Student visas:

Australia is a great country to live and study. It provides high-quality courses, a fantastic lifestyle and a welcoming environment for international students. Once you have been accepted into your Australian course, the next step is to organize your student visa.

Applying for a student visa:

You do not need to apply for your student visa until you are accepted by your Australian education provider and have received formal proof of offer or Enrolment. You can apply once you receive either a letter of offer or a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). However, if you submit only a letter of offer your visa cannot be granted until the CoE has been issued. You will need a student visa for the whole time that you study in Australia.

You can apply for your student visa in person at your local Australian embassy or by mail. If you are a citizen of India, Indonesia, Thailand or The People’s Republic of China you also have the option of applying online through a migration agent. Other countries do not have the option to apply online e.g., you may not apply online for visa from Pakistan.

Student Visa Requirements:

Before you apply for an Australian course you should contact the Australian embassy in your country to find out if you will be eligible for a student visa, how to make your application, and what your document requirements will be. There is a list of Australian embassies on this website.

There are different visa requirements depending on ‘what type of study you are enrolled in’. Student visas are divided into seven subclasses that depend on the type of study you have enrolled in.

Your country of origin:

When applying for a student visa, carefully check the country assessment level for your home country. The visa assessment levels depend on where your passport was issued and your visa subclass.

General and other student visa requirements:

Regardless of visa subclass or assessment level, there are a number of general requirements that international students must meet in order to be eligible for a student visa. These include requirements relating to:

• Health
• Character
• Health insurance
• Debts to the Commonwealth
• Custody, accommodation and general welfare arrangements for students under 18 years of age.
• Other student visa requirements may include academic, age and career requirements, English language and financial requirements.

Guardian - Parents of students living in Australia:

If you are the parent or legal guardian of a child under 18 who is moving to Australia to study, you can also apply for permission to live in Australia as a student guardian. Student guardians can live in Australia for the duration of their child’s course or until the child turns 18.

In order to be eligible, parents or legal guardians must meet the requirements listed above, relating to health, character and financial status. It is especially important that a guardian shows that he or she is equipped to provide for the welfare of the student.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship can provide more details about eligibility and the application process for the student guardian visa. Visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.

Help with your visa requirements:

The best way to find out your specific visa requirements is to visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website. You can also contact an education agent or the international office at your intended Australian education provider for advice and help with your visa application.

Fees and charges:

A non-refundable visa application charge of AUD $450 including AUD $60 for permission to work applies to most visa applications, with the exception of secondary exchange students and students sponsored under Commonwealth approved programs.

In addition, there may be other expenses associated with your visa application, such as costs for medical examinations, police checks, and the translation of documents into English (if required).