Australian Visa Application Document Checklist Tool

Evidence of your identity. Attach a copy of your passport. Also include a certified copy of your birth certificate, national identity card or driver licence where you have these.

Evidence of your intended study must be provided to make a valid application. Unless you are in a special category listed below, you must provide:

• a Confirmation of Enrolment(CoE) for all intended courses if applying outside Australia.
• a CoE or letter of offer for all intended courses if applying in Australia (a CoE must be provided before the visa can be granted).

Special categories

• Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade sponsored – provide a letter of support
• Australian Department of Defence sponsored – provide a letter of support
• secondary exchange student – provide an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student form
• postgraduate research student required to remain in Australia for marking of your thesis – provide a letter from your education provider.

Evidence of accommodation and welfare arrangements in Australia if you are under 18 years of age must be provided to make a valid application.

This must be one of the following:

Form 157N - Nomination of a student guardian in Australia
• Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare letter from the student’s education provider.
• An Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student form for secondary exchange students only.
• Letter of Support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Australian Department of Defence that arrangements have been made for the student’s welfare.

If you have a child under the age of 18 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.

If you have sole custody of the child/ren, provide evidence such as a court order.

Evidence to show that you meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement for a student visa. This must include a statement in your application form that you intend to stay in Australia temporarily and/or documentation to support claims. The statement must be written by the applicant even if using an agent.

You can include evidence such as:

• Proof of employment – your current or most recent employment which includes payslips or a contract. You can also attach your most recent curriculum vitae or résumé. Your curriculum vitae or résumé should include employment and educational history.
• Qualifications - a certified copy of your academic transcripts, Educational Certificate (Degree, Diploma etc.) or letter/statement from your overseas Education Institution.
• Australian qualifications - a certified copy of your academic transcripts, Educational Certificate (Degree, Diploma etc.) or letter/statement from your Australian Education Institution.

We will consider your circumstances, your immigration history, if you are a minor and the intentions of a parent, legal guardian or spouse, and any other relevant matter.

If anyone in the application has changed his or her name, certified copies of documents verifying the name change. This includes a marriage or deed poll certificate or a certified copy of evidence of the name change.

Evidence of your relationship with your spouse/de facto partner. This includes a certified copy of your marriage certificate, Family Book, Household Booklet or other evidence of family composition.

Evidence of your employment history can include payslips or a contract if you are currently or recently employed. You can also attach your most recent curriculum vitae or résumé outlining both employment and study for the past five years.

If you have been studying you can include copies of your transcripts.

Note: You do not need to provide this if you are sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Department of Defence or if you are a secondary exchange student.

Provide a completed and signed Form 956 - Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance.

Make sure you tick yes to having an authorised recipient and complete the required contact information in the application form if you attach this document. Only attach Form 956 if it is in the list of required documents at the end of the application form. 

Provide a completed and signed Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient.

Make sure you tick yes to having an authorised recipient and complete the required contact information in the application form if you attach this document. Only attach Form 956 if it is in the list of required documents at the end of the application form. 

Evidence of enrolment of an accompanying dependent child 5 to 18 years of age at an Australian school. If any family unit members are 5 to 17 years of age (inclusive) and will live with the applicant in Australia, documentation confirming their enrolment in an Australian school.

If you are undertaking research in Australia, attach a copy of your research (thesis/project) topic and your curriculum vitae or résumé.

Evidence of your identity. Attach a copy of your passport. Also include a certified copy of your birth certificate, national identity card or driver licence where you have these.

Evidence of your intended study must be provided to make a valid application. Unless you are in a special category listed below, you must provide:

• a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for all intended courses if applying outside Australia.
• a CoE or letter of offer for all intended courses if applying in Australia (a CoE must be provided before the visa can be granted).

Special categories

You do not need to supply a Confirmation of Enrolment if you are:

• Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade sponsored – provide a letter of support
• Australian Department of Defence sponsored – provide a letter of support
• secondary exchange student – provide an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student form
• postgraduate research student required to remain in Australia for marking of your thesis – provide a letter from your education provider.

Evidence of accommodation and welfare arrangements in Australia if you are under 18 years of age must be provided to make a valid application.

This must be one of the following:

• Form 157N - Nomination of a student guardian in Australia
• confirmation of appropriate accommodation and welfare letter from the student’s education provider
• an acceptance advice of secondary exchange student form for secondary exchange students only
• letter of support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Australian Department of Defence stating that arrangements have been made for the student’s welfare.

If you have a child under the age of 18 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.

If you have sole custody of the child/ren, provide evidence such as a court order.

Evidence to show that you meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement for a student visa. This must include a statement in your application form that you intend to stay in Australia temporarily and/or documentation to support claims. The statement must be written by the applicant even if using an agent.

You can include evidence such as:

• Proof of employment – your current or most recent employment which includes payslips or a contract. You can also attach your most recent curriculum vitae or résumé. Your curriculum vitae or résumé should include employment and educational history.
• Qualifications - a certified copy of your academic transcripts, Educational Certificate (Degree, Diploma etc.) or letter/statement from your overseas Education Institution.
• Australian qualifications - a certified copy of your academic transcripts, Educational Certificate (Degree, Diploma etc.) or letter/statement from your Australian Education Institution.

We will consider your circumstances, your immigration history, if you are a minor and the intentions of a parent, legal guardian or spouse, and any other relevant matter.

If anyone in the application has changed his or her name, certified copies of documents verifying the name change. This might include a marriage or deed poll certificate or a certified copy of evidence of the name change.

Evidence of your relationship with your spouse/de facto partner. This could include a certified copy of your marriage certificate, Family Book, Household Booklet or other evidence of family composition.

Evidence of current or most recent employment which might include payslips or a contract. You can also attach your most recent curriculum vitae or résumé.

Your curriculum vitae or résumé should include full employment and educational history, including dates and positions held for at least the last five years.

Provide a completed and signed Form 956 - Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance.

Make sure you tick yes to having an authorised recipient and complete the required contact information in the application form if you attach this document. Only attach Form 956 if it is in the list of required documents at the end of the application form.

Provide a completed and signed Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient.

Make sure you tick yes to having an authorised recipient and complete the required contact information in the application form if you attach this document. Only attach Form 956A if it is in the list of required documents at the end of the application form. 

Evidence of enrolment of an accompanying dependent child 5 to 18 years of age at an Australian school. If any family unit members are 5 to 17 years of age (inclusive) and will live with the applicant in Australia, documentation confirming their enrolment in an Australian school.

If you are undertaking research in Australia, attach a copy of your research (thesis/project) topic and your curriculum vitae or résumé.