New Rules for Australia Study Visa Requirements in 2024

Australia is a top destination for international students. It offers world-class education, diverse cultures, and post-graduation work opportunities. Indian students need an Australian student visa to study in the country.

The student (subclass 500) visa was introduced on July 1, 2016. The visa is necessary for all fields of study, universities, and tuition fees. This visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to five years, matching your enrollment period.

Benefits of the Student Subclass 500 Visa

• Enroll in your desired program and university
• Bring family members to Australia
• Dependents can apply for a dependent visa
• Streamlined visa requirements
• Apply online from inside or outside Australia

Quick Breakdown of Requirements

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Australia Student Visa in 2024 - Process, Requirements, ...

New Genuine Student (GS) Requirement for Australian Student Visas

From March 23, 2024, the Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaces the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement for student visas. This change applies to applications lodged on or after this date.

It ensures that all student visa applicants are genuine students with the primary goal of studying in Australia. It aims to include students who will develop skills needed in Australia and may eventually apply for permanent residence.

Application Questions

In your visa application, you'll answer questions to prove you meet the GS criteria:

1. Current Circumstances: Describe your family, community, employment, and economic ties.
2. Course Choice: Explain why you chose this course and education provider. Also, show an understanding of the course requirements and living conditions in Australia.
3. Benefits: Detail how the course will benefit you in the future.
4. Additional Information: Provide any other relevant details.

Note: Responses must be in English and up to 150 words per question. Attach supporting documents to your ImmiAccount.

Documentation Required

Previous Study: Academic transcripts, qualifications, study duration, certificates.

Previous Study in Australia:

• Complete study history
• Reasons for changing courses or providers
• Study gaps of more than two months.

Current Employment:

• Details of your current employer,
• Job position
• Duration,
• Contact for verification.

Home Country Conditions:

• Personal ties
• Reasons for not studying locally
• Economic conditions.

Economic Evidence:

• Documents showing employment or business activities for the past 12 months
• Potential job offers
• Income tax returns
• Bank statements.

Unrest or Military Service: Reasons and supporting evidence if political unrest or mandatory military service incentivizes leaving your home country.

Assessment Factors

Intent to Study: The main focus is your genuine intention to study in Australia.

Personal Circumstances: Overall situation including family ties, economic conditions, and community connections.

Immigration History: Previous travel and visa history for Australia and other countries. It includes any visa refusals or cancellations.

Home Country Situations:

• Reasons for not studying locally
• Personal and economic ties
• Political unrest.

Australian Situation:

• Your knowledge of the course,
• Education provider
• Living conditions in Australia.

Course Value:

• How the course aligns with your education level
• Relevance to future employment
• Expected benefits.

Minors: For applicants under 18, the intentions of the parent, legal guardian, or spouse are also considered.

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Australia Updates IELTS Requirement for International ...

9 Important Australia Study Visa Requirements

1. Age Requirements

If you're a school student (not part of a secondary school exchange program), you must be at least 6 years old to apply for this visa. Additionally:

• Year 9: You must be under 17 years old.
• Year 10: You must be under 18 years old.
• Year 11: You must be under 19 years old.
• Year 12: You must be under 20 years old.

2. Enrollment Requirements

To apply for a student visa, you must be enrolled in a course of study and provide evidence of this enrollment.

Providing a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE): You must be enrolled in a full-time course. It should find its place on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

• Applying Outside Australia: Include a CoE for each course in your visa application.
• Applying Inside Australia: Provide a CoE or Letter of Offer for all intended courses. You must submit your CoE before the visa can be granted.
• Packaged Courses and CoEs: If you are applying for more than one course, include all CoE codes in your application. Your visa duration will depend on the CoE provided.
• Multiple Courses: You can apply for multiple courses where one leads to the next, with course gaps of less than two months. Provided the gap is between the end of one academic year and the start of the next.

Other Evidence of Enrollment

You do not need a CoE if you are:

Scholarship Student: Enrolled in a full-time course under a scholarship approved by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (provide a letter of support).

Defense Sponsored: Sponsored by the Australian Department of Defence (provide a letter of support).

Exchange Student: A secondary exchange student (provide an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student (AASES) form).

Postgraduate Research: A postgraduate research student needing to stay in Australia while your thesis is marked (provide a letter from your education provider).

3. Welfare and Custody Requirements for Students Under 18

Consent and Custody Documents:

Form 1229: Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18, signed by both parents or legal guardians. If only one parent has custody, provide evidence.

Adequate Welfare Arrangements: Evidence of proper welfare arrangements must be provided.

1. Turning 18 Before Arrival:
   1. No need for welfare arrangements if:
      1. Complete questions 1-8 in Form 157N (Nomination of a Student Guardian).
      2. Have a parent or legal guardian sign the form.
      3. Attach Form 157N and Form 1229 to your application.
2. Under 18 Upon Arrival:
   1. CAAW: Arrange a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) through your education provider, unless you are:
      1. A secondary exchange student (provide AASES form).
      2. Sponsored by Foreign Affairs or Defence (provide a support letter).
   2. Nominating a Guardian: Submit Form 157N and have the guardian apply for a Student Guardian visa (Subclass TU-590).

Nominated Guardian Criteria: Must be a parent, legal custodian, or relative (21 years or older). Guardian can hold:

• Australian citizenship
• Permanent visa
• Temporary substantive visa or Subclass 590 visa

Proof of Relationship

• Include proof such as birth certificates.
• Provide police certificates for each country lived in for over 12 months in the last 10 years (if not a parent/legal custodian).
• Copy of the guardian's passport and proof of Australian residency if applicable.

Welfare Arrangements Duration: Welfare arrangements must be covered until the student turns 18. Also, the applicant must not enter Australia before the welfare arrangements start.

Continuous Welfare Arrangements: If studying with multiple providers, ensure continuous welfare arrangements with no gaps.

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4. English Language Requirements for Student Visa

You may need to provide proof of your English language skills when you submit your visa application.

Proof Required: If required, you must provide proof of:

• A certain test score from an approved English language test. The Australian government accepts scores from these English tests:
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English)
  • CAE or C1 Advanced (Cambridge English: Advanced)
  • OET (Occupational English Test)

or

Falling into an exemption category: You don't need to provide an English test score if you are:

• A citizen with a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, NZ, or Republic of Ireland.
• A Foreign Affairs or Defence sponsored student or a Secondary Exchange student (AASES).
• Enrolled in a registered school course.
• Enrolled in a standalone English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS).
• Enrolled in a course registered and delivered in a language other than English.
• Enrolled in a registered postgraduate research course.
• Have completed at least 5 years of study in English in Australia, the UK, USA, Canada, NZ, South Africa, or the Republic of Ireland.
• Completed the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education in Australia in English within the past 2 years while holding a student visa.
• Completed a substantial component of a Certificate IV or higher course under the Australian Qualifications Framework within the past 2 years while holding a student visa.

Validity of English Language Test

Your test must have been completed within 2 years before:

• The date you lodged your visa application (Regular Evidence level), or
• The date authorities decide on your visa application if evidence wasn't provided initially is considered the Streamlined Evidence level. This level applies when you didn't submit evidence with your initial application.

Points to note:

• At-home or online tests like TOEFL iBT – Home Edition, OET@Home, PTE Academic Online, IELTS Online, and IELTS Indicator are not accepted.
• TOEFL iBT Tests taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024 are not accepted.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced Test: From 12 February 2024, only paper-based test results are accepted. Tests taken before this date are valid if within the specified period.

5. Health Insurance Requirements

As a visa holder, you are responsible for any healthcare costs in Australia. Most visitors don't have access to Medicare. So, you should arrange private health insurance to cover potential medical expenses.

Medicare Eligibility Medicare is generally available only to:

• Australian citizens
• Permanent visa holders
• New Zealand citizens
• Certain applicants for permanent residence

If you're not eligible for Medicare, private health insurance is essential. Without it, you will have to pay for all medical services as a private patient.

Recommended Health Insurance: Getting Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is advised. Check what your policy covers, as not all plans provide comprehensive coverage.

Reciprocal Health Care Agreements If your country has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia, you may be eligible for Medicare. If not, you need private insurance or be prepared to pay all medical costs.

Evidence of Health Insurance Some visas require proof of adequate health insurance. This might include:

• A current private health insurance policy
• A letter of support for scholarship or Defence-sponsored students
• An Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student (AASES) form for exchange students

6. Proof of Funds Requirement

If the document checklist requires proof of your financial capacity, include it with your visa application to avoid refusal. Even if not initially required, we might still request it during processing.

The living cost you declare should meet the visa's minimum requirement. But actual expenses may vary. Research the area's cost of living before deciding.

You can prove your financial ability through

• Bank deposits
• Government loans
• Scholarships, etc

Annual Income:

You can alternatively demonstrate financial capacity by showing that either your parents or your partner had an annual income of at least AUD 87,856 (INR 4,841,164.40). This income must be from the year before your application.

If you're bringing family members, the combined income of your parents or partner must be at least AUD 102,500 (INR 5,648,098.61) in the same period.

Provide official government documents like:

• Recent tax assessments to verify income
• Bank statements
• Direct employer evidence won't suffice.

Calculate the total amount required for your visa application, considering:

• Travel expenses
• 12 months of course fees (or proportionate fees for courses less than 12 months)
• 12 months of living expenses for you and accompanying family members (or proportionate expenses if staying less than 12 months)
• School fees for school-age children (or proportionate fees if attending for less than 12 months).

Validate Funds

Revised Financial Eligibility for Study Visa Released by...

7. Genuine Student Requirement

Ensure applicants are genuine students whose primary reason for staying in Australia is to study. This includes students who may later apply for permanent residence if they develop skills needed in Australia.

Effective Date: For applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.

Application Questions:

1. Current circumstances: Ties to family, community, employment, and economic situations.
2. Course choice: Why study this course in Australia with this provider?
3. Course benefits: How will completing the course benefit the applicant?
4. Additional relevant information: Any other details the applicant wants to include.

Note: Answers must be in English, max 150 words per question.

Additional Requirement: For applicants with previous student visas or non-student visas lodging in Australia.

Supporting Documents:

Previous Study:

• Academic transcripts and certificates
• Details of education providers
• Length of study

Previous Study in Australia:

• Full history of study records
• Reasons for changing courses or providers
• Course progress details
• Any study gaps

Current Employment:

• Employer details
• Job position
• Employment period
• Contact details for employment verification

Circumstances in Home Country:

• Personal ties (family, community, employment)
• Reasons for not studying locally
• Employment/business activities
• Job offers
• Income proof
• Political/civil unrest, military commitments

GS Assessment Criteria:

• Intention to Study: Personal circumstances, immigration history, visa compliance
• Home Country Situations: Reasons for studying abroad, personal/economic ties, political/civil conditions
• Potential in Australia: Knowledge of the course and living in Australia, past qualifications, research undertaken
• Course Value: Consistency with education level, employment prospects, relevance to future employment
• Immigration History: Visa and travel history, previous visa applications, refusals/cancellations

For Minors: Consider the intentions of the parent, legal guardian, or spouse.

8. Character Requirements

To visit or live in Australia, you must be of good character. This applies to visa and citizenship applications.

Meeting the Requirements: You may not meet the character requirements if you have:

• A substantial criminal record
• Been convicted or proven guilty of a child-related sexual crime
• Escaped from immigration detention or committed crimes related to detention
• Associations with criminal groups or involvement in serious crimes (e.g., trafficking, genocide)
• Past conduct showing bad character or posing risks to the community
• Adverse security assessments or Interpol notices
• Convictions for domestic violence

Application Process:

• Declare all criminal conduct and truthfully answer all questions.
• Provide requested information, such as police or military certificates.

Refusal or Cancellation:

• Visas can be refused or canceled based on character grounds.

Decisions consider:

• Protection of the community
• Children's best interests
• International obligations
• Family impact,
• Business/community interests.
• Mandatory cancellation applies if serving a sentence for serious crimes, with 28 days to request revocation.

Appeals:

• You may appeal decisions to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) within specified time limits.
• Judicial review is possible if the decision was not lawfully made.

Military Certificates:

• Required if you served over 12 months in any military force, stating no criminal convictions while in service.

Police Certificates:

• Required for those over 17 who lived in listed countries for at least 12 months in the past 10 years.
• Valid for 12 months and must cover residence period or from age 16.
• Apply for an Australian police certificate using Code 33 for immigration/citizenship.

9. Health Requirement

Visa applicants must meet minimum health standards, known as the 'health requirement.' This is assessed during the visa application process.

Who Needs to Meet the Health Requirement:

• Most visa applicants and sometimes their family members, even if not migrating.
• Applicants must be free from diseases or conditions that:
  • Pose significant healthcare and community service costs.
  • Limit access to services for Australian citizens and permanent residents.

Health Examinations:

• May be necessary to prove you meet the health requirement.
• Assessed by a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC).
• MOC assesses whether conditions:
  • Threaten public health.
  • Result in significant costs.
  • Demand scarce services.

MOC Assessment: It is based on the medical situation, not personal circumstances. It cannot consider private health insurance or personal funds.

Meet Eligibility

Cost

• Main applicant: From AUD 710 (INR 39,102), unless exempt.
• Additional charge for each family member applying.
• Extra costs may include health checks, police certificates, and biometrics.

Australia Raises Savings Requirement for Study Visa

How Long You Can Stay?

The length of stay on a student visa in Australia depends on the type and duration of your course. But students can stay for a maximum period of up to 5 years. Primary school children enrolled in years 1-4 are typically granted a student visa for a maximum of 3 years.

How to Apply for an Australia Study Visa?

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How Can Kansas Help?

Kansas Overseas Careers specializes in various visa services for countries like Canada, the UK, the USA, Germany, and Hong Kong. These services include Permanent Residency, Work, Study, Temporary, and Dependent Visas.

In addition, Kansas offers personalized assistance, including:

• Profile Evaluation: Professional guidance based on a thorough assessment of your profile to gauge your visa success prospects.
• Documents & Review: Detailed, error-free documentation tailored to meet specific visa requirements.
• Dedicated Case Officer: Personalized assistance from a dedicated consultant throughout the visa process.
• Visa Filing: Ensuring that visa applications meet all standard requirements of immigration authorities.
• Test Preparations: Free online courses to help improve language proficiency for exams like IELTS, French, TOEFL, and PTE.
• Visa & Interview: Guidance and verified documents for visa interviews.
• Post-Landing Service: Assistance in settling down comfortably in the new country after receiving the visa.

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Other FAQs

1. How much bank balance is required for an Australia student visa?

Applicants must show proof of savings of at least A$29710 (Rs 16,35,806) to get their visa.

2. Can you bring your family to Australia on a study visa?

Yes, you can bring your family to Australia on a study visa under certain conditions. But, you must be enrolled in a full-time course on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Also, your family members must meet health and character requirements.

3. How can funds for a student visa in Australia be shown?

Students can show funds for student visas in Australia through:

• Bank statements
• Evidence of financial support from parents or sponsors
•  Scholarship letters, or proof of income.

4. What are the financial requirements to get an Australian student visa?

The financial requirements to get an Australian student visa include:

• Demonstrating the ability to cover tuition fees
• Living expenses
• Health insurance
• Other associated costs for the duration of the intended course of study.

5. What is the minimum bank balance required for an Australian visa?

The minimum bank balance required for an Australian visa A$29710 (Rs 16,35,806) to get their visa.

6. What is the PTE score required for an Australian student visa in 2024?

The minimum PTE score for an Australian student visa in 2024 is 42.

7. What are the study options available for international students in Australia?

International students in Australia have various study options available. It includes: Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees

• Vocational education and training (VET) courses
• English language courses,
• Research programs.

8. Can you apply for permanent residency in Australia after studying on a student visa?

Yes, international students can apply for permanent residency in Australia after studying on a student visa through various pathways like:

• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
• Employer-sponsored visas.

9. Can international students work while studying in Australia on a student visa?

Yes, international students can work while studying in Australia on a student visa. However there are restrictions on the number of hours they can work per week during the academic year. Generally, students can work up to 40 hours per fortnight during term. Also, they can work for unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.

10. What are the English language test options for an Australia study visa?

The English language test options for an Australia study visa include tests such as:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
• PTE (Pearson Test of English)
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
• Cambridge English exams.

11. What are the health and character requirements to study in Australia?

The health and character requirements to study in Australia include being of good character and meeting minimum health standards. Applicants may need to undergo health examinations. Also, they must provide police clearance certificates as part of the visa application process.

12. What are the Medical requirements for obtaining an Australian student visa?

The medical requirements for obtaining an Australian student visa cover undergoing health examinations. It is to assess if the applicant meets the minimum health standards set by the Australian government.

13. How long does it take to process an Australian student visa?

The processing time for most applications is about four weeks to process. You can track and manage your application using your ImmiAccount.

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