Study Visa

You need to apply for a student visa. To be granted a student visa you must complete a visa application form, lodge it with the evidence required, pay the application charge and satisfy the student visa requirements. You can be granted a student visa only if you intend to study a registered course on a full-time basis and meet with a number of visa conditions after you have entered Australia.

To be granted a student visa you must satisfy the visa requirements and meet with a number of visa conditions for attendance and academic performance which come into effect after your entry in Australia. Your Student (Temporary) Visa will list the conditions that apply specifically to you. It is important to meet with your visa conditions to avoid visa cancellation. Student visa information on this website is an outline only and subject to change. For more detailed, accurate and up-to-date information on student visas and visa requirements please check the Geebee education. The Student (Temporary) Visa has separate sub-classes for each education sector. You should apply under the visa sub-class for your principal course of study.

The Student (Temporary) Visa has separate sub-classes for each education sector. You should apply under the visa sub-class for your principal course of study.

Student visa sub-classes
Subclass 570	Independent ELICOS Sector
for international students undertaking ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) as a stand-alone course, and not as a prerequisite to commencing another course (for example, a degree course)
Subclass 572	Vocational education and training (VET) sector
Covers Certificate I, II, III and IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma
Subclass 573	Higher education sector
Covers a Bachelor degree, Graduate certificate, and Graduate diploma
Subclass 574	Masters and Ph.D. sector
Covers a Masters degree by coursework or by research, and a Ph.D.degree
Subclass 575	Non-award foundation studies/other sector
Covers foundation, bridging or other courses that do not lead to the award of a degree, diploma or other formal award
Subclass 576	AusAID or Defence sponsored sector
Covers full-time study undertaken by AusAID or Defence-sponsored students for the whole or part of an education or training course offered by an Australian education provider

Common student visa requirements

(Check 'Applying for a Student Visa' information sheet Form 1160i)

You are of good character

You are of sound health

You have acceptable health insurance through the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for yourself and members of your family unit accompanying you to Australia

You have no outstanding debts to the Commonwealth of Australia, or have made arrangements acceptable to the Minister to repay such a debt

If assessed at level 1 or 2, or you are in Australia under any assessment level, an electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE) certificate is required before you lodge your application and a copy is to be furnished with your application

If you are outside Australia and assessed at level 3, 4 or 5 you will need an 'offer of a place in a course' letter from your Australian education provider at the time you lodge your application. If you are at Assessment level 3 or 4 you must apply for Pre-Visa Assessment.

An electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE) certificate issued by your education provider after you lodge your application if you are requested by the Australian embassy to do so. GeeBee can help you with this.

Common visa conditions

You must satisfy attendance and course requirements and maintain a valid enrolment for your course

You must not work unless you have special permission

You must maintain your Overseas Student Health (OSHC) cover while in Australia

You must leave Australia before your visa expires

You must remain with the education provider you originally enrolled with for the first year of your course or, if the course is less than 12 months, for the duration of your course

You must advise your education provider of your residential address within 7days of your arrival in Australia and must advise any address change

If you change education provider you must inform your current education provider within 7 days of issue of an eCoE

Visa application forms
Application for a student (temporary) visa	Form 157A
Application for a student visa with permission to work	Form 157P
only to be lodged after you have arrived in Australia and commenced study in a registered course in Australia
Application for a student visa with permission to change education provider	Form 157C
Application for pre-qualified institution (PQI) status	Form 157Q
Short Term Visitor/Tourist Visas - Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)	ETA

Visa information forms
Applying for a student visa	Form 1160i
Country Assessment Levels - Student Visa Processing (you should read this document along with form 1160i)
Charges (fees)	Form 990i
Student Dependant Nomination	Form 991
Health requirements for temporary entrants	Form 1163i
Preparing and processing visa applications	Form 1025i
Bridging visas	Form 1024i
Short Term Visitor/Tourist Visas - Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)	ETA

Temporary Entry Overseas Students Booklets
Independent ELICOS	Form 1173
Vocational Education and Training	Form 1175
Higher Education	Form 1176
Masters and Doctorate	Form 1177
Non-award Foundation Studies/Other	Form 1178
AusAID or Defence Sponsored	Form 1168

Country assessment levels

Each education sector in each country is rated according to 4 Assessment Levels based on the levels of students not meeting with their visa conditions. The visa requirements or Evidentiary Standards you must satisfy are increasingly difficult from Assessment Level 1 through to Assessment Level 4. A fifth Assessment Level is available for emergency use and has the most stringent requirements. Further information on country assessment levels can be found at the DIMIA website.

Evidentiary standards/Assessment Factors

Financial ability to cover air fares, tuition fees and other expenses related to your education and stay in Australia

English language proficiency

likely compliance with visa conditions

any other relevant matters such as age, academic background and usefulness of course for employment and immigration history

capacity to support any family unit members for the duration of your stay in Australia

the specific provisions for each of these depend upon the country assessment level and are described in the Student Booklets provided by DIMIA for each sector

Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment

An Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) is issued by your Australian education provider and is the only accepted evidence of enrolment for processing student visa applications. Contingent on your country of nationality and your principal course of study you may have to undergo a Pre-Visa Assessment (PVA) before an institution issues an eCoE. The institution will advise you of its requirements but generally it will require payment of at least one semester of course fees before issuing an eCoE. A copy of your eCoE will be submitted for getting a student visa.

Information collected through the eCoE process includes the student visa application, visa grant and visa compliance data from a student's arrival in Australia and course commencement through to their departure from Australia.