Today’s Blog will discuss in detail all about the Australian student visa and what you will require to apply for it.
You will need to get an Australian student visa to study in Australia. You must be capable of proving to the Department of Home Affairs that you fulfil the following essential Australian student visa conditions:
Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement
English proficiency requirements
Financial requirements
Health and character requirements
You’ll also be required to fill out an Australian student visa application form, pay the visa application fee, and possibly attend an interview.
To make things simpler for you, let’s look into the details of everything you need to know.
What Is A Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE)?
Introduced in November 2011, the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) condition states that the visa applicant must be capable of demonstrating an authentic intention to remain in Australia temporarily to study or to accompany a student as a dependent (i.e., a spouse or child) or as a guardian.
The Decision-Makers At The Department Of Home Affairs Will Assess The Following Factors:
The situation in your home country
Possible circumstances for you in Australia
Significance of your selected course to your future
Your immigration history
To decide whether you satisfy the GTE requirement, you might be requested to attend an interview at your closest Australian embassy or consulate. However, some applicants will only require to fill in a visa application form.
Here’s what you need to know about completing an Australian student visa application form.
The Student Visa (Subclass 500) is what all international students apply for, and it must be applied online.
Before applying for a visa, you’ll require to obtain a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) or a Letter of Offer guaranteeing you have been accepted into a course registered under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions of Courses (CRICOS). The COE will be in the form of an online code that you must enter into the relevant section in the online visa application. You may also require to pay a deposit towards your tuition fees.
You will be able to change course after that to study in Australia at the same or a higher study level. However, you’ll need to apply for a new visa if you’re altering course to a lower level on the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) or a non-AQF level course (unless changing from a PhD to a master’s). You may also package your studies by studying two or more courses on your Student Visa (Subclass 500), where there is an evident progression from one course to another.
What Are The Requirements For The Australian Student Visa?
According to the Australian student visa requirements, when completing your online visa application form, you’ll require to furnish proof of the following:
Financial requirements: Proof of adequate resources to cover tuition, living and travel costs. Since February 2018, the amount required to prove your living costs apart from tuition and travel has been fixed at AU$20,290 per year. If you have dependents, such as a spouse or children, you will likewise require to supply evidence of covering living costs for them, including school fees. As an alternative, you can show proof that your spouse or parents are keen to help you and that they earn a minimum of AU$60,000 per year.
Requirements for English proficiency: If you come from a non-English-speaking country and haven’t completed a minimum of five years’ study in an English-speaking country, you’ll need to confirm you can speak English to the required level. Acceptable tests include the TOEFL IBT, IELTS, Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic, and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE). The score you will require will rely on whether you are starting a full degree, going through a foundation course, or enrolling on a preliminary English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS).
Requirements for Health: Some students might be requested to undergo a medical and/or a radiological check-up to indicate they’re in good health. This step applies, for example, to individuals who plan to train as a doctor, dentist or nurse. If told to do so, you must attend an appointment with a doctor the Australian immigration department has approved.
Except for Belgium or Norway, all students must purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). You could purchase this cover via your university or directly from one of the five approved providers. They are BUPA Australia, Australian Health Management, Allianz Global Assistance, Medibank Private, and nib OSHC. The expense of this health insurance cover will differ depending on the provider and the duration you purchase the cover for.
Swedish students who have bought health insurance via Kammarkollegiet will not require to purchase OSHC. Belgian and Norwegian students are also not obligated to buy OSHC as part of their visa requirements.
Character requirements: Australian student visa requirements specify that to enter Australia, you must be of good character. This specification includes a criminal record check to ensure you don’t have a substantial criminal record. You might also need to obtain a penal clearance certificate (or police certificate) or acquire a police statement. You may also be asked to complete a Character Statutory Declaration Form.
Documents Needed For Australian Student Visa
The Department of Home Affairs website contains a document checklist feature that will present you with a list of documents needed for your precise circumstances.
Generally, Students Must Submit The Following:
Completed Australian student visa application form (157A)
Paid visa application fee – presently AU$620 in most cases
Copy of passport biodata page (some students might be asked to provide their passport physically)
Certificate of Enrolment or Letter of Offer
Proof of adequate funds
Proof of health insurance cover
Test results for English proficiency
Results of the criminal record check
Four recent passport-sized photographs
Once you have accumulated and scanned your supporting documents, you’ll require to make an account and apply with the online ImmiAccount application system.
Many visa applications take four weeks to process. If you study in Australia for a course that is more than 10 months and concludes at the end of an Australian academic year (usually mid-December), your visa will generally be valid until 15 March the following year. If your course is more than 10 months and concludes in January to October, your visa will generally be valid for two months after completing your course.
Under certain circumstances, it might be probable to apply for a further visa at the end of your course. For more details, consult the website of the Department of Home Affairs.
What You Should Know When Using Your Student Visa
You can come into Australia on your student visa up to 90 days before your course starts. Within seven days of arrival, you must notify your education provider of your resident address and inform them if you change the address within seven days.
While on a student visa, you could work a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight during term time and full-time during the holidays. The visa is automatically issued with permission to work. However, you’re not permitted to begin working until your course has started. Also, you must not rely on work to support yourself or your family while in Australia.
If you’re studying for a master’s by research or a PhD, you don’t have any work restrictions. Remember that any work needed as part of your course is not included in the limit. Voluntary/unpaid work is also not comprised in the 40-hour limit if it’s actually voluntary for a non-profit organization and the benefit of the community.
While Holding A Student Visa, You Have Specific Obligations To Fulfil. These Include The Following:
You must stay enrolled in a CRICOS-registered course;
Attend classes frequently;
Make adequate course progress and maintain OSHC health insurance.
There are also specific visa conditions you and your dependents must observe; breaching a visa condition might result in the revocation of your visa.
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