Introduction

Australia is one of the most popular destinations for international students who want to pursue higher education abroad. According to the latest data from the Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment, there were over 750,000 international students enrolled in Australian educational institutions in 2020¹.

If you are planning to study in Australia in 2024, you will need to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500) that allows you to stay in the country for up to five years. The application process can be complex and time-consuming, so it is important to start preparing well in advance and follow the steps carefully.

In this blog post, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of applying for an Australian student visa in 2024.

We will cover the following topics:

• Eligibility criteria
• Required documents
• Application fees
• Application process
• Processing time
• Visa conditions

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for an Australian student visa, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have a valid passport and be at least six years old.
• You must have a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from an Australian educational institution that is registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)².
• You must meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement, which means that you have a genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily for the purpose of study or accompanying a student as a dependent³.
• You must have sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees, living expenses, travel costs, and health insurance for the duration of your stay.
• You must have adequate English language proficiency, which can be demonstrated by taking one of the approved tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or CAE⁴.
• You must meet the health and character requirements, which may include undergoing a medical examination and providing a police clearance certificate from your home country⁵.
• You must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which is a mandatory health insurance that covers medical and hospital expenses for international students in Australia⁶.

Required Documents

To apply for an Australian student visa, you will need to provide the following documents:

• A completed online application form (Form 157A)⁷
• A copy of your passport bio-data page
• A copy of your CoE from your Australian educational institution
• A copy of your English language test results (if applicable)
• Evidence of your financial capacity, such as bank statements, scholarship letters, or loan documents
• Evidence of your health insurance, such as your OSHC policy number or certificate
• Evidence of your health and character, such as your medical examination report and police clearance certificate (if requested)
• A statement of purpose that explains why you want to study in Australia and how it relates to your future plans
• Any other documents that support your application, such as academic transcripts, awards, or work experience certificates

You may need to provide certified translations of any documents that are not in English. You may also need to provide additional documents depending on your personal circumstances, such as your marital status, dependents, or previous visa history.

Application Fees

The application fee for an Australian student visa is AUD 630 (approximately USD 470) as of July 2021⁸. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid online when you submit your application. You may also need to pay additional fees for biometrics collection, health examinations, police checks, or translations.

Application Process

The application process for an Australian student visa consists of the following steps:

1. Create an account on ImmiAccount⁹, which is the online portal where you can lodge and manage your visa application.
2. Fill out the online application form(Form 157A) on ImmiAccount. You will need to provide personal details, education details, course details, financial details, health details, character details, and declaration.
3. Attach the required documentsto your application. You can scan and upload them as PDF files on ImmiAccount. Make sure that the documents are clear and legible.
4. Pay the application feeusing a credit card or PayPal on ImmiAccount. You will receive a receipt and a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) after payment.
5. Submit your applicationon ImmiAccount. You will receive an acknowledgement email with your TRN and instructions on how to track your application status.
6. Complete any additional stepsif requested by the Department of Home Affairs. You may be asked to provide biometrics data (photo and fingerprints), undergo a health examination, or attend an interview.
7. Wait for the visa decision. You will be notified by email when your visa is granted or refused. You can also check your visa status on ImmiAccount using your TRN.

Processing Time

The processing time for an Australian student visa varies depending on the type of education provider, the level of study, the country of passport, and the complexity of the application. According to the Department of Home Affairs, the current processing times (as of July 2021) are as follows¹⁰:

• Higher education sector: 75% of applications processed in 29 days, 90% of applications processed in 42 days
• Vocational education and training sector: 75% of applications processed in 43 days, 90% of applications processed in 77 days
• Schools sector: 75% of applications processed in 55 days, 90% of applications processed in 90 days
• Postgraduate research sector: 75% of applications processed in 51 days, 90% of applications processed in 90 days
• Non-award sector: 75% of applications processed in 28 days, 90% of applications processed in 42 days

These are indicative timeframes and do not guarantee that your application will be processed within these periods. You can help speed up the processing time by providing complete and accurate information and documents, responding to any requests promptly, and applying online.

Visa Conditions

Once you receive your Australian student visa, you must comply with certain conditions while you are in Australia. Some of the common conditions are:

• You must remain enrolled in a CRICOS-registered course that is the same level or higher than the course for which you were granted the visa
• You must maintain satisfactory attendance and academic progress in your course
• You must maintain adequate health insurance for yourself and any accompanying family members
• You must not work more than 40 hours per fortnight when your course is in session, and unlimited hours when your course is not in session
• You must not engage in any activities that are disruptive to the Australian community or a group within the Australian community
• You must notify your education provider and the Department of Home Affairs of any changes to your contact details, passport details, or course enrolment within seven days

You can check your visa conditions on ImmiAccount or VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) using your visa grant number or TRN.

Conclusion

Applying for an Australian student visa can be a daunting task, but with proper planning and preparation, you can achieve your dream of studying in Australia. We hope that this blog post has given you a clear overview of the eligibility criteria, required documents, application fees, application process, processing time, and visa conditions for an Australian student visa.

If you need any assistance or guidance with your Australian student visa application, you can contact Global Wide Consultancy, a leading education and migration consultancy that specializes in helping international students achieve their educational goals. Global Wide Consultancy has a team of qualified and experienced education and migration consultants who can help you with every aspect of your student visa application, from choosing the right course and institution to preparing and submitting your application to following up with the Department of Home Affairs.