funds is separate from what you pay to apply. As of October 2026, the Student visa charge is AUD 2,500 for most students (AUD 2,050 for ELICOS and non-award students). You will also pay for Overseas Student Health Cover, English tests, health checks and biometrics. See the Visa Pricing Estimator.

Family members after October 2026

From 2 October 2026, most new Student visa applicants cannot include a partner or children. The partner and child amounts above only matter if you meet an exemption, such as being a PhD student, a DFAT or Defence-sponsored student, a fully funded foreign government scholarship holder, or a Pacific Island or ASEAN national. Read our explainer on Australia’s October 2026 student visa changes.

What to do next

1. Work out your 12-month course fee using the official method and subtract what you have paid.
2. Add the living cost and travel amounts that apply to you.
3. Decide whether savings or the income option is stronger for your family.
4. Collect several months of transaction history and documents explaining the source of funds.
5. If your funding is complex (loans, business income, several sponsors), consider advice from a registered migration agent.

For the full application process, see our Australia Student visa (subclass 500) guide. More guides are on the Australia hub, and rule changes are tracked on our updates page.