Australia is one of the more popular destinations for international students. As of late, there are more than 800,000 foreigners enrolled in higher education institutions.

If you’re thinking of studying in the land down under, then here’s what you need to do to get your prized student visa in Australia.

What documents do you need to apply for a student visa in Australia?

To apply for the Australian student visa – also known as a Subclass 500 visa – you need to prepare the following documents:

Passport

This is the primary requirement for every applicant. You won’t be able to start your student visa application without one.

Proof of identity

You need to submit a copy of your National ID card. You also need to provide a document proving your name change, such as your marriage or divorce certificate.

To get a more extensive list of your documentary requirements, go to the Australian Government’s Document Checklist page.

Enrollment, support, and acceptance forms

A confirmation of enrollment form is required from applicants outside and within Australia.

Sponsored students need to submit a letter of support, while exchange students need to present an acceptance advice form.

Financial evidence

You need to prove to the Australian government that you have enough money throughout your stay. That means your family should have an annual income of at least AUD 62,222, or AUD 72,592 if you want to bring your family.

To show your financial capacity, you need to submit the following:

  • Proof of deposits
  • Government or financial institution loans
  • Scholarships or other supporting documents

Genuine temporary entrant document

This statement should detail your previous studies, gap year (if any), and current employment. It should also enumerate your ties and economic situation in your home country.

Proof of English proficiency

You may take any of the following exams to showcase your proficiency in the English language:

  • IELTS
  • TOEFL
  • Cambridge
  • PTE
  • OET

The required scores will vary according to university, program, and/or level of education (i.e., postgraduate courses require higher grades than undergraduate programs.)

Health coverage

All applicants, except those from Norway, Belgium, or Sweden, will need to provide a copy of their overseas student health cover. This should last the entire duration of your studies in Australia.

Proof of visa payment exemption, if applicable

Exchange students and scholars are usually exempted from visa payment. You will need to upload this document to avoid paying the fee after applying.

Partner’s or dependents’ documents

If you’re bringing family with you, you also need to submit their identity and character documents.

How much money do you need for an Australian Student Visa?

An Australian student visa will cost you AUD 630. Likewise, you will need an additional AUD 630 for every family member you decide to take with you.

You will also have to bear the cost of the required tests, such as Biometrics, police clearances, and health examinations.

Check Also: Available Programs for International Students

Steps on Applying for a Student Visa in Australia

Here’s a step-by-step process that you need to follow:

1. Prepare all the requirements

Apart from gathering all the documents mentioned above, you need to ensure that you have at least six weeks before the semester starts.

You also need to allot time for a health exam. If you come from a country with a low tuberculosis risk, you won’t need a medical exam. But if you are coming from a country with a high tuberculosis risk, you will need to undergo a medical exam and a chest x-ray.

Those who wish to study Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, or other Paramedical courses will have to undergo additional exams, such as HIV and Hepatitis testing.

2. Gather all necessary documents

To hasten the process of obtaining a student visa for Australia, you need to ensure that you have all the papers mentioned above. Even if you lack only one, the processing time may be further delayed.

3. Apply for the Australian student visa

Applying for a visa can be quickly done online. All you need to do is create an ImmiAccount (or log in to an existing one.)

Once you have an account, you can start attaching the documents mentioned above.

Make sure to review all the papers you have attached before proceeding with the next step, which is paying for your Australian student visa.

4. Pay for your visa application

You can pay the AUD 630 fee via credit card or debit card. Do note, however, that this will come with surcharges ranging from 1.4% to 1.99%.

Payments made through UnionPay come with a 1.90% surcharge.

Applicants may also pay the fee through BPay.

While many options are available, Paypal is the cheapest as it only comes with a 1.01% surcharge.

If you are qualified for visa payment exemption, you must upload a copy of this document.

5. Wait for your visa application status

Australian Student visa processing usually takes anywhere from 3 to 8 months. It may take longer if your application lacks information or is incorrectly filled up.

While waiting for the result, you may:

  • Take a biometric exam

Applicants who need to have their biometrics taken will be advised so immediately after they submit their documents. You will need to complete this within 14 days.

  • Undergo a health exam

If you haven’t done this prior, you need to get one as prescribed.

  • Complete the other requirements

If your documents are lacking, you will have to complete them within 60 days.

  • Add family members

If you want your family to join you in Australia when you study, you have to include them in your ImmiAccount.

  • Correct any mistakes

If you’ve made any errors, you can rectify them by filling up Form 1023 – Notification of incorrect answers.

6. Check your visa outcome

Once your application has been processed, the Australian government will inform you of its decision.

If granted, you will be notified about your grant number, visa expiration, and visa conditions.

Should your application be denied due to incomplete documentation or other reasons, you will also be informed in writing. However, you will not be refunded for your application fee.

 

We hope that this article on applying for a student visa in Australia was helpful. If you’re interested in studying abroad make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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