If you intend to study in Australia for an extended period of time, you must apply for a student visa. We walk you through the application process step by step here.
A tourist visa is valid for up to 12 weeks if you are participating in a short programme, such as a language course. If you have a Working Holiday visa, you can study for up to 16 weeks. For university courses and any extended programmes, you must apply for a student visa using the processes outlined below:
- Apply to an Australian school and obtain a CoE.
- Register with the Australian immigration authorities.
- Ensure that you have all necessary documentation in digital format.
- Submit your visa application online.
- Pay the visa cost and obtain a TRN.
- Potential health examination and interview
- Receive your visa determination
- Visit Australia
Get assistance with your Australian visa application.
Apply to an Australian school and obtain a CoE
You must be enrolled in an Australian school before applying for a student visa to Australia. When you get an offer letter from a school, accept it in writing, and pay the tuition deposit, the school will issue you a CoE, or Confirmation of Enrolment. This paper is required to commence your visa application. If you want to enrol in multiple programmes, such as a preparatory language course followed by college studies, you will need one CoE for each.
Register with the Australian immigration authorities
For Australian visas, you usually apply online. You must first create an account at https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/register before you can begin your visa application.
They will want your name, phone number, and e-mail address. Then you must establish a password and agree to their terms.
Ensure that you have all necessary documentation in digital format
You will need the following papers to apply for a student visa:
- Your Certificate of Excellence
- An OSHC health insurance policy. See our study abroad insurance FAQ for more information.
- Passport that is preferably valid for the duration of your stay in Australia, as it would be difficult to switch your passport while studying on a student visa.
- Proof of temporary stay: You must attest on your application that you intend to stay in Australia just temporarily. You can substantiate this claim by providing evidence of work, a letter from your native country’s school, or equivalent papers.
Additional documentation will be required depending on where you apply and where you will study. You may require the following documents:
- Additional identification documents, such as a birth certificate
- A bank statement, for example, is proof that you can afford your education.
- Evidence demonstrating you have sufficient knowledge to complete your desired courses, such as verified grade reports and IELTS test results.
- Proof of prior employment, such as an employment contract, pay stubs, and so on.
- Documentation of any criminal offences for which you have been convicted.
- To obtain a more comprehensive list of documents, go to https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/web-evidentiary-tool and use the Document Checklist tool. You enter your nationality and school to get a detailed list of required documents. You must also select your sponsor; select “None of the above” unless you are certain that you fall into one of the other categories.
Submit your visa application online
You should apply for a subclass 500 student visa. The application must be submitted at least 124 days before the commencement of your course (according to the date on your CoE). You submit your application online. More information and instructions may be found at: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500.
On the first page, you provide your nationality and CoE code (s). You should also select your Education sector, such as ELICOS for language courses or Higher Education for courses leading to a university degree. The form contains more information.
Following that, you will be required to provide personal and family information, answer questions about your past education and employment experience, and provide information about your health and criminal background. If you like, you can save the programme and take a break.
Pay the visa cost and obtain a TRN
After completing the application, you must pay the application cost, which is presently $575 AUD. The simplest method is to pay using a credit card online. More information on the payment may be found at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/applying-online-or-on-paper/online/how-to-pay.
When you complete the application and payment, you will be given a receipt with a TRN-number (Transaction Reference Number). Save it so you can check the progress of your application later.
Potential health examination and interview
Depending on where you plan to study and reside, you may also be required to undergo a health examination and/or a visa interview. If this applies to you, you will be notified when you complete the application above.
Don’t do the health exam until you’ve finished the application since you’ll need your TRN-number and instructions on what to look for. This website lists doctors in your nation who have been approved by Australian Immigration to do this checkup.
Receive your visa determination
The length of time it takes to receive a visa determination depends on where you apply and how busy the Australian immigration offices are. In our experience, after your application is complete, you should receive a decision within one or two weeks. Log in to the immigration website (using the account you made in step 2) to check the status of your application and, if necessary, input your TNR-number. Please log in at https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login.
When your visa decision is available, the Australian authorities will usually tell you by e-mail. Because your visa is electronic, you can print the grant letter that you get online after your visa is accepted.
Visit Australia
You can enter Australia 90 days before the course start date written on your CoE if you have secured your visa. If you have not reserved housing via your school, you must notify them of your address in Australia within 7 days of your arrival.
Generally, you have the right to remain in Australia for 30 days after your study expires, or 60 days if your term is longer than 10 months. All of these dates should be recorded on your visa, and if they differ from what we describe here, you should always follow the directions on your visa.
Get assistance with your Australian visa application
Are you studying in Australia and need assistance with your student visa application? A minor error might result in your visa being refused, therefore having your student visa (500) done by a registered education agency will guarantee that your application has the best possible chance of success. We have an Australian specialized partner that can assist you in applying for a visa to study in Australia (they have a 100% success rate).
Their Student Visa Application service comprises the following:
- The Genuine Temporary Entrant Statement is prepared and reviewed.
- Form design and data gathering (e.g. Travel History and employment)
- ensuring the accuracy of all papers
- If necessary, arrange for OSHC insurance (separate fees apply)
- Processing the visa application and managing any requests for extra information
Their assistance is free provided you also use it to locate and apply to schools in Australia. Otherwise, it costs 550 AUD in addition to the $638 visa application price charged by the Australian government. Non-refundable fees and charges The processing service is only available for ordinary student visa applications. If you have problematic circumstances such as family members, partners, or past visa refusals, we may be unable to assist you and you may need to hire a migration agency (additional fees and charges would then apply).
