Australian Study Visa
An Australian study visa is a temporary visa, that enables you to remain in Australia for the duration of your study.
Guidelines issued as per the notification and w.e.f. July 1, 2016, for the Australian Student Visa, have changed, and a Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) has been initiated.
According to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, all international students planning to study in Australia are now required to apply for a visa under Subclass 500 and this effectively combines the erstwhile subclasses 571 – 576 into one.
Intakes in Australia
Australian universities have two intakes every year:
Intake 1: Extends from February/early March to late May/early June
Intake 2: Extends from July/early August through to November
The first intake is usually treated as the main intake by most Indian students. The best thing to do is to prepare for the next upcoming intake
Documentary Proof Required for an Australia Study Visa
You will generally need the following basic documents while applying for an Australia Student Visa.
The Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment as proof of admission into a college or university.
A valid passport.
Your visa application fee.
Your GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) statement.
Academic and work experience documents.
Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses like tuition fees, living expenses, living costs for dependents, and return airfare.
Details of OSHC health insurance policy.
Statement of purpose.
Passport-size photographs.
You will also be required to provide additional documents like parental consent if you are under 18 years of age.
Application Process:
Meet Language Requirements: Authorities need to know that you have adequate language abilities. You can display this by taking a language proficiency test. The following tests scores are acceptable:
International English Language testing system (IELTS) : 5.5-6
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) : 46
Pearson Test of English (PTE) : 42
Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) : 162
Occupational English Test (OET) : A ‘b’ for each test component
Have a Genuine Temporary Entrant (gte) statement: This will state that your only intention is to study in Australia, and that you plan on returning.
Have adequate health insurance: In the event of something happening to your health in Australia, the authorities need to know that you will be able to pay your own healthcare bills. You usually have to purchase an Overseas Student Health Cover to prove this.
Meet health requirements: You must be in reasonably good health, and have no major illnesses that show up during medical tests.
Meet character requirements: You are only eligible to apply for a study visa if you do not have a criminal or terrorist background. You must have a clean record.
You will need to get your certificate of Enrolment for this step. You may be asked to pay a portion of your tuition fees to get this certificate.
You may also be asked to purchase an Overseas Student Health Cover so that authorities can be sure your health and its expenses will be taken care
Create a profile: On the Australian Immigration Website. You will need to have scanned copies of your documents on hand.
Fill in your visa application: The application can be filled up to 124 days before the commencement of your course and not before that.
After you have successfully filled in your application and uploaded the documents, you have to pay the visa fees.
Following this, you will receive a Transaction Reference Number which you can use to check to see where your application stands.