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Effective from 1st July 2016, international students who want to come to Australia to study full-time at a registered educational institution must apply for a Student visa (subclass 500). A new immigration risk framework, simplified student visa framework (SSVF) has been implemented to assess Student visa applications. The applicant will be assessed as regular or streamlined based on the provider and country of passport.
If the visa applicant falls under regular category, it is mandatory to satisfy English language and financial capacity requirements in addition to the general requirements. If the visa applicant falls under streamlined category, it is not mandatory to provide the evidence of English language and financial capacity.
Effective from 1st July 2016, international students who want to come to Australia to study full-time at a registered educational institution must apply for a Student visa (subclass 500). A new immigration risk framework, simplified student visa framework (SSVF) has been implemented to assess Student visa applications. The applicant will be assessed as regular or streamlined based on the provider and country of passport.
If the visa applicant falls under regular category, it is mandatory to satisfy English language and financial capacity requirements in addition to the general requirements. If the visa applicant falls under streamlined category, it is not mandatory to provide the evidence of English language and financial capacity.
General requirements
Enrolment
The visa applicant must provide evidence of enrolment at the time of application lodgement.
- If applied outside Australia, Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for all intended courses.
- If applied inside Australia, Letter of offer or CoE for all intended courses. However, CoE(s) must be provided before the visa can be granted.
- Visa applicant(s) must meet the health requirements. Visa applicant(s) might need to undergo health examinations as part of the visa application process and can choose to undertake them prior to lodging the visa application.
- Visa applicant(s) must satisfy character requirements.
- Visa applicant(s) must have adequate health insurance while in Australia. It can be only meet by obtaining Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless exempted.
The genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement is an integrity measure to ensure that the student visa programme is used as intended and not as a way for international students to maintain ongoing residency in Australia.
The GTE requirement applies to all visa applicants. The officer assessing the visa will take into account whether the individual circumstances indicate an intention for a temporary stay in Australia.
The visa applicant(s) should provide evidence of current or most recent employment and academic qualification(s)/study, as applicable.
- If a child under the age of 18 is included in the visa application and one or both parents (or legal guardians) are not applying for an Australian visa, both parents will need to complete and sign the form 1229 - Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years.
- For student applicants who are under 18 years of age, evidence of accommodation and welfare arrangements in Australia must be provided at the time of visa application lodgement.
If any dependent applicant(s) is 5 – 17 years of age, evidence of enrolment in an Australian school is required.
Additional requirements for regular applicant
English language requirements
The main applicant needs to provide evidence of English language skills as part of the visa application. It is usually fulfilled by a satisfactory test score in an approved English language test, unless exempted. The following English language test providers such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, CAE, OET scores are acceptable for visa purpose.
Financial capacityrequirements
The visa applicant needs to have enough money that is genuinely available to pay for all cost associated with the study in Australia. Evidence of financial capacity can be demonstrated from either of the following:
- sufficient funds to cover travel costs to Australia and 12 months' tuition, living and schooling costs (for school aged dependents, if applicable) for the main visa applicant and accompanying family members, or
- evidence that the spouse or parents of the main applicant are providing financial support and they have an annual income of at least AUD 60,000 for a single student visa application or at least AUD 70,000 for a visa application that includes accompanying family members
- an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Students (AASES) form for secondary exchange students only
- a letter of support from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Department of Defence
Family members applying to join the main visa applicant
Dependent family member(s) can make a combined Student visa application along with the main applicant or they can apply for Student visa, as subsequent entrant(s), to join the main visa holder later, provided the main visa holder has declared them in the visa application or they became a dependent family member after the grant of the visa (such as a newborn baby).
The main applicant must have adequate funds to support self and all accompanying family members, as determined by the financial capacity requirements.
Visa obligations
Visa holder(s) must abide by the visa conditions as indicated in the visa grant letter and comply with the state and territory laws of Australia. Different visa conditions may apply to the main visa holder and dependent visa holder(s). Visa holder(s) must maintain the following visa conditions in addition to other visa conditions, as applicable.
Main visa holders can generally work up to 40 hours per fortnight when the course is in session and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Students pursuing master's degree by research or doctoraldegree do not have work restrictions.
Accompanying family members can generally work up to 40 hours per fortnight. If the main visa holder is doing a master's degree or a doctoral degree, family members can work unlimited hours, unless restricted by state and territory laws.
Visa holder(s) must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance (generally Overseas Student Health Cover) while in Australia, unless exempted.
Accompanying family members aged 18 years or older can study in Australia only for up to three months. If they want to study for more than three months, they must apply for their own student visa.
- Work Conditions
- Health Insurance
- Study Restriction for Dependents
Visa entitlements
- Main visa holder can study registered full-time course(s) in Australia.
- Visa holder(s) can generally work a specified number of hours.
- Visa holder(s) can generally stay in Australia until the course is finished.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long is result of English tests valid for student visa application?
The results are valid for 2 Years and the test must have been taken no more than two years before the student visa application.
Q. Can the applicant use their Diploma or Cert IV level certificates in lieu of English test score for a student visa? Yes, applicant can satisfy the English language requirement the applicant has fully completed or completed substantial component of a course at the Certificate IV or higher level in Australia within two years before applying for the visa.
Q. What is the major difference between regular and streamline categories?
The mandatory document requirements for English and Financials Capacity differs for applicants in regular or streamlined category. Applicant can also check the mandatory documents using Document Checklist Tool from
Q. Can student visa be lodged using offer letter?
Only if the applicant is in Australia, s/he can apply for student visa with a letter of offer; however, the applicant must obtain a CoE to be granted the visa.
Q. How is the applicant assessed against the character requirements?
Visa applicant(s) must answer a number of character related questions on the visa application form and the information provided will be used to assess the character. Applicant(s) might be asked for more information by DIBP, if required.
Q. Who does not require Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for Student visa?
A Norwegian student covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme
A Swedish student(s) covered by the National Board of Student Aid or by Kammarkollegiet
A Belgian student covered under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia.
Q. What is requirement for welfare arrangements for an applicant under 18 year old?
To be granted a student visa, the applicant must demonstrate that s/he has adequate welfare arrangements in place for the length of the student visa or until they turn 18 years of age. They can do this by demonstrating that they will be accompanied by a parent or legal custodian, a suitable relative or that the student's education provider approves the arrangements for the student's accommodation, support and general welfare.
What is satisfactory test score to meet the English language requirement?
The student applicant needs to provide evidence of English language proficiency and DIBP accepts the following minimum English language test scores:
| English Language Test Providers | Minimum Test Score (MTS) | MTS where combined with at least 10 weeks ELICOS | MTS where combined with at least 20 weeks ELICOS |
| nternational English Language Testing System | 5.5 | 5 | 4.5 |
| *Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper based | 527 | 500 | 450 |
| TOEFL internet based test | 46 | 35 | 32 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced(Certificate in Advanced English) | 162 | 154 | 147 |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) | 42 | 36 | 30 |
| Occupational English Test | Pass** | N/A | N/A |
*The TOEFL paper based test will only be accepted from limited countries
**The Occupational English Test includes a mark between A and E. An A or B is considered a pass.
Q. Are there any exemptions for the English language requirement?
If one of the following applies, the applicant does not need to provide evidence of an English test score with the visa application:
If the applicant is enrolled in full-time school studies as a principal course including in a secondary exchange programme, a postgraduate research course, a standalone English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS), and Foreign Affairs or Defence sponsored students
If the applicant has completed at least five years' study in one or more of the following countries: Australia, UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or the Republic of Ireland
If the applicant is a citizen and holds a passport from UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or Republic of Ireland