Australian Student Visa: Step-by-step guide for applications in 2024 

Australian student visa

Australia is among the top five most popular countries for international students globally, according to the Institute of International Education.

In 2023, official data shows 361,247 students studied in Australia while on an Australian Student Visa.

It little wonder so many people for around the world choose to study in Australia. There’s a big range of high-quality universities and colleges that offer a vast variety of qualifications. On top of this, Australia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world – with breathtaking beaches and wildlife, and a high standard of living and services. 

In order to study in Australia, international students need to apply for the Australian Student Visa (subclass 500).

With this visa, you can stay and study in Australia for up to five years, in line with your course enrolment duration.

But, there is quite a bit of work you’ll need to do before applying for an Australian Student Visa.  

That’s why we bring you a step-by-step guide to applying for an Australian Student Visa, along with some important tips that could increase the likelihood of a successful Australian Student Visa application.

Step-By-Step Guide for Australian Student Visa Application 

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Check eligibility 

The first step in applying for the Australian Student Visa is to check your eligibility. To be eligible you must:

  • Be a certain age if you are a school student 
  • Have an accompanying guardian if you are under the age of 18
  • Meet the English Language requirements and have respective evidence 
  • Hold adequate health insurance 
  • Have enough finances
  • Be a genuine student to study 
  • Not has a visa cancelled

The one other requirement is you must be enrolled in a course or degree and must be able to provide respective evidence of this. So, if you meet all of the above requirements, you should then commence searching for a course.

Which brings us to Step 2.

TIP: Read full eligibility requirements at this link.

Step 2: Gain admission to the university of your choice 

Before applying for your visa to study in Australia, you will need admission to one of the many universities or educational colleges in the country.

Each university has a functional and student-friendly website that you can use to apply for admission. Generally, Australian universities have two terms in which you can apply to begin study in.

The first term starts in February and the second term starts in July. It may be possible that different institutions have different starting terms. Make sure to check the important admission dates on websites. 

Your area of study and location preference should be the key factor when determining what institution to apply for.

TIP: The Australian Government’s Study Australia website is a great tool for searching for a course in Australia that accepts international students.

Remember, you can also email the university’s international student help desk to get more information about which course would suit you best or ask any other questions you have. They are all very helpful! Just make sure to explain your situation clearly.

Once you have selected a course or a degree, you can apply directly from the university or college website.

The application will require some documents from your side including an English proficiency test result and a receipt of the paid fee. 

TIP: Most of the universities offer scholarships and bursaries for students with great academic record or financial needs. Make sure that you research these opportunities thoroughly and apply for the ones that suit your situation best. Once applied you can move on to the next step. 

Step 3: Obtain a CoE 

A CoE is a critical document when applying for your student visa.

CoE stands for confirmation of enrolment and this document confirms that you are indeed enrolled in a specific course or degree in a particular accredited institution.

Each university provides this CoE upon your successful admission. You can email the university and ask for a CoE too if they do not send it immediately.

Once you have been provided with a CoE, you can move on to the next step. 

Step 4: Gather visa documents

Next, it’s time to gather your visa documents.

There are a whole lot of documents that you need to gather. Make sure that each document that you need is a notarized with copies of the original document scanned. Do not scan and attach a copy of the copied document.

Furthermore, each document should be in English. If you do not have a document in the English language, make sure that you have attached a translated copy of the document which is also notarized.

Here is a list of the documents required for an Australian Student Visa:

  • Passport
  • Copy of Passport’s first page 
  • Recent passport-sized photographs 
  • Birth and/or Family certificate 
  • Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
  • Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) RequirementYou need to demonstrate that you genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily for the purpose of study. This includes providing a personal statement explaining your reasons for studying in Australia.
  • Proof of FinancesYou must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other costs for the duration of your stay in Australia. The amount required is set by the Australian government and varies depending on your circumstances.
  • Proof of Medical InsuranceYou are required to maintain valid Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay in Australia. This provides medical and hospital insurance coverage.
  • Completed and Signed Form 1257 
  • Completed and Signed Form 1229
  • English Certificate: Depending on your nationality and education history, you may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. This is often demonstrated through standardized test scores like IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent.

These are the most commonly requested documents but the actual list of documents depends on the country on your passport.

TIP: To access all the documents that you might need, here is a link to the document checklist for visa subclass 500. 

Australian Student Visa
What an Overseas Student Confirmation-of-Enrolment (CoE) look like. We have blurred out details for privacy. Image: Aussie Talk

Step 5: Create an IMMI Account 

You will now need to create an IMMI account. You can do that by going to this link.

The IMMI account will hold all of your documents and applications.

Any correspondence with Australian immigration will also be through this portal. So, make sure you remember your account login details and credentials. 

Step 6: Fill in the application 

After creating the IMMI account, you will then move on to filling out the application for your visa.

Make sure to select the right visa and subclass for your application is selected. Fill in each of the required fields and make sure that you give consistent and honest information throughout.

All the information you provide manually through the IMMI account must match with the documents you attach with the application.

After completing the application, review it to ensure no mistakes are made – it might be good idea to check multiple times!  

Then there’s the application processing fee. For a student visa the fee is now AUD 1,600 (as of July 2024).

You will have to pay the fee and attach the fee receipt on the IMMI account. So make sure you can keep your receipt handy.

Step 7: Apply for medical tests and wait for the visa decision 

The next step after your application is submitted is to apply for your medical tests.

These tests are compulsory for each applicant.

Each country has specific clinics that conduct international travel health check-ups and send your results directly to the immigration office. You will need to find the test center near your location and make an appointment. On the day of the tests, do not forget to take the requested documents with you, including your passport. 

After all required tests are done, your IMMI account will update when The Australian Government has received your results.

From this point forward, your visa can be granted to you on any day. The most common processing time for a student visa is 14 days.

TIP: You can check visa processing times based on the date you submitted your application at this link

Once your visa is granted, you can then book your flights, accommodation, and get to packing. Check out Aussie Talks great guide to what you need to do before moving to Australia here.

You should also familiarise yourself with the details of your visa and what restrictions it has on working inside Australia.

Most students can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while on an Australian Student Visa.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, obtaining an Australian Student visa is a lengthy process but if done right, you will have a great chance of being able to live and study in Australia. Genuine applications which provide all the necessary information and meet eligibility requirements will usually be assessed and approved within days.

You might also find these Aussie Talk guides valuable:

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About the author
Arshemah Qaisar
Arshemah moved to Australia from Pakistan to further her studies and now calls Hobart, Tasmania home. She is currently a PHD Candidate in Medical Sciences at the University of Tasmania. She has an Undergraduate Degree in Computation Chemistry from the National University of Sciences and Technology.

1 thought on “Australian Student Visa: Step-by-step guide for applications in 2024 ”

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