Schedule 2 · visa criteria · At decision

Requirements at decision or grant

Requirements assessed at the decision or grant stage.

Application and grant location

Item	Rule
Visa granted	In or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance [cl 500.411]

Study requirements

Item	Requirement
Decision-stage enrolment	The applicant must be enrolled in a course of study, or fit a supported thesis-marking, Foreign Affairs or Defence pathway [cl 500.211]
Genuine Student	The primary applicant must be a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student, assessed against their circumstances, immigration history and compliance intention [cl 500.212]

Age requirements

Stream	Requirement
School student	At least 6 years old at application, with year-level age caps for Years 9 to 12 [cl 500.216]

English requirements

Stream	Requirement
Primary applicant	English evidence may be required under the current instrument unless an exemption applies [cl 500.213]
Exemptions	English exemptions are instrument-based and can depend on passport, prior study, course package or other factors [cl 500.213(2)]

Financial requirements

Item	Requirement
Funds	Applicant must have genuine access to sufficient funds for themselves and family members in Australia during the intended stay [cl 500.214] [cl 500.313]
Evidence on request	If required, financial-capacity evidence must satisfy the current instrument requirements [cl 500.214(3)]

Health requirements

Stream	Requirement
Ordinary primary or secondary applicant	The applicable criteria include character and integrity checks, plus health PIC 4005. [cl 500.217(1), (4)] [cl 500.317(1), (4)]
Foreign Affairs or Defence student and linked family	The applicable criteria include character and integrity checks, plus health PIC 4007. [cl 500.217(1), (5)] [cl 500.317(1), (5)]
Health insurance	Evidence of adequate health insurance is required for the intended stay and condition 8501 is imposed after grant [cl 500.215] [cl 500.314]

Family members

Item	Requirement
Subsequent family member	A later family applicant must fit the family-member link to a student visa holder [cl 500.311]
School-age dependant	If the proposed stay is more than 3 months, evidence of adequate education arrangements in Australia may be required [cl 500.315]