Bombay Migrations understands that applying for an Australian Student Visa from India in 2025 is more complex than ever. Major policy shifts, including the replacement of the GTE with the Genuine Student (GS) requirement and significant financial updates, mean applicants must be precisely prepared.
This comprehensive guide, brought to you by our MARA Registered Migration Agents, details every critical change and offers the expert strategy you need to secure your Subclass 500 visa.
The New Pillar of Visa Assessment: The Genuine Student (GS) Requirement
The most crucial change for Indian students applying for an Australian visa in 2025 is the official replacement of the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) criterion with the Genuine Student (GS) requirement, effective March 23, 2024.
What is the Genuine Student (GS) Requirement?
The GS criterion is designed to ensure that you are applying for a student visa with the genuine intention of obtaining a quality education in Australia. Crucially, the GS requirement explicitly acknowledges that a student may develop skills Australia needs and transition to permanent residency pathways after graduation. This is a subtle but significant shift from the old GTE rule, which primarily focused on the temporary nature of your stay.
Our MARA Registered Migration Agents specialise in drafting bulletproof GS Statements…
Get a GS Strategy Consultation Today!
How Indian Students Should Address the GS Criteria
To satisfy the GS requirement, you will answer a set of mandatory questions within the online application (each limited to 150 words). Your narrative must be clear, specific, and supported by documentary evidence.
| GS Question Focus | Key Strategy for Indian Students |
| Course & Provider Choice | Explain the ‘Why’: Detail why you chose this specific course and institution in Australia, over a similar one in India. Focus on unique specialisations, accreditation, research quality, and faculty expertise. |
| Relevance & Future Benefit | Connect the Dots: Clearly link the Australian qualification to your academic background, current employment, and your long-term career goals in India (or a third country). Provide salary expectations or job prospects to demonstrate the economic value of your Australian education. |
| Circumstances in Home Country | Demonstrate Strong Ties: Provide evidence of strong family, community, or economic ties that serve as an incentive for you to return home. This is crucial for proving you are a genuine student and not just seeking an indirect migration route. |
Action Tip: Your GS statement is your single most important document. It is your narrative, and it must overcome any profile inconsistencies, such as significant study gaps for an Australian student visa or a shift in the field of study.
Major Financial and Fee Updates for 2025
The financial integrity of your application has been significantly tightened in 2025, primarily to ensure that students can support themselves without breaching work limitations.
1. Student Visa Application Charge (VAC) Hike
Be prepared for a substantial upfront cost increase:
- Effective July 1, 2025, the VAC for the primary Student Visa (Subclass 500) has increased from AUD $1,600 to AUD $2,000.
- This makes the Australian student visa fee one of the highest among the top global study destinations.
2. Increased Financial Capacity Requirements (Show Money)
The minimum funds required to cover your annual living costs have seen a significant increase. You must demonstrate funds for the first 12 months, held for a minimum of 28 consecutive days before application lodgement.
| Expense Category | New Minimum Annual Amount (AUD) |
| Primary Applicant (Student) | $29,710 |
| Partner/Spouse | $10,394 |
| Dependent Child | $4,449 (per child) |
| Annual Schooling Cost (for dependent child) | $13,502 (per child) |
Calculation Example: If you are a single applicant, you must show: (AUD $29,710) + (First Year Tuition Fee) + (AUD $2,000 Travel Cost Estimate).
3. The ‘Genuine Access to Funds’ Test
The Department of Home Affairs is assessing the source of funds more closely than ever. Funds must be genuinely accessible for your use and not locked away in inaccessible investments.
- Acceptable Evidence: Bank fixed deposits, savings accounts, educational loans from approved institutions, or evidence of parental annual income.
- Bombay Migrations Advice: Our MARA Registered Migration Agents recommend providing clear documentation of the source of funds (e.g., tax returns, loan disbursement letters) to eliminate any doubt for the case officer.
Post-Study and Work Rights Changes (Subclass 485 Visa)
Your long-term career planning needs to account for the revised post-study work regulations.
1. Age Limit Reduction for Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
The maximum age to apply for most streams of the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) has been reduced:
- For Bachelor’s and Master’s (Coursework) graduates, the new maximum age is 35 years.
- For Master’s (Research) and Doctoral (PhD) graduates, the age limit remains at 50 years.
2. Student Visa Work Rights
The temporary increase in working hours has ended.
- You are strictly limited to working a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight during your course session.
- Breaching this condition is a serious visa violation and can lead to immediate visa cancellation, impacting your future Australian Permanent Residency pathways.
The Application Process: Key Steps and Processing Times
Navigating the application requires precision. Using MARA Registered Migration Agents like those at Bombay Migrations ensures compliance and completeness.
The Mandatory CoE and Documentation
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE): A valid CoE from your registered education provider is mandatory for all applications, even if you are applying from within Australia.
- Health and Character: All Indian students require an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire duration of the course. Health checks are mandatory and must be completed by a panel physician.
Australia Student Visa Processing Time from India (2025)
While processing times are dynamic, the Department of Home Affairs prioritises complete applications.
- Higher Education Sector (Subclass 500): 50% of applications are typically processed within 35 days, but 90% can take up to 5 months or longer during peak intake periods (February and July).
- Vocational Education and Training (VET): Processing times may be longer due to increased review of VET sector applications.
Expert Strategy from Bombay Migrations: Lodge your complete application well in advance—ideally 3 to 4 months before your course start date—to avoid delays.
Why Choose Bombay Migrations for Your 2025 Visa Application?
The 2025 student visa system is designed to filter out non-genuine applicants, making professional guidance crucial.
At Bombay Migrations, our team of MARA Registered Migration Agents specialises in the Australian education and migration landscape. We offer:
- GS Statement Customisation: We work with you to craft a compelling, evidence-backed Genuine Student statement that addresses the specific questions and aligns with the new policy direction.
- Financial Structuring: We provide expert advice on presenting your financial evidence to meet the AUD $29,710 requirement and successfully pass the ‘Genuine Access to Funds’ test.
- End-to-End Support: From course selection to visa lodgement, we ensure every document is decision-ready, maximising your chances for a quick and positive outcome.
Don’t let the new rules become a barrier to your Australian dream.
Contact Bombay Migrations today to start your application with confidence and the assurance of working with certified MARA Registered Migration Agents.
FAQ’s
Can an Australian student visa holder go to New Zealand?
No, an Australian student visa only grants you entry and stay in Australia. To visit or travel to New Zealand, you must separately apply for a New Zealand visitor visa or a relevant New Zealand visa subclass, depending on your intent and nationality. The Australian visa has no jurisdiction in New Zealand.
Can an Australian student visa holder work?
Yes, the Subclass 500 visa allows you to work a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight during your course session. You can work unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Breaching the 48-hour limit is a serious violation that can lead to visa cancellation.
How long does the Australian student visa process take?
Processing times vary by the education sector and peak seasons. For the Higher Education sector, 50% of applications are processed within 35 days, but the process can take up to 5 months or longer, especially during the busy February and July intake periods. We recommend applying 3-4 months in advance.
What is the Australia student visa success rate?
The success rate is dynamic and depends heavily on the applicant’s nationality, the education provider’s risk rating, and the strength of the application. However, applications that successfully meet the strict Genuine Student (GS) and financial requirements, and are accurately prepared by experienced professionals like Bombay Migrations, generally have a higher success rate.
What are the new rules for Australian student visas in 2025?
The main new rules for 2025 include: the replacement of the GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) with the Genuine Student (GS) requirement (since March 2024); a significant increase in the minimum financial capacity (show money) to AUD $29,710; and a hike in the Student Visa Application Charge (VAC) to AUD $2,000. These changes focus on attracting genuinely committed students.
