Enrollment Procedure

From 1 July 2016, there will be only one student visa available to study in Australia – the Student visa (subclass 500).

The Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) has been specifically designed to support the sustainable growth of Australia’s international education sector by making the process of applying for a student visa simpler to navigate for genuine students, delivering a more targeted approach to immigration integrity and reducing red tape for business.

Under the SSVF

All international students will now apply for a single Student visa (subclass 500), regardless of their chosen course of study,
all international students will be required to apply for their student visa online.
A new immigration risk framework will be used to guide the evidence of English language and financial capacity that a student needs to provide with their visa application.

Therefore after 1 July 2016, if you want to study in Australia, you will need to apply for the Student visa (subclass 500) regardless of your field of study.

To find out the documents you might need to provide with your student visa application, refer to the factsheets below, which are available on www.border.gov.au:

General information for students

English language requirements
Financial capacity requirements

If you hold a student visa with subclass numbers 570 to 576, your visa will remain valid and your visa conditions will not change after 1 July 2016.
After 1 July 2016, family members of Student visa holders (subclasses 570-576) will need to apply for a subclass 500 visa if they want to join a family member in Australia

Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement

The GTE requirement applies to all student visa applicants and considers whether the individual circumstances of the student indicate that their intention is for a temporary stay in Australia. A genuineness assessment is made by taking into account a number of personal factors relating to the student, such as their immigration history, circumstances that might encourage the student to return to their home country and conditions that might encourage them to remain in Australia.

Enrolment in a registered course of study

International students must generally be enrolled in a registered course of study and provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when they lodge their student visa application.

Financial capacity and English language proficiency

All international students are required to have sufficient funds to cover their course fees and living costs in Australia. While student visa holders are able to work a specified number of hours in Australia, they should not rely on working to cover their course fees and living costs.
As part of the visa application process, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) might require students to provide evidence of their financial capacity and English language proficiency. This will be guided by the immigration risk outcomes associated with the student’s country of citizenship and intended education provider.
Where the DIBP’s online client service tool indicates that documentary evidence of financial and English language capacity is required, it is important for applicants to attach these documents to their visa application prior to lodgement. Failure to do so might result in visa refusal.

More information regarding financial and English language requirements is available at www.border.gov.au.

Health and character

International students are also required to be of good character and will generally need to undertake a health examination as part of their student visa application. Students must also obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) before a student visa can be granted.

All applications for a Student visa (subclass 500) should generally be lodged online.
See ImmiAccount for more information.

How long it takes to process a student visa application?

DIBP aims to finalise 75 per cent of complete student visa applications within one month of lodgement.

To reduce visa processing times, students are strongly encouraged to submit all required documents with their visa applications. Failure to submit all required documents might lead to processing delays or visa refusal.

Impact of the SSVF on existing student visa holders

The SSVF only applies to student visa applications lodged from 1 July 2016 and will not affect the visas of existing student visa holders.

Family members of existing student visa holders (subclasses 570-576) will need to apply for a subclass 500 visa if they do not currently hold a student visa and want to join their family member in Australia.

AVETA SSVF EDUCATION AGENTS

AVETA’s Approved Education Agents

In the first instance a potential SSVF student should make contact with an AVETA through an approved AVETA Education Agent, in their home country, who will interview the student to assess and ensure that student is a Genuine Temporary Entrant, as well as having the Financial Capacity for SSVF and finally they will provide the student with vital SSVF information.
AVETA’s Education Agents will counsel all potential SSVF students to ensure that they are aware of the course progress requirements of their selected courses; the academic requirements of selected of their selected course/s; the English language requirements as required by DIBP and finally what documents that will be required at the time of the visa application.
AVETA’s Education Agents are required to certify all copies of documents supplied by potential SSVF students as true and correct. The agent will take into consideration when preparing the student visa application:
The student’s circumstances in their home country
The student’s potential circumstances in Australia
The value of the course to the student’s future
The student’s immigration history

For more detailed information you can access the following:

ESOS Act

https://www.aei.gov.au/regulatory-information/Education-Services-for-Overseas-Students-ESOS-Legislative-Framework/ESOS-Act/Pages/default.aspx

National Code

https://www.aei.gov.au/Regulatory-Information/Education-Services-for-Overseas-Students-ESOS-Legislative-Framework/National-Code/Pages/default.aspx

Visa requirement for students

http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Stud

Enrollment Procedure