Higher Education Sector: Temporary Visa (Subclass 573) - Assessment Level 1
How this Visa Works
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Before you apply for this visa, you must have applied for and been accepted to study full-time at an educational institution in Australia.
Length of stay
This visa allows you to stay in Australia for the duration of your course. It permits multiple entries to Australia. Dependent family members who come with you to Australia are usually able to stay the same length of time as you, but they cannot stay once you have left the country.
Your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy must cover the full period of your visa. Your student visa can be granted up to the maximum duration outlined in the table below.
| Duration of course | Duration of visa |
|---|---|
| Longer than 10 months and finishing at the end of the Australian academic year (November – December) | Your visa will usually be granted to March 15 of the following year. |
| Longer than 10 months (finishing January - October) | Your visa will usually be granted for two months longer than the duration of your course. |
| 10 months or less | Your visa will usually be granted for one month longer than the duration of your course. |
You need to ensure that your OSHC policy covers the entire length of your visa or your visa may only be granted until the expiry date of your OSHC.
Note: If your student visa expires before your graduation, you can apply for a Visitor visa. You will need a letter from your education provider which states the date of your graduation.
See: Visitors
Working while studying
If you have been granted a Student visa on or after 26 April 2008, you and your dependent family members will already have permission to work automatically included with your visa. Further information on the conditions that apply to working while studying is available.
See: Conditions for Working While Studying
If you were granted a student visa before 26 April 2008 and have not yet applied for permission to work, you and your dependent family members may only apply for permission to work after you have started your course in Australia.
See: How to Apply for Permission to Work
The table below outlines the work entitlements for you and your dependent family members if you have permission to work.
| Type of applicant | Work entitlement |
|---|---|
| Students with permission to work | You can work a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight when your course is in session and unlimited hours when your course is not in session. Exceptions: If you are enrolled in Masters by research or Doctoral degree (subclass 574), you can work unlimited hours when you start your main course. You cannot undertake work until you have started your course in Australia. Note: A fortnight begins on any Monday and ends on the second following Sunday. |
| Dependent family members with permission to work | You can work a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight throughout the year. A fortnight begins on any Monday and ends on the second following Sunday. Exceptions: Family members of the following students can work unlimited hours once the student starts their main course:
|
Important: You must also comply with the state and territory laws of Australia. Under all state and territory laws, you cannot work during school hours if you are under the school leaving age, which in most states is 15 years.
When is your course in session?
The department considers your course to be 'in session':
- for the duration of the advertised semesters (including periods when exams are being held)
- if you have completed your studies and your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is still in effect
- if you are undertaking another course, during a break from your main course and the points will be credited to your main course.
See: How to Apply for Permission to Work
Student visa definitions
The following terms are used for Student visas.
See: Student Visa Definitions