Australian Student Visa Application: Explained

Do you want to study in Australia and make your dream come true? If yes, you need to apply for a student visa.

To get a student visa, you first need to enrol in a course in Australia by receiving a letter of offer. Next, after accepting the letter of offer, you will receive the CoE letter (Confirmation of Enrolment)

This Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) letter is mandatory to lodge a student visa application.

Students applying from outside Australia must submit the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) with their visa application. The letter of offer is not enough to apply for a student visa.

1. Eligibility Criteria For Australian Student Visa

Any international student above six years of age who has a confirmation of enrollment letter and a letter of offer from an education provider can apply for an Australian student visa.

Students below 18 years of age must make appropriate welfare arrangements for their stay in Australia before applying for a student visa.

Students must meet specific criteria before applying for a student visa. They must supply evidence proving they meet all the requirements to obtain the visa.

Although these requirements vary depending upon your country of passport, generally following documents are required by the Department of Home Affairs to grant an Australian student visa:

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

• You must submit a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) to obtain an Australian student visa. You also must be enrolled in a course registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). 

Genuine Temporary Entrant

• You must provide a personal statement in English stating your intention to come to Australia. This statement should satisfy the visa officer in deciding that the student's intention of coming to Australia is temporarily to gain a top-quality education.

English Language Proficiency

• Students from a non-English speaking country may have to take an English test to prove their English language proficiency. You must obtain a minimum test score in an acceptable English Language Test to apply for a student visa. The following English Language Tests are accepted:

• IELTS: International English Language Testing System

• TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language

• C1 Advanced: Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)

• PTE: Pearson Test of English

• OET: Occupational English Test

Financial Capacity

• You must have enough money to pay your tuition fees and living expenses while studying in Australia. The Department of Home Affairs may ask students to provide evidence of their financial capacity and visa application.

• Students must have enough money to pay for travel and tuition fees and can cover their living expenses and any family members accompanying them to Australia.

Health Insurance

• You must meet the student visa health requirements. Further, you must do medical tests as part of the visa application process before applying for the visa.

• It's also mandatory for overseas students to obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which provides medical and hospital insurance to international students in Australia.

Character

• Students entering Australia need to be of good character. The Department of Home Affairs assesses their character based on the answers to the questions they provide in their student visa application. 

• The Department of Home Affairs may ask a student to provide further information if they become doubtful of a student's character.

Welfare Arrangements (Students Below 18 Years of Age)

• Students under 18 years of age have to either choose a student guardian in Australia or a guardian who will accompany them to Australia on a Student Guardian Visa. Students also have the option to ask their education provider to organize these welfare arrangements for them.

2. Student Visa Application Cost and Processing Time

The starting cost of an Australian student visa (subclass 500) is AUD 650. There can be other costs related to the procurement of documents needed for the student visa application.

Most students can obtain a student visa within 1 – 2 months. The visa processing time can be different depending upon the country from where the student applies. It can also vary depending on the student's circumstances and how long it takes to verify his documents and seek additional information.

3. Australian Student Visa Process (Simplified)

 Seeking an Australian student visa is a 3-step process:

1. Apply to study at an Australian educational institution and get accepted.

2. Prepare all the documents required to lodge a student visa application.

3. Apply for a student visa yourself or through an education agent.

4. Extending Your Stay in Australia

An Australian student visa allows you to study, stay and work in Australia for up to 5 years. Upon finishing your studies, you can extend your visa for further studies, graduation, work, holiday, or migrating to Australia.

5. Student Visa Conditions

All international students must abide by the conditions of their student visa; failing to do so results in visa cancellation. Students can work up to 40 hours per fortnight. However, they can work unlimited hours during course breaks. They can start working as soon as their course commences.

Only students doing a Doctorate or Master's by research can work full-time on a student visa.

All students must remain enrolled in a course registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). It is also crucial for students to maintain proper attendance as required by their education provider. 

International students must hold active health insurance, i.e. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), for the entire course duration.

Students must inform their education provider of their address within seven days of coming to Australia and within seven days of any change in their address. It's needless to mention that international students must not indulge in any unlawful activity while studying in Australia.

6. Learning English in Australia

Suppose your English language skills could be better. In that case, you can study a stand-alone English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students. (ELICOS) in Australia before commencing your formal studies.

7. Inviting Family Members to Join You in Australia

International students can invite their family members to join them in Australia. If any family member accompanies the student to Australia, they must lodge a combined application. Suppose a family member plans to join the student later on. In that case, the student must declare them on the student visa application. 

The student needs to show that he has the funds to support any family member who joins him in Australia.

8. Conclusion

Australian student visa requirements vary on the country where you live. Therefore, checking the conditions before preparing the documents will be wise.

Although you can apply for a student visa, many choose to go with an education agent to simplify the application process. Students applying through an education agent must ensure that the agent is an authorized representative of the educational institution where they plan to study.

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