Visa
Australia student visa for ELICOS English courses: 2026 work rights and fees
Subclass 500 rules for ELICOS: CRICOS enrolment, Genuine Student test, 48-hour fortnight work limit, and the July 2026 visa application charge.
The short answer
An ELICOS English course in Australia normally needs a Student visa (subclass 500), not a visitor visa. Study Australia states holders may work up to 48 hours a fortnight once the course is in session, and not before the course starts. From 1 July 2026 the standard Student visa application charge is AUD 2,500; independent ELICOS applicants can pay a concessional charge. Confirm the live fee on the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator.
Jump to a section
Which visa covers an ELICOS English course
ELICOS sits on the Student visa (subclass 500) list published by Study Australia and Home Affairs. You need a Confirmation of Enrolment from a CRICOS-registered provider. Visitor permission is the wrong product for a full-time English course that is meant to last months. Lodge through ImmiAccount and treat the Genuine Student requirement as a real test, not a formality.
ELICOS work rights: 48 hours a fortnight
Condition 8105 limits most subclass 500 students to 48 hours of work a fortnight while the course is in session. Study Australia says you cannot work before the course starts. Scheduled official breaks usually allow unlimited hours; do not invent extra holidays. A fortnight is a Monday-to-Sunday 14-day block. Breaching 8105 can lead to visa cancellation.
Student visa fees from 1 July 2026
Study Australia reported on 3 July 2026 that the standard Student visa application charge rose from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500. Independent ELICOS and some ASEAN and Pacific passport holders stay on a concessional charge with CPI adjustment. Use the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator for your passport and course type. The charge is separate from tuition, OSHC health cover, and flights.
Research checklist before you count on Sydney wages
Get a written CoE, the CRICOS course code, start date, and weekly contact hours. Ask whether the ELICOS provider expects you to work, then ignore that advice if it conflicts with condition 8105. Budget Sydney or Melbourne rent without wages, because work is a concession, not a funding plan. Check processing times on Home Affairs for your country, not a blog.
Cape Town as a cheaper alternative to ELICOS
Cape Town undercuts Sydney on a 3–12 month English budget because tuition and homestay are priced in rand. EnglishHubSA's cost guide puts Cape Town living costs, excluding tuition, around USD 700–1,100 a month. South Africa's language-course study visa does not usually include general work rights, so Cape Town wins on price, not on wages. Long-haul flights and neighbourhood safety habits are the other honest trade-offs.
Questions families ask
Frequently asked questions
Can I work in Australia before my ELICOS course starts?
No. Study Australia says Student visa holders must not work before the course of study commences, unless a different visa already allows work.
Is the Australia student work limit still 48 hours a fortnight in 2026?
Yes, for most subclass 500 students while the course is in session. Confirm condition 8105 on your grant letter and VEVO, not on social media.
Do ELICOS students pay the full AUD 2,500 visa charge?
Not always. Study Australia says independent ELICOS applicants are on the concessional charge. Run the Home Affairs estimator for the exact figure.
Where do I confirm the current Australia rule?
Use immi.homeaffairs.gov.au for subclass 500 and Study Australia's Student visa (subclass 500) page for work-hour wording.
From research to shortlist
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