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Australia Student Visa Eligibility & Rules - Complete Details

Written by  Piyush Bhartiya

Reviewed by  Priyanka Bhargava

Published: Mon, September 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  Updated: Mon, September 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  9 mins read

Australia Student Visa Eligibility & Rules - Complete Details

Written by  Piyush Bhartiya

Reviewed by  Priyanka Bhargava

Published: Mon, Sep 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  Updated: Mon, Sep 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  9 mins read
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Australia Student Visa Eligibility and Rules

Individuals who wish to pursue their higher education in Australia will need to obtain an Australian student visa. All international students apply for the same Australian visa: the Student Visa (Subclass 500). Interested students will need to complete a visa application form, pay the visa application fee, and possibly attend an interview. Australian visa applications by international students are processed online by creating an account on ImmiAccount.

Individuals must be able to provide information for the following to the Department of Home Affairs:

  • Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement
  • Financial requirements
  • English proficiency requirements
  • Health and character requirements

Australia Student Visa New Rules

Australia had created various categories to classify all the international students that hoped to pursue their higher education in the country. However, over the years, the process became stringent and confusing to understand and directly impacted the number of international students who applied to study. For that reason, the Australian visa rules have recently been altered to try and simplify the process.

Under the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF), the following Australian visa rules apply: 

  • Applicants will need to apply for a single Student visa (subclass 500), regardless of their chosen course of study
  • Applicants will need to meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement
  • Applicants will need to provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) Statement
  • Applicants who need to supply evidence of their English language proficiency may submit results from: 
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT)
    • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic 
    • Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) 
  • Applicants will need to meet health requirements

Eligibility For Student Visa In Australia 

Australia attracts a large number of international students owing to its exceptional yet relatively affordable education system. Moreover, the degree gained in the country is internationally recognized. However, meeting the Australian visa eligibility is of the utmost importance for students who are interested in pursuing their higher education in the country. The Australian visa eligibility criteria dictate that applicants must: 

  • be accepted into full-time study
  • be a genuine temporary entrant
  • be of a suitable age
  • have a “good” character
  • meet health requirements
  • meet specified financial requirements
  • demonstrate appropriate English language skills
  • No debts to the Australian Government

How and When to Apply for Australian Student Visa

When to apply for Australian Student Visa: Apply for an Australian student visa (Subclass 500) only after getting accepted into a study program at an Australian university. A student is required to submit his/her visa application 12 weeks prior to the date of orientation at said university.

How to apply for Australian Student Visa: Acquiring an Australian Student visa is a fairly simple process; applicants will need to gather a few basic documents and fill out the online application form.

  1. Acquire proof of acceptance to an Australian university for a study program which has been registered by the Commonwealth Register of Institutions of Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
  2. Acquire Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement Statement
  3. Acquire proof of proficiency in English by providing your IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or CAE test scores
  4. Acquire proof of having adequate financial resources by providing evidence of having the funds to live in Australia for 12 months which include living, tuition, and travel costs
  5. Acquire proof of character
  6. Register an account with ImmiAccount on the Australian Home Affairs website
  7. Pay the application fee through the ImmiAccount portal; it costs $575 AUD to apply for an Australian student visa
  8. Fill out the health form on ImmiAccount
  9. Complete the student visa application form by attaching all the required documents and include all necessary personal information

Eligibility Requirements for Australian Student Visa

In 2016, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection introduced several key changes to the Australian student visa procedure. The Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) has replaced the previous student visa system. A number of requirements need to be met in order to be eligible for an Australian student visa.

The eligibility requirements are as follows:

  • Applicants must be accepted into full-time study - only students who have enrolled in full-time study can apply for a visa.
  • Applicants must be a genuine temporary entrant - students need to show that they are coming to Australia for genuine study purposes and have a realistic prospect of returning home once their studies have finished.
  • Applicant must have a “good” character - applicants must make a declaration on the visa application form that they:
    • have not been involved in criminal activity
    • have not been previously deported
  • Applicants must meet health requirements - applicants must undergo medical examinations and health insurance is compulsory; evidence of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is required.
  • Applicants must not have any debts to the Australian Government - The student must not owe money to Australia or have agreed to repayment plans in place. 

FAQs

  1. When can I enter Australia on a student visa?

Visa conditions normally allow you to arrive well in advance – up to 90 days before the commencement of your course at your university. Attach the visa to your passport to gain entry to Australia. You will be asked to fill out a health declaration form to pass through customs.

2. How many funds are required for an Australian student visa?

Applicants will need to provide evidence that they have the funds to live in Australia for 12 months which include living, tuition, and travel costs. One year’s living expenses for a student is around AUD 19,830, while travel cost is around AUD 2,000.

3. Is an Australian student visa easy to get?

The procedure of applying for an Australian student visa has been significantly simplified after the introduction of the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) that came in 2016. Provided the requirements given by the SSVF have been fulfilled and the application form has been filled properly, getting a student visa is easy.

4. Is the gap acceptable for Australia’s study visa?

Gap years up to 1 year of your last graduation/certification date is acceptable when applying for an Australian student visa. If the gap year is longer, it is accepted only if the time was spent acquiring relevant work experience.

5. Does an Australian student visa get rejected?

An Australian student visa can get rejected, the student must be able to prove to the Department of Home Affairs on the following Australian student visa requirements:

  • Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement
  • Financial requirements
  • English-proficiency requirements
  • Health and character requirements

If a student falls short in any of the requirements then there is a high probability that their Australian student visa application may get rejected.

About the Author
PB
Piyush Bhartiya
Study Abroad Expert & Co-Founder @ AdmitKard
Piyush values education and has studied from the top institutes of IIT Roorkee, IIM Bangalore, KTH Sweden and Tsinghua University in China. Post completing his MBA, he has worked with the world's # 1 consulting firm, The Boston Consulting Group and focused on building sales and marketing vertical for top MNCs and Indian business houses.