How to get study visa for Australia? In this guide, you will find everything you need to know if you plan to go to study in this beautiful country. So get yourself a good coffee, settle into the chair and get ready to read everything about the visa requirements, about the Australia study visa process, and more!
Australia study visa: What is it?
Many years ago (before 2016), there were different types of Australia study visas, depending directly on the course you were to take. Some of them were category 570 for studying English, category 572 for VET courses, and 573 for university degrees and master’s degrees. However, all this changed on July 1, 2016, when the Immigration Department, in a move full of wisdom, decided to group all visas into a single student visa, the 500 categories. From that day until now, no matter what type, of course, you are going to study in Australia, you must apply for the student visa Subclass 500, which will allow you to stay in the country from 3 months to 5 years studying.
Australia study visa requirements
The most important part is knowing what are the Australia study visa requirements. We are going to explain what documents you must gather and have them ready to start the process. Do not forget that you must request it between 6 to 9 months before your course there begins. To apply for Australia study visa, you will need the following documents: • Choose the Australian city/School that you like the most. • Choose the course you want to study and get enrolled. Get the electronic confirmation of enrollment (COE) of your chosen course. • Photocopy of your valid passport. • Evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover tuition and maintenance fees may also be required. • Contract an International Medical Insurance or Acceptable Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). • Show that you are in good health. For this, you must undergo a medical examination and obtain a certificate. • Write a GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) letter where you explain the reasons why you want to study in this country. • Provide an up-to-date certificate of an English language test, but if you are from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, UK, and the Republic of Ireland or if you have one of these countries’ passports, then you do not need this certificate. • Demonstrate that you have a record of good behavior by presenting a police certificate. • If you are under 18 years of age, your parents or legal guardians must fill out the visa application. • Pay the Australia study visa fees. • Fill the online application through ImmiAccount. • Photocopy of your ID. • Photocopy of your resident document in case you are not in your own country.
Institution choice and course payment (COE)
Something that we must be clear from the beginning is that without a course, there is no visa. Therefore, the first step in the process is to choose what you want to study and then pay for it. Once the payment for the course has been made, the school will give us a document called COE (Confirmation of Enrollment), which is essential to apply for the visa. This document is proof for the Immigration Department that you already have a place in an Australian institution and that you have already paid for it.
Health Insurance Payment (OSHC)
To get the Australia study visa, by government stipulation, medical insurance must cover you from the moment you set foot in Australia, until the moment you leave the country. So, together the COE and your medical insurance payment proof are essential when applying for the student visa, and we must include it in the documents that are delivered to the Immigration Department. This medical insurance is specially designed for international students and is known as OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover). Its price is around AU$40 to AU$50 per month (but you must pay everything in advance), and its price increases considerably if you include your family in your student visa.
The GTE letter
The GTR letter (Genuine Temporary Entrant) is another important Australia study visa requirements. It is a letter that you write to the Department of Immigration, explaining the reasons that motivate you to study in Australia, the benefits that this will bring to your professional life, and what you plan to do once you finish your studies. IMPORTANT: It is vitally important to mention that your plan is to return to your country, not stay in Australia. The Immigration Department uses this document to filter people who are seeking to come to Australia as students with the intention of immigrating from those who are actually looking to come to the country with an educational interest. In essence, with the intent letter, you must convince the Immigration Department that your only goal in Australia is to go to study. Tips to write the GTE letter It is important to keep in mind that this letter can only be written by you; well, nobody apart from you knows your life, studies, experience, motivations, and future opportunities in detail. 1. Keep it real If you plan to apply for a student visa for 2 or 3 years, it will not be credible to say that when you finish your studies, you will return to your country because a job offer is waiting for you. Well, it is not common for a company to hold a promise of work for so long. 2. Explain your current personal situation As we mentioned before, you need to show that you have strong ties to your home country, and the Immigration Department official wants to know about them. Therefore, you should make sure to tell your personal situation: • What did you study? • What possessions do you have: car, apartment, own company, etc. • What job do you currently have, and what is your career prospect. • Do you have to go back to your country because you are responsible for supporting your family? • Do you plan to keep studying when you return to your country? • In case you work, did your current employer give you unpaid travel leave to improve your English? You should also consider that the officials of the Immigration Department take into account the economic situation of your country when evaluating your application. 3.- Discuss why you chose that particular school The fact that you clearly know which institution you are going to and why you chose it shows the Immigration Department that you are making an informed decision and that you have thought carefully about your studies. It is important to mention how this institution compares with other education providers that offer a similar course. It is also important that you investigate and know the city in which you are going to study, so you can mention why you chose it.
Medical exams and biometric data record
The Department of Immigration requires students to take a medical examination, depending on the country they come from. This exam has a price of approximately AU$150 (it changes depending on the country where you are from), and you must do it in the office of one of the doctors that the Immigration Department has authorized in your country. Additionally, they may also ask you to register your biometric data. This is priced at AU $ 60 on average, and it also depends on your residency country.
What is the Australia study visa cost?
The Australia study visa fees is AU$ 620, but if you go with your partner, the cost of the procedure is AU$ 1080. The Australia study visa cost can vary in case you decide to go with your family or children.
What is the Australia study visa processing time?
According to the Australia study visa processing time, it will depend on the sector you’re applying for, but the Australia study visa process can take from 32 days to 9 months.
How to get study visa for Australia?
Now that you know the requirements, you have to apply for Australia study visa. For that, you need to follow the next steps: 1. You can apply for the Australia study visa online. Go to ImmiAccount and create a profile. 2. Attach all the documents the website asks for. 3. Pay the Australia study visa fees. You can pay with credit/debit MasterCard, Visa, American Express, China Union Pay, PayPal, and so on. 4. Wait for the Embassy to process your visa. They will inform you if your visa has been approved or not.
Band requirement for Australia study visa
The band requirement for Australia study visa is a score of at least 5.5 in each of the IELTS bands, which are four. If you are an undergraduate student, the minimum requirement is that you obtain a score of 6.0, and if you are a graduate student, you must obtain a minimum score of 6.0 in IELTS in each of the bands, and the general score must be a minimum of 6.5. However, in case you decide to take a course, for example, engineering, the IELTS minimum score requirement must be 7.0.
