Australia is currently ranked as the third most popular destination for international students. It is just behind the United States & the United Kingdom. The cultural diversity, quality of life, high quality of education, & friendly natives prompts the students to choose Australia for higher studies. The country is home to world-class universities including, the University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, etc. To study full-time in Australia, you must have a valid Australia student visa. An international student cannot study in Australia without a student visa that is issued by the Immigration Department of Australia. In this article, we shall let you know all the information required to apply for the Australia student visa.
Eligibility:
To apply for the Australia student visa, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- You must be enrolled in a full-time course in Australia.
- If you are under 18 years of age, you must have adequate welfare arrangements in place while you are in Australia.
- You may need to provide evidence of your English language skills at the time you submit your visa application. You must have taken the English language test in the 2 years before you apply for the Australia student visa. The minimum score requirement varies in different cases.
- You may be exempted from the English language test in one of the following cases:
-You are a citizen & hold a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, NZ, or the Republic of Ireland.
-You have completed at least 5 years of study in English in one of the following countries: Australia, UK, USA, Canada, NZ, South Africa, or the Republic of Ireland.
-You are an applicant who is Foreign Affairs or, Defense-sponsored student or a Secondary Exchange student (AASES).
-You are enrolled in a principal course of study that is a registered school course, a standalone English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS), a course registered to be delivered in a language other than English, or a registered postgraduate research course.
- You and any of your family members, if accompanying you, must have adequate health insurance for the whole of your stay in Australia.
- You must have enough money to pay for your stay in Australia.
- You can prove your intention to return home after completing your studies in Australia.
- You must be in good health & meet minimum health standards to apply for the Australia student visa.
- You must be of good character and meet the following requirements for the character test:
-No criminal record.
-Not convicted of a sexually-based offense.
-Not convicted of an adverse security assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization.
-Not convicted of a domestic violence offense.
Documents Required:
You will need the following documents to apply for the Australia student visa:
- Evidence of Identity
- Confirmation of Enrollment
- Parental consent (in case of minors)
- Evidence of good health & adequate health insurance cover
- Evidence of financial capacity
- Evidence of English language ability
- Certificate of Innocence
Details of all these documents are given below:
- Evidence of Identity:
You and your family member who come with you to Australia must have a valid passport with at least 6 months beyond your period of stay in Australia. You will also need four passport size photographs with your name printed at the back of each photograph. The picture should be of your head & shoulders only against a plain background.
- Confirmation of Enrollment:
It is a certificate/letter issued by your Designated Learning Institution in which you have applied. It helps the visa officers to validate that you have been enrolled in a university under the Commonwealth Register of Institution of Courses (CRICOS).
- Parental Consent (If you are a minor): If you are under 18 years and one or either parent (or local guardian) are not applying for an Australian visa, you will need to submit parental consent.
- Evidence of good health & adequate health insurance:
In order to apply for an Australia student visa, you must prove that you are in good health by submitting a medical examination document. You will also need health insurance or an OSHC (Overseas Students Health Cover).
- Evidence of Financial Capacity:
Just like Canada or any other country, you will need to show proof of your financial strength to apply for the Australia student visa. You should prove that you have enough money to cover your tuition fees, living costs, & travel costs to and from Australia.
- Evidence of English language ability:
You might need to provide an English language test score at the time you submit the application for the Australia student visa. The Australian Immigration Department accepts 5 English Language Tests, including IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Occupational English Test, & Cambridge English: Advanced.
- Certificate of Innocence:
You must submit a certificate of innocence or police clearance to study in Australia. It helps the visa officers to validate your character and confirm that you do not have any criminal record.
How to apply?
Before you begin, make sure that you apply for your Australia student visa at least 6 weeks before your course starts. Take a health exam prior to applying for the same to prove that you are in good health. Additionally, gather all the documents you will require to apply for the Australia student visa.
Steps to apply:
You must only apply for the visa online. Make sure that you do not provide any false or misleading information. If you are found guilty, legal actions will be taken against you.
Step 1: Create an account or log in to the official immigration website of Australia.
Step 2: Make sure you have all the documents gathered that are necessary to apply for the Australia student visa. Take help from the document checklist mentioned above.
Step 3: Follow the instructions mentioned in the online form. Attach the documents wherever required. Your application form tells you what documents to attach, the size limit, & the format accepted.
Step 4: Pay the visa application charge of AU$620 (that is USD 420).
What happens after you submit your application?
After submitting your application for the Australia student visa, you can continue to check your status update on your application account. In case the visa officers need any other information from you, it will show on your application account. So make sure you keep a constant check on it.
- Biometrics:
You may be asked for the biometric details by the visa officers. It includes your fingerprints, facial structure, eye details, & a digital photograph. It protects you from identity fraud and makes travel to Australia safer. You will receive a request letter that will contain all the instructions. You must submit the biometric details 14 days from the date of receiving the application. The letter will contain all the instructions & tips regarding your biometric record. Just go through the letter thoroughly & follow the instructions.
- Visa Outcome:
After you submit the application with all the required documents & biometrics, it is evaluated and checked by the visa officers. Based on their satisfaction, they can either accept or reject your application for the Australia student visa. If accepted, they will let you know in writing their decision about your visa application. It will include your visa grant number, the date your visa expires, & your visa conditions. Even when your application is rejected, you will still get a written letter by the visa officers explaining why they refused your application and whether you have a right to a review of the decision. Please note that the immigration department of Australia does not refund the application charge even if they refuse your application.
Prepare for the arrival to Australia
If your application for the Australia student visa is accepted by the immigration department, you can prepare for your arrival in Australia.
- Before you leave, check all your travel documents.
You must have:
-A valid visa to enter Australia
-A valid passport or other travel documents.
- Make sure that you keep all the required documents ready in your carry-on baggage at all times.
- When you arrive in Australia, you will meet the border services officer where you will have to complete an Incoming Passenger Card.
- You will also go through a facial recognition test before you are allowed to leave the airport.
Australia is the second-best country in the world to live, according to the United Nations. It is on top because it has good access to education, high life expectation, & socioeconomic well-being. The country is also named as one of the happiest countries in the world. So if you are looking for a great educational experience with an excellent quality of life, Australia is for you.
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