Australia Student Visa Document Checklist 2026

Every year, thousands of Indian students apply for Australian student visas (Subclass 500). Getting documents wrong — missing a single bank statement, submitting a low-quality scan, or forgetting the GTE statement — is the leading cause of delays and refusals. This checklist is designed for Indian education consultants to share with applicants and track inside their CRM.

1. Identity Documents

• Valid passport — minimum 6 months validity beyond the intended stay
• PAN card
• Aadhaar card
• Birth certificate
• Recent passport-sized photographs (35mm × 45mm, white background, taken within 6 months)

2. Academic Records

• 10th and 12th mark sheets and passing certificates
• Degree certificates and official transcripts (if the applicant is a graduate)
• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from the Australian institution — must be valid and match the visa application
• Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement — a personal statement explaining why the applicant intends to return to India after study

3. English Proficiency

• IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, or OET score card
• Minimum scores vary by institution and AQF level — confirm the requirement on your client's Letter of Offer
• Score must be within the validity period (typically 2–3 years from test date)

4. Financial Evidence

Finances are the most scrutinised part of the application. DHA looks for evidence that the applicant (or their sponsor) can cover tuition fees, living costs (~AUD 29,710/year as of 2026), and return airfare.

• 3–6 months bank statements (savings or current account, must show sufficient balance and consistent deposits)
• Fixed deposit receipts
• Income Tax Returns (ITR) — last 2 financial years
• Sponsor / parent employment proof: salary slips (last 3 months), Form 16, appointment letter
• Scholarship letter (if applicable — include in the CoE or separately from the institution)
• Education loan sanction letter (if the course is being funded via loan)

5. Health & Character

• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) — must be purchased for the full duration of the visa before lodging
• Health examination results — booked via DHA-approved panel physicians (BUPA/Medibank panel in India)
• Police Clearance Certificate — required if the applicant is 16+ and has lived outside India for 12+ months in the past 10 years; check DHA guidance for your client's specific situation

6. Visa Application Form & Payment

• ImmiAccount registration on the DHA portal
• Completed Subclass 500 online application form
• Visa Application Charge (VAC) payment receipt — confirm current fee at the time of lodging

Common reasons for delay or refusal

• Weak GTE statement — vague, generic, or inconsistent with the client's background
• Insufficient funds — balance looks padded or shows a sudden large deposit
• CoE errors — name mismatch, expired, or course dates don't match the visa period requested
• Low-quality scans — blurry documents are treated as incomplete
• OSHC not purchased before lodging