Enter your own numbers and this works out exactly what you must evidence for an Australian student visa. The amounts are not our estimates — they are the figures written into the Home Affairs legislative instrument that case officers apply, LIN 19/198.
Student Visa Funds Calculator
Subclass 500 · amounts current as at September 2026
Travel is not a fixed Home Affairs amount. We use AUD 3,000 per adult and AUD 2,500 per child, the standard most Australian universities apply. Your case officer may accept a documented airfare quote instead.
There is a second route most students never hear about
You do not have to show a lump sum at all. Instead you can provide official government documentation of a parent's, spouse's or de facto partner's personal annual income for the 12 months before you apply.
The income must be at least AUD 87,856 if you are applying alone, or AUD 102,500 if family members are applying with you.
For a family with a strong documented income but no large deposit sitting in a bank, this route can be far easier than assembling the cash. It is set out in the same instrument, at section 6(3).
What the figures actually cover
The living-cost amount is exactly that — living costs. Three things sit on top of it and are assessed separately:
- Course fees for your first 12 months, minus anything you have already paid. If your course is shorter than a year, it is the fees for the course or its remaining components.
- Travel expenses for you and anyone coming with you.
- School costs of AUD 13,502 a year for each school-age dependant — on top of that child's living cost, not instead of it.
Budgeting to AUD 29,710 and forgetting the rest is the most common way a Pakistani applicant's file gets questioned on financial capacity.
What counts as evidence
The instrument specifies four forms, and only four:
- A money deposit with a financial institution
- A loan with a financial institution
- A government loan
- A scholarship or financial support
A property valuation, gold, or a relative's verbal promise are not on that list. If your funds are tied up in an asset, they need converting and depositing before you apply, with the transfer documented.
If your course is under 12 months
The annual figure is not applied in full. Home Affairs divides it by 365 and multiplies by the number of days you intend to stay. A six-month course is therefore roughly half the annual living cost — the calculator above does this for you.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for an Australian student visa?
A single applicant staying 12 months or more must show AUD 29,710 in living costs, plus first-year course fees and travel expenses. A partner adds AUD 10,394, each dependent child AUD 4,449, and each school-age child a further AUD 13,502 in school costs.
Does the AUD 29,710 include my tuition fees?
No. It covers living costs only. On top of it you must show course fees for the first 12 months of study, minus anything already paid, and your travel expenses.
Can I use my parents' income instead of a bank balance?
Yes. Instead of showing funds, you can provide official government documentation of a parent's, spouse's or de facto partner's personal annual income for the 12 months before you apply. It must be at least AUD 87,856 if you are applying alone, or AUD 102,500 if family members are applying with you.
What if my course is shorter than 12 months?
The living-cost figure is applied pro rata. Home Affairs divides the annual amount by 365 and multiplies by the number of days you intend to stay in Australia.
What forms of evidence does Home Affairs accept?
Four are specified: a money deposit with a financial institution, a loan with a financial institution, a government loan, or a scholarship or financial support.