Australia Student & Visitor Visa from Pakistan 2026: Fees, Funds and Processing
Australia stays a top choice for Pakistani students and families, but the rules tightened sharply through 2025 and 2026 — higher fees, much larger savings requirements, and a stricter genuine-applicant test. Whether you are heading to a university or just visiting relatives, here is what the student (subclass 500) and visitor (subclass 600) visas actually require from Pakistan this year.
Student visa (subclass 500): the new costs
The student visa application fee rose to AUD 2,000 from 1 July 2025 (up from AUD 1,600) and now sits at roughly AUD 2,028 — about PKR 400,000 at current rates — paid online through ImmiAccount when you lodge. On top of that, Australia doubled the post-study work visa fee in 2026, so the longer-term cost of studying there has climbed too. The visa lets you study a registered (CRICOS) course full-time and work a capped number of hours alongside it.
How much money you must show
This is where most Pakistani applications fail. You must prove access to at least AUD 29,710 a year (around PKR 5.4 million) for living costs — raised from AUD 24,505 — plus your first year's tuition and about AUD 2,000 for travel. The funds need a clear, verifiable source and should sit in your or an approved sponsor's account for at least three months before you lodge. Sudden large deposits with no trail are a common refusal trigger.
The Genuine Student (GS) test
The old Genuine Temporary Entrant rule was replaced by the Genuine Student requirement. You answer targeted questions about your study choice, your background and your plans, and a weak, vague or copied GS statement is now one of the leading reasons Pakistani applications are refused. The course should logically follow your previous education, and you must meet the English (IELTS/PTE) and health requirements, including a valid attested set of academic documents.
Visitor visa (subclass 600): for family and tourism
If you are visiting relatives or travelling, the visitor visa (subclass 600) is far simpler. The application fee is about AUD 200 (roughly PKR 38,000), lodged online via ImmiAccount, with biometrics given at the VFS centre. Two rules catch Pakistanis out: as Pakistan is treated as polio-endemic, you need a polio vaccination certificate issued at least four weeks before travel; and the visa allows no work of any kind, including remote work for a Pakistani employer.
Processing times and how to apply
Student visas from Pakistan typically take four to twelve weeks. Visitor visas are faster — most decisions land within three to five weeks, though Pakistan is a high-volume country, so plan for the longer end and apply four to six weeks before you travel (longer for sponsored family stream). Both are lodged through the Australian Government's ImmiAccount portal, never through an agent's personal account.
Hijrat helps Pakistanis prepare strong Australia student and visitor files — Genuine Student statements, financial evidence, document attestation and appointment booking — from our Aabpara office in Islamabad, serving Rawalpindi and overseas Pakistanis.
See also our guides to scholarships for Pakistani students and the Canada study permit 2026 rules.
Disclaimer: Visa fees, financial thresholds and rules change frequently, and the AUD/PKR figures here are approximate and move with the exchange rate. Eligibility and final decisions rest solely with Australia's Department of Home Affairs. Always confirm current requirements on the official immi.homeaffairs.gov.au website before applying.