Steps to apply for an Australian student visa

From the sophisticated capital cities to pastoral rural towns in the outback, Australia is one country that is very exciting to explore. Australians are known for their friendly, tolerant, hospitable nature and laid-back attitude. Politically, the country is secure and stable making it an ideal place to study, work and live. There are top-class institutions in Australia that offer world-class education. Though the standard of living is quite high, it is relatively inexpensive and so is the cost of education.

Student looking to study in Australia for more than 3 months should apply for an Australian student visa and for courses which are under 3 months, a visitor’s visa or working holiday visa will suffice. Visas are issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) only if the study program is a fulltime registered course offered by Australian government for international students or a part of a registered course.

Obtaining an Australian student visa has become easy today by adapting to the e-visa system accepted by education agents. In India there are thirteen education agencies that process student visas electronically and submit supporting documents electronically. There is a steady increase in the number of visas being granted to Indian students to study in Australia. You can reach out to us and our counsellors will provide professional guidance to help you realise your study-abroad dreams.

The visa to study in higher education institutions in Australia is called the Student visa (subclass 500). You can stay in Australia up to 5 years in line with your enrolment.

Let’s break down for you, the process of applying for a student visa to Australia from India.

1. Steps to be followed before applying for an Australian student visa

1. Get accepted into a college or university in Australia

The first step will be to get enrolled in a higher education institution in Australia. After you enrol and pay the tuition fee deposit, you will receive an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment document. Keep this safe as you will need this for later.

2. Get OSHC

International students interested in studying in Australia should also have an Overseas Student Health Cover or OSHC. This should be available for your entire duration of study. If you have dependents accompanying you to Australia, they should also get an OSHC. You can also get other private insurance for health, vehicle, travel etc. But OSHC is mandatory.

3. Meet the GTE requirement

GTE or the Graduate Temporary Entrant requirement is in place to ensure that international students do not misuse their Australian student visa to continue staying in Australia even after completing their studies. In short, your visit to Australia on a student visa should be only to get your degree and not to look for job and subsequently permanent residency. You will have to submit a personal statement in English and also provide supporting documents along with your application form.

4. Make sure you have the necessary documents to prove the following:

• English proficiency: English is the language of course delivery in Australia. Hence it is important to prove that you can understand and converse in English. Institutions will have a minimum English level requirement expected of the students. The minimum requirement might vary for institutions and specific courses.
• Financial ability: You should have enough money to cover your expenses which include the tuition fee, travel and living expenses. This can be shown in the form of bank statements or scholarship grants. You can also show your parent’s or partner’s annual income. The Department of Home Affairs has listed the financial requirements. Do check it out before you apply for the visa.

2. Applying for an Australian Student visa

The Australian visa that you should apply for is Student visa Subclass 500. You can start your application from the Department of Home Affair’s webpage. The first step will be to create an immigration account or the ImmiAccount. Login to ImmiAccount to start your application.

You can apply up to 12 weeks before your course start date but no later than 6 weeks before the start date.

As part of the application, you will be requested to meet the health requirement and character requirement. If you are expected to clear the health requirement, you may be asked to take a medical test and submit the results. Your appointment should be with a doctor approved by the Australian immigration department. The character requirements should be easy to pass if you do not have any substantial criminal record, do not have a track of criminal or offensive conduct. Make sure you give honest and truthful answers. The requirements are detailed in the Australian government website.

The supporting documentation required may vary depending on the student’s assessment level and the education sector of their main course of study.

If you have a family member accompanying you, they can apply at the same time as you, or after you arrive in Australia. Periods of stay granted to members of the family unit will generally be the same as the student’s period of stay. Family members should ensure that they always hold a valid visa while in Australia. Read more about nomination of student dependants.

Cost of the Australian student visa application: For a student visa (subclass 500), the base charge is AUD620. Online payment is recommended as the safest option. You can pay using Credit Card, PayPal, UnionPay or BPAY. Once you pay the fees, you will get a receipt with a reference number.

3.Attending visa interview

Visa interview is not mandatory for Australian student visas. However, the Australian High Commission might request for an interview at a later stage. You have to bring the application form and all the supporting documents while visiting the Visa Application Centre.

You should enrol your biometrics on the day of your appointment. A photo of your face will be collected along with digital fingerprints of all 10 digits.

The processing time service standards for various types of visa might difer. The department aims to process 75% of applications within the service standards, yet the actual processing time may vary depending on a range of factors.

4.Tracking your application

You can track the status of your application online. Once a decision is made on your Australian student visa application, you will receive the details in email. If you would like to receive the update over SMS, you can request for this service at the VAC.

While in Australia …

If you are issued an Australian student visa, you should satisfy attendance and/or course progress requirements and maintain a valid enrolment for their chosen course of study. The student and members of their family unit should not work unless they have been granted permission to work as part of their initial visa grant and they have commenced their course of study in Australia. They should maintain their approved Overseas Student Health Cover while in Australia.

What happens if your education provider ceases to deliver courses?

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has particular activities in place to help students if their education provider has ceased operations and is no longer able to deliver their course and the scenario is known as education provider ‘default’. The department is aware of the fact that students may be concerned about their visa status and that the situation is beyond their control. In which case, special arrangements will be made to provide you enough chance to study in a different institution on their student visa. Read more about education provider's defaults.

You can speak to our counsellors if you are interested in applying to universities in Australia. Alternatively, you can try our Course Matcher tool to find the right course and institution for you.