# Australia Student Visa Processing Time from India (2026) > How long the Australian Student visa (subclass 500) takes for Indians in 2026: India-specific Home Affairs data, sector-wise global figures and what adds weeks. _Published: 2026-10-17 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1263_ ## TL;DR Home Affairs data show that Indian student visa applicants outside Australia whose visas were granted in October–December 2025 waited a median of 23 days. Global figures put 90% of Higher Education decisions within 4 months and VET within 7 months. A complete CoE, OSHC, English and funds file keeps yours moving. ## Key takeaways - Indian offshore primary student visas granted in October–December 2025: median 23 days, 75% within 36 days (Home Affairs). - Global guide (all nationalities): Higher Education 50% in 16 days and 90% in 4 months; VET 90% in 7 months. - No Confirmation of Enrolment means an invalid application; missing OSHC details lead to refusal. - From 2 October 2026 most applicants must lodge outside Australia and cannot include family members. - The main applicant charge is AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026. **According to the Department of Home Affairs, primary Student visa (subclass 500) applications from Indian citizens outside Australia that were granted in October–December 2025 took a median of 23 days, and 75% were granted within 36 days. Home Affairs' global guide shows Higher Education applications at 50% in 16 days and 90% in 4 months.** ## Article Those two numbers answer different questions, and the sector of your course changes the picture a lot. Below you will find what each figure measures, what usually adds weeks to an Indian student's file, and the 2025–2026 rule changes that affect timing. All figures are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For fees, documents and every other Australian visa type, start with our Australia visa guide for Indian citizens. ### How long is the Australian student visa taking in 2026? Home Affairs publishes a global processing-time guide for each visa. It covers all nationalities and recently decided applications, so it is not India-specific. For the Student visa it splits the figures by education sector. Home Affairs also publishes a quarterly program report with India-only data. Category (subclass 500)50% decided in90% decided inHigher Education sector16 days4 monthsVocational Education and Training (VET) sector53 days7 monthsPostgraduate Research17 days55 daysIndian citizens outside Australia, primary applications granted October–December 2025Median 23 days75% within 36 daysThe first three rows come from the Home Affairs global visa processing times guide. The India row comes from the student and temporary graduate visa program report to 31 December 2025. ### Why does the India figure look faster than the 90% figure? The India row counts only applications that ended in a grant. It leaves out refusals and files that sat waiting for more information. The global figures include every recently decided application, so the slow tail shows up at the 90% mark. Three practical readings follow: - Your sector matters. A university course and a VET course sit months apart at the 90% mark: 4 months against 7 months. - A median is the middle case. Half of the granted Indian applications in that quarter took longer than 23 days. - Neither figure is a promise. Home Affairs decides each application on its own evidence. Speed also tells you nothing about the outcome. In the same October–December 2025 quarter, Home Affairs recorded a 59.5% grant rate (grants as a percentage of grants plus refusals) for Indian citizens applying from outside Australia, against 79.9% in the same quarter of 2024. ### What usually adds weeks to an Indian student's file? Delays mostly come from a file the case officer cannot decide on the first read. These are the points in the Home Affairs requirements worth checking twice: - Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). You need a CoE for every intended course when you lodge. Without it the application is invalid, and the CoE must still be valid when the visa is decided. - Genuine Student answers. The online form asks for answers in English, 150 words each, backed by evidence: academic transcripts, current employment details, ties to India, your economic circumstances and why you are not studying a similar course in India. - Genuine access to funds. Home Affairs wants to see how deposits built up, for example through transaction history or salary patterns. A single-day bank balance certificate does not show this. For an education loan, include the loan terms and disbursement. - The right English test. Fully online or at-home tests such as IELTS Online are not accepted. - Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Give the insurer name and policy start and end dates. The application is refused if OSHC details are not provided. - Biometrics and health checks. If Home Affairs asks for biometrics, you have 14 days to provide them. Health examinations, when requested, also add time. - Translations and scans. Non-English documents need an English translation with the translator's details. Scan everything in colour. ### Which 2025–2026 rule changes affect processing? DateChange announced by the Department of Home Affairs7 August 2025New English score tables for tests taken on or after this date, with IELTS 6.0, PTE Academic 47 or TOEFL iBT 67 as the standard minimum.14 November 2025Student visa applications lodged outside Australia from this date are processed under Ministerial Direction 115 (earlier ones under Direction 111).21 January 2026TOEFL iBT takers must select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when registering for the score to be valid for a visa.1 July 2026Main applicant charge of AUD 2,500 (AUD 2,050 for standalone ELICOS or Non-Award courses).2 October 2026Most Student visa applications must be lodged outside Australia, and most applicants can no longer include family members.The 2 October 2026 change matters most if you planned to bring a spouse or child. Exemptions include PhD students, DFAT or Defence-sponsored students and fully funded foreign-government scholarship holders. Applications lodged before that date are assessed under the old rules. ### How early should you lodge before your course starts? Home Affairs does not set a fixed lead time, so use the 90% figures as your planning buffer. For a university course, 4 months covers 90% of recent global decisions. For a VET course, plan on 7 months. Postgraduate research applicants have the shortest window, with 90% decided in 55 days. Your real start line is the CoE, because you cannot lodge a valid application without one. Just before lodging, run the Document Checklist Tool again: Home Affairs updates it on 31 March and 30 September. ### Before you lodge: a checklist that keeps the clock moving - A CoE for every course you intend to study. - Genuine Student answers drafted, with transcripts, employment proof and evidence of your ties to India attached. - Funds evidence if the checklist asks for it: AUD 2,000 for travel, first-year course fees and AUD 29,710 for 12 months' living costs, or a parent's or partner's annual income of at least AUD 87,856 shown through official government documents such as tax assessments (bank statements and employer letters are not accepted for this). - An accepted English test taken in person, on or after 7 August 2025 and within the last 2 years. - OSHC from an approved Australian insurer, starting on the day you arrive. - The AUD 2,500 charge ready to pay online in ImmiAccount. - For applicants under 18: Form 1229 consent from each parent and confirmed welfare arrangements. For the travel side of a visa file, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter together. Reach us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can I lodge an Australian student visa application without a CoE? No. Home Affairs treats a Student visa application without a Confirmation of Enrolment for every intended course as invalid. The CoE must also still be valid when the visa is decided. #### Is IELTS Online accepted for an Australian student visa? No. Home Affairs does not accept fully online or at-home tests such as IELTS Online. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 the standard minimum is IELTS 6.0, PTE Academic 47 or TOEFL iBT 67. #### How much is the Australian student visa fee for Indians in 2026? From 1 July 2026 the main applicant pays AUD 2,500, or AUD 2,050 for standalone ELICOS or Non-Award courses. Home Affairs charges in AUD and publishes no INR amount. OSHC is bought separately from an approved insurer. #### How long can I stay in Australia on a subclass 500 visa? The Student visa covers full-time study in a CRICOS-registered course for up to 6 years, in line with your enrolment. Once your course starts you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while it is in session and unlimited hours when it is not. ## FAQ ### Can I lodge an Australian student visa application without a CoE? No. Home Affairs treats a Student visa application without a Confirmation of Enrolment for every intended course as invalid. The CoE must also still be valid when the visa is decided. ### Is IELTS Online accepted for an Australian student visa? No. Home Affairs does not accept fully online or at-home tests such as IELTS Online. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 the standard minimum is IELTS 6.0, PTE Academic 47 or TOEFL iBT 67. ### How much is the Australian student visa fee for Indians in 2026? From 1 July 2026 the main applicant pays AUD 2,500, or AUD 2,050 for standalone ELICOS or Non-Award courses. Home Affairs charges in AUD and publishes no INR amount. OSHC is bought separately from an approved insurer. ### How long can I stay in Australia on a subclass 500 visa? The Student visa covers full-time study in a CRICOS-registered course for up to 6 years, in line with your enrolment. Once your course starts you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while it is in session and unlimited hours when it is not. ## Sources 1. [Student and temporary graduate visa program report, 31 December 2025](https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/student-temporary-grad-program-report-dec-2025.pdf) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 2. [Global visa processing times guide](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 3. [Student visa (subclass 500)](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia