Student Eligibility

You must meet specific requirements to be eligible for this visa.

Accepted in full-time study

You must be accepted for full-time study in a course of study or training to be eligible for this visa.

When you lodge your application you must provide a letter from AusAID or Defence indicating their support of your study in Australia.

Genuine temporary entrant requirement

Your individual circumstances must demonstrate that you genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily.

The factors that are considered during assessment of the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement include: your personal circumstances in your home country, your potential circumstances in Australia, the value of the course to your future, your immigration history, and any other matter that is relevant to your intention to remain in Australia temporarily. If you are a minor the intentions of your parent, legal guardian or spouse will also be considered.

The information provided in your application form and supporting documentation will be used to assess the GTE requirement. You may be requested to provide additional information in relation to the factors set out above.
See: Genuine Temporary Entrant – Frequently Asked Questions (73KB PDF file)

Financial requirements

You may, in limited circumstances, be asked to show that you have extra funds for family members. This may happen if your scholarship is not enough to support the full living costs of your family members.

If your family members decide not to come with you to Australia, you must prove that you have access to enough funds to support your family members remaining at home, taking into consideration the local standard of living.

If your family members later decide to join you in Australia, you must show that you have extra funds from an acceptable source to cover their living, tuition, school and travel costs in Australia.
See: Financial Requirements

Health requirements

You must meet certain health requirements and may need to undergo a health examination. The requirements vary based on:

• your length of stay in Australia
• other health risks in your home country or countries you have visited for more than three months within the last five years.

You can complete your health examination before you lodge your visa application, but no more than six months before your course starts.
See: Health requirements

Health insurance

You do not need Overseas Student Health Cover if you provide a letter from AusAID or Defence stating that you are an unaccompanied student sponsored by AusAID or Defence.

English language skills

Your education provider will advise you of the level of English you require and the evidence you must provide.
Note: If your education provider requires that you complete ELICOS (English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students), you may study a maximum of 30 weeks of ELICOS before starting your main course.

Academic record and history

If you are applying for your first student visa, your education provider will advise you of the academic qualifications you require and the evidence you must provide.

If you are applying to renew your student visa, you must provide the following:

• academic transcripts and records of attendance to show that you satisfied the course requirements
• a letter of support from AusAID or Defence.

Character requirements

You must be of good character to enter Australia. The information you provide on the 'Character Declaration' section of your application will be used to assess your character.
See: Character and penal clearance requirements

Debts to the Australian Government

To enter Australia, you must:

• have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government
  or
• have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government.

Students under 18 years of age

You must meet all the above, and the additional eligiblity requirements.
See: Students Under 18 Years of Age - Additional Eligibility

Australian Values Statement

If you are aged 18 years or over, you must declare that you will respect Australian values and obey the laws of Australia. For this visa, the values statement is included in the general declaration section of the application form. When you sign the application form it means you will also be signing the values statement. You will not be required to have read the Life in Australia book, but may do so if you wish.

You are also encouraged to gain an understanding of Australia, its people and their way of life, before applying for this visa.
See: Australian Values - Overview

Before lodging an application, please read all related requirements.
See: Eligibility