Student Visa Requirements / Visa Procedure
Study Visa
You need to apply for a student visa. To be granted a student visa you must complete a visa application form, lodge it with the evidence required, pay the application charge and satisfy the student visa requirements. You can be granted a student visa only if you intend to study a registered course on a full-time basis and meet with a number of visa conditions after you have entered Australia.
To be granted a student visa you must satisfy the visa requirements and meet with a number of visa conditions for attendance and academic performance which come into effect after your entry in Australia. Your Student (Temporary) Visa will list the conditions that apply specifically to you. It is important to meet with your visa conditions to avoid visa cancellation. Student visa information on this website is an outline only and subject to change. For more detailed, accurate and up-to-date information on student visas and visa requirements please check the Aussizz education. The Student (Temporary) Visa has separate sub-classes for each education sector. You should apply under the visa sub-class for your principal course of study.
The Student (Temporary) Visa has separate sub-classes for each education sector. You should apply under the visa sub-class for your principal course of study.
| Subclass 570 |
Independent ELICOS Sector |
| for international students undertaking ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) as a stand-alone course, and not as a prerequisite to commencing another course (for example, a degree course) |
| Subclass 572 |
Vocational education and training (VET) sector |
| Covers Certificate I, II, III and IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma |
| Subclass 573 |
Higher education sector |
| Covers a Bachelor degree, Graduate certificate, and Graduate diploma |
| Subclass 574 |
Masters and Ph.D. sector |
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Covers a Masters degree by coursework or by research, and a Ph.D.degree
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| Subclass 575 |
Non-award foundation studies/other sector |
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Covers foundation, bridging or other courses that do not lead to the award of a degree, diploma or other formal award
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| Subclass 576 |
AusAID or Defence sponsored sector |
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Covers full-time study undertaken by AusAID or Defence-sponsored students for the whole or part of an education or training course offered by an Australian education provider
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| (Check 'Applying for a Student Visa' information sheet Form 1160i) |
- You are of good character
- You are of sound health
- You have acceptable health insurance through the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for yourself and members of your family unit accompanying you to Australia
- You have no outstanding debts to the Commonwealth of Australia, or have made arrangements acceptable to the Minister to repay such a debt
- If assessed at level 1 or 2, or you are in Australia under any assessment level, an electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE) certificate is required before you lodge your application and a copy is to be furnished with your application
- If you are outside Australia and assessed at level 3, 4 or 5 you will need an 'offer of a place in a course' letter from your Australian education provider at the time you lodge your application. If you are at Assessment level 3 or 4 you must apply for Pre-Visa Assessment.
- An electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE) certificate issued by your education provider after you lodge your application if you are requested by the Australian embassy to do so. Aussizz can help you with this.
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- You must satisfy attendance and course requirements and maintain a valid enrolment for your course
- You must not work unless you have special permission
- You must maintain your Overseas Student Health (OSHC) cover while in Australia
- You must leave Australia before your visa expires
- You must remain with the education provider you originally enrolled with for the first year of your course or, if the course is less than 12 months, for the duration of your course
- You must advise your education provider of your residential address within 7days of your arrival in Australia and must advise any address change
- If you change education provider you must inform your current education provider within 7 days of issue of an eCoE
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| Application for a student (temporary) visa |
Form 157A |
| Application for a student visa with permission to work |
Form 157P |
| Only to be lodged after you have arrived in Australia and commenced study in a registered course in Australia |
| Application for a student visa with permission to change education provider |
Form 157C |
| Application for pre-qualified institution (PQI) status |
Form 157Q |
| Short Term Visitor/Tourist Visas - Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) |
ETA |
Country assessment levels
Each education sector in each country is rated according to 4 Assessment Levels based on the levels of students not meeting with their visa conditions. The visa requirements or Evidentiary Standards you must satisfy are increasingly difficult from Assessment Level 1 through to Assessment Level 4. A fifth Assessment Level is available for emergency use and has the most stringent requirements. Further information on country assessment levels can be found at the DIMIA website.
| Financial ability to cover air fares, tuition fees and other expenses related to your education and stay in Australia |
| English Language Proficiency |
| Likely compliance with visa conditions |
| Any other relevant matters such as age, academic background and usefulness of course for employment and immigration history |
| Capacity to support any family unit members for the duration of your stay in Australia |
| The specific provisions for each of these depend upon the country assessment level and are described in the Student Booklets provided by DIMIA for each sector |
Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment
An Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) is issued by your Australian education provider and is the only accepted evidence of enrolment for processing student visa applications. Contingent on your country of nationality and your principal course of study you may have to undergo a Pre-Visa Assessment (PVA) before an institution issues an eCoE. The institution will advise you of its requirements but generally it will require payment of at least one semester of course fees before issuing an eCoE. A copy of your eCoE will be submitted for getting a student visa.
Information collected through the eCoE process includes the student visa application, visa grant and visa compliance data from a student's arrival in Australia and course commencement through to their departure from Australia.