How to Immigrate to Australia as a Student

Foreigners can immigrate to Australia if they have a student visa. While there are various different types of student visas available to foreigners, the most common student visa is the student visa 500 subclass. The Australian Student Visa 500 subclass provides international students with the opportunity to study in Australia at every level of education and in almost any subject matter available.

The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) is the government body of Australia that oversees the student visa program. The DOHA requires all international students to hold a valid student visa before they can begin studying in Australia.

The Australian student visa is the perfect solution to extend your stay in Australia after a Working Holiday Visa

Applicants may apply for a two-year Post-Study Work Visa once the applicant graduates from the program using their Australian student visa. If an applicant studies for two years at a higher education level, the applicant will automatically be entitled to a two-year Post-Study Work Visa.

Requirement for Student Visa:

Confirmation of Enrollment	All applicants must provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for all intended courses that they are submitting in their application for a student visa.
Genuine temporary Entrant	All applicants must provide a written statement showing that they are entering Australia for genuine reasons, such as the details of interests in your program of study and relevant past activities.
Financial Requirements	All applicants must show proof that they have access to sufficient funds to cover return airfares, full tuition fees and the cost of living in Australia. Applicants must also be able to cover the costs associated with any dependent applicants included in the student visa application. The cost of application for an Australian student visa is AUD $630.
English Requirements	The Australian Government sets a minimum language score for each education level (e.g Diploma vs Bachelor). Education providers might require different language skill levels depending on the course in question. Typically the range of English fluence ranged between 6 and 7 on the IELTS which is an international language test.
Health Requirement	At the end of an applicant’s online student visa application session, the applicant will be notified if he or she is required to have a health exam performed by a doctor.  Not all programs require a health check.
Criminal History	The Australian government may request that applicants provide police certificates for each country they have lived in for 12 months or more over the last ten years.
Insurance (OSHC)	All applicants must have health insurance and health insurance must be Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Applicants must obtain OSHC for themselves and any accompanying dependents from at least one week before the applicant’s courses starts and for the duration of their stay in Australia.

Benefits of Australian Student Visa

Duration	The Student Visa duration depends on the program chosen: If an applicant enrols for a six-month course, the Student Visa will be valid for 6 months. If the applicant enrols for a one-year program, the student visa will be valid for one year. Applicants can renew their student visa as many times as needed, as long as they are enrolled in a course approved by Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
Family	The applicant’s family members and or the applicants’ partner can be included when lodging the student visa application. This means, if applicant is studying, then his or her family may also be able to join the applicant in Australia. However, the applicant will be responsible for them financially and such family member will still have to comply with applicable immigration requirements.
Employment	If the applicant has a student visa in Australia, then the applicant is legally allowed to work up to 40 hours every two weeks. Graduate school students are allowed to work as much as they want, without restriction.
Travel	Applicants can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid. The time an applicant spends outside Australia does not extend the visa.

Procedure To Obtain Student Visa In Australia:

1. Preparation: Before applying, applicants must have all the necessary documentation and have complied with the applicable requirements as listed in this article. One of the key requirements is ensuring that you have already applied to the university, college or school of your choice. This is important because applicants need a Confirmation of Enrolment for each course that they are applying to get the visa for. In addition, applicants should have all their documents, ID, family documents, proof of English skills, and health records ready for submission.
2. Application: Applicant’s for a student visa can apply from inside or outside Australia. The application process is online and costs AUD630 for the main applicant. There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa. It is important that all information be accurate and true. False information can lead to a cancellation of the application and revoke your right to apply in the future. After you have submitted your application, the portal will inform you if anything is missing or needs to be added, such as additional health exams, biometric information, information regarding family, and any corrections to mistakes you made on the application. There are two types of student visa assessment: Streamlined or Regular. The category and speed of your processing time is fully dependent on the institution and program you have been accepted into studying.
3. Receive Visa: Once you have completed your application, you will be given results within 10 days to 6 months. Denied visas are not given refunds for application charges. If a student visa is granted, then the applicant will receive a visa grant number, the date the visa expires and the visa conditions. These conditions will relate to your obligations as a student and the extent to which an applicant can find lawful employment.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. The information and facts referred to herein may be amended, removed or otherwise changed by the applicable government authority. As such, the information contained herein is provided with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.