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A student visa allows people who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to study in Australia. Anyone who is not an Australian resident can apply under the new program.
 To become a student in Australia you must undertake a course of study in a registered course on a full time basis. The course must be offered by a recognised Australian education provider who is registered with the Australian Government to offer courses to overseas students.
You may be able to bring your family members with you to Australia while you study.
Your spouse or partner will also hold a temporary visa whilst in Australia. Any dependant children who are required to attend school will also need to apply for a student visa.
Under Australia’s newly structured student visa program students are assessed under different visa subclasses in relation to the course of study they wish to undertake.
To meet visa requirements, prospective students must show they meet assessment factors which relate to the applicant’s country of nationality and the education sector they will study in.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has asserted that applicants from certain countries are at higher risk of being unable to meet their obligations whilst on a student visa. Students are now required to provide more assurances that they can meet their obligations if DIAC assess them as a risk.
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Student visa subclasses which have been in effect since 01/07/2001 are as follows:
Independent ELICOS
- English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS), undertaken as a stand-alone course, not leading to an Australian award,
- ELICOS undertaken as a stand-alone course, leading to a certificate I, II, III or IV
Schools
- primary school course,
- secondary school course, including junior and senior secondary, or
- approved secondary exchange program
Vocational Education and Training
- certificate I, II, III, and IV (except ELICOS),
- diploma, or
- advanced diploma, Note: Former RATE system qualifications: Certificate, Advanced certificate and Associate diploma
Higher Education
- bachelor degree,
- associate degree,
- graduate certificate,
- graduate diploma, or
- masters coursework,
Postgraduate Research
- masters research, or
- doctoral degree
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Each student visa application is assessed according to an assessment level. The assessment level is determined by the passport held, and Visa Subclass.
The assessment levels relate generally to how likely students are to comply with their visa conditions, based on previous students’ behaviour.
Assessment level 1 represents the lowest assessment level and assessment level 5 the highest. The higher the assessment level, the more evidence you will need to provide to demonstrate your financial capacity, understanding of the English language and other relevant matters. |
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All initial Student Visas are granted with the condition 8101, No Work. This means when you land in Australia you are not entitled to work.
You and members of your family can, however, apply for permission to work but only after you have commenced your studies in Australia.
The main applicant holding the student visa can work 20 hours per week during any week when your course is in session. There are no restrictions on the hours of work when the course is not in session such as vacation periods.
The secondary applicant, i.e. the spouse/partner, can also apply to work 20 hours a week. Secondary applicants can only work more than 20 hours if the main applicant is doing postgraduate study. |
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You may wish to extend your stay in Australia for further study, staying for graduation, a holiday, or migration.
If this is the case then we would advise you to contact an OE Consultant for further information. |
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You will need to be able to show you can pay for:
- your travel to Australia (including any accompanying family members)
- your course costs
- your first year's living expenses (calculated as follows):
- A$12,000 for yourself
- A$4,200 for your spouse (if applicable)
- A$2,400 for the first child (if applicable)
- A$1,800 for each extra child (if applicable)
- A$8,000 for each child aged between 5 and 18 (for school costs)
You will also need to sign a declaration that you have access to sufficient funds to cover the costs (including living costs and school costs for the remainder of the course). |
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For all visa subclasses there are certain conditions that the visa holder must meet. Student Visas are no exception. The following are a few of the most common conditions attached to student visas:
- Condition 8202 requires the student to satisfy attendance and/or course requirements and maintain a valid enrolment for the chosen course of study. Attendance needs to be above 80%
- The student must have made adequate arrangements for health insurance whilst in Australia. This is normally covered in the course provider’s enrolment fees and is compulsory
- The main applicant must make adequate arrangements for the education of any school-age dependant who is staying in Australia for three months or more
- The student and members of the family unit must not work unless granted permission after the course of study has commenced
- Your Student Visa can be granted a maximum of 12 weeks (2 months and 3 weeks) before your course commencement date. You may travel to Australia on a one-way ticket if you hold a Student Visa
- The student must remain with the education provider with whom the student enrolled for the first 12 months of the course (or for the duration of the course if the course lasts for less than 12 months) - save for in exceptional circumstances
- Condition 8533 requires the student to provide their residential address to the education provider within seven days of arrival in Australia. Any changes in address during the course of the studies must also be notified to the education provider within seven days after the change occurs
If a visa holder were to breach any of these conditions then this may result in the visa being cancelled and the holder removed from Australia. |
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In an effort to retain successful overseas students there are three categories of skilled visa which allow successful tertiary-qualified overseas students in Australia to remain permanently.
Applications must be made while the former student is still in Australia, and within six months of completion of a diploma, degree, or trade certificate for award by an Australian educational institution after a qualifying period of full time study in the English language medium at that institution in Australia.
A new temporary Graduate - Skilled visa (subclass 497) is available to allow Student Visa holders to remain in Australia for up to six months while their application for a permanent Skilled Overseas Student visa is being processed.
Applicants for an 880 Independent Overseas Student visa must have a successful skills assessment for a skilled occupation assigned at least 60 points on the skilled occupation list or 50 points if they are a successful PhD student.
Applicants for an 881 Australian-sponsored Overseas Student visa must have a satisfactory skills assessment for a nominated skilled occupation assigned at least 50 points on the Skilled Occupations List.
Applicants for an 882 Designated Area-sponsored Overseas Student visa must simply have a satisfactory skills assessment for any nominated skilled occupation that carries 40 points or more. |
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Australia Immigration 
