Student obligations
On this page
You must uphold your visa conditions while studying and living in Australia or your visa may be cancelled and you may have to leave Australia.
Course enrolment, attendance and progress
You must remain enrolled in a course registered on CRICOS.
See: CRICOS
You must maintain satisfactory attendance in your course as required by your education provider.
You must make satisfactory course progress for each study period.
Your education provider will advise the department if your attendance or course progress is not satisfactory. The definition of 'satisfactory' is determined by your education provider.
Changing your education provider
From 1 July 2007 the 'no change of provider' condition (8206), which restricted student visa holders from changing education provider within the first 12 months of their main course of study ceased to have effect.
See also: Changing Courses or Education Providers
If you want to change your level of qualification, you will need to apply for a new student visa because your visa subclass will change.
Example: You want to change from a Diploma to a PhD degree.
See: Visa Options
Providing your home address
You must advise your education provider of your home address within seven days of arriving in Australia. Also, if you change your address during your stay in Australia, you must advise your education provider within seven days.
Note: Your education provider needs your home address so they can contact you if you do not satisfy the requirements of your course. If they cannot contact you, this could result in your student visa being cancelled.
'No further stay' condition
Some visas are issued with a 'no further stay' condition. This condition means that you cannot apply to stay in Australia beyond the date specified on your visa, except in extremely limited circumstances.
Limited circumstances may include students who want to apply for:
- a student visa with permission to work
- a student visa that is supported by a sponsoring government agency
- a Graduate Temporary Entry - Skilled visa
- a visa to engage Australia's obligations under the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees.
Students Under 18 Years of Age
If you are under 18 years of age you must maintain your accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements for the duration of your visa or until you turn 18.
If your welfare arrangements are approved by your education provider you can not travel to Australia until your welfare arrangements commence. The date your welfare arrangements commence is the welfare start date that your education provider has nominated on the Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation/Welfare Arrangements (CAAW) letter.
See: Student under 18 years of age - additional requirements
If your welfare arrangements change after your visa has been granted you must inform the department of these changes.
If your parents/legal custodian approved your accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements for you to stay with a relative in Australia, you must have their written approval to change these arrangements.
See: Form 157N Nomination of a student guardian (171KB PDF file)
If your education provider approved your accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements, you must have the education provider's written approval to change these arrangements.
See: Student under 18 years of age - additional requirements
Financial Capacity
You must maintain enough money to pay for travel, tuition and living expenses for yourself, your spouse and your dependent children for the duration of your stay in Australia.
School age family members
Any family members of school age (between 5 and 18 years) living in Australia must attend school in Australia.
Health Insurance
You must maintain health insurance for you and your family members while in Australia. Health insurance can be provided by obtaining Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) which provides medical and hospital insurance.
See also: Visa conditions for Student visa holders