Australia Student Visa: A Complete Guide

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Meridean Overseas

Updated On 11 January 2024 & Read Time 7 minutes

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Are you excited to study in Australia and leverage opportunities existing on the different sides of the world? If yes, then you have landed on the right page. We are here to tell you everything about the Australia student visa. Studying abroad will enhance your experience and help you with personal growth, interpersonal skills and career progression.

 

To enter the country, you require an Australia student visa. As per the guidelines of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, students who are planning to study in Australia need to apply for a visa under subclass 500.

 

The blog discusses everything you must be aware of before applying for an Australia study visa, requirements, fees, etc.

 

Student Visa Australia (Subclass 500)

The students who want to study in Australia must apply for the Australia student visa under subclass 500. It came into effect from July 2016. You can stay for the duration of your course, valid for up to 5 years. The visa application charges are AUD 710. An advantage to obtaining an Australia student visa is that you can call the other members of your family, pursue an eligible program to study and apply online in or outside Australia for your choice of program.

 

The eligibility criteria for an Australia student visa under subclass 500 are:

  • You need an offer letter for a full-time course at a renowned university.

  • You must have OSHC or be listed in one of the exempt categories.

  • The minimum student visa Australia age limit must be 6. 

 

Australia Student Visa Types

Australia has different types of student visas, which may differ based on study, post-study, living and working in Australia. The program and duration also play a vital role in applying for an Australia student visa.

 

There are three major visa categories, i.e., Temporary subclass 485 visa, Visa (subclass 500) and Visa (subclass 590). The table below shows the different types of Australia student visa and their applicability.

Types

Applicable for

Student Visa (subclass 500)

Up to 5 years

Visitor Visa (subclass 600, 601, 651)

For a maximum of 3 months of study

Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 and 462)

For a maximum of 4 months of study

Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590)

For a guardian with an international student in Australia and 3 months’ study or ELICOS course for 20 hours per week for the duration of the visa

Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485)

For students completing Australian education to stay and gain work experience for 18 months to 4 years.

Training Visa (subclass 407)

For people who want to come to Australia temporarily to participate in occupational training or professional development 

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Australia Student Visa Fees

The Australia student visa (subclass 500) charges a fee of AUD 710 for the base application, AUD 530 for 18 or above and AUD 175 for ages under 18. The table below discusses the Australia student visa fees for aspirants looking forward to moving to Australia.

Visa Subclass

Base Application Charge (AUD)

Additional Charge for age 18 And Over (AUD)

Additional Charge for age Under 18 (AUD)

Non-Internet Application Charge

Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (AUD)

Student visa (subclass 500)

710

530

175

N/A

700

Visitor Visa (subclass 600)

190

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417)

635

N/A

N/A

80

N/A

Student Guardian Visa

710

N/A

N/A

N/A

700

Temporary Graduate Visa

745-1,895

375-950

190-475

80

N/A

Training Visa

405

405

105

N/A

700

Australia Student Visa Requirements

As an international student, you must fulfil the Australia student visa requirements. You will need these documents.

  • A valid passport

  • Your Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement

  • Evidence of your English proficiency skills (such as IELTS test scores

  • Details of your health insurance policy (OSHC)

  • Proof of enrolment or confirmation of enrolment form (CoE)

  • Non-immigrant Visa Application

  • Your visa application fee

  • Academic and work experience documents

  • Evidence of financial ability (tuition fees, expenses for dependents, living expenses, return airfare)

  • Statement of Purpose (SOP)

  • Passport-size photographs

 

  

Minimum IELTS Score for Australia Student visa

Students who require proof of English proficiency test for admission and the scores approved by the visa department. The table below shows the minimum IELTS score for an Australia student visa.

Exam

Minimum Score

Minimum Score for at least 10 weeks ELICOS

Minimum Score for at least 20 weeks ELICOS

IELTS

6

5

4.5

TOEFL-iBT

46

35

32

CAE

162

154

147

PTE

52

36

30

Occupational English Test

B for each test component

NA

NA

*ELICOS- English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students

 

Student Visa Australia Process

You must start applying for an Australia student visa at least 6 months before the commencement of your course. Let us now understand how to get your Australia student visa to study at the best university abroad.

 

Step 1: Create and log in to your ImmiAccount (Department of Home Affairs application system).

 

Step 2: Complete and submit your Australia student visa application.

 

Step 3: Track the status of your application through ImmiAccount.

 

Note- You cannot apply 12 weeks before the course commencement date and no later than 6 weeks.

 

Also, Read: Upcoming Intakes in Australia

 

Australia Student Visa Processing Time

The Australia student visa application is processed within a month, but in some cases, it may take up to 3 months. The table below shows an Australia student visa processing time in different streams.

Stream

50% processing

90% processing

Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector

4 days

35 days

Postgraduate Research Sector

14 days

13 months

Independent ELICOS Sector

17 days

52 days

Non-Award Sector

14 days

85 days

Vocational Education and Training Sector

41 days

68 days

Higher Education Sector

19 days

57 days 

Conclusion

To conclude, you must ensure you fulfil all the eligibility criteria and requirements to acquire an Australia student visa. The approval or disapproval of your application ultimately lies in the documents you submit and the validity of the information you provide. It will improve your chances of obtaining a visa. The blog discusses the whole process in detail, from the student visa fees, requirements, visa process and process time; everything is mentioned above.

 

Hope you liked reading the blog and obtained sufficient information about Australia student visa. However, if you have doubts, contact our expert counsellors at Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC). You can also take free online counselling through our website. Our expert counsellors will provide you with the best support and guidance you need for admission and visa. In addition, they will help you shortlist the universities according to your profile. For more information or any queries, contact application02@meridean.org or 1800-1230-00011.

 

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FAQs

Q. What is the required amount of money for an Australia student visa?

Ans: In all, the following funds are needed to secure an Australian study visa:

  • For subclass 500, the application fee is around 710 AUD (38,300 INR).

  • A single student needs an average 65,500 AUD (36 lakhs INR) in funds as proof.

 

Q. Is getting a student visa for Australia simple?

Ans: Obtaining an Australian student visa is more straightforward than other well-liked study-abroad locations like the United States and the United Kingdom. You can easily apply for an Australia student visa subclass 500 if you are enrolled in a full-time course at an Australian university that will last more than six months.

 

Q. What qualifications are needed for a student visa to Australia?

Ans: The following are the prerequisites for an Australian student visa:

  • Enrolling in a course of study and supplying proof,

  • Fulfilling the linguistic requirements in English,

  • Possessing sufficient health insurance,

  • You have to set up welfare arrangements if you are under eighteen,

  • In addition, you must be a legitimate temporary visitor and have adequate money for your stay,

  • You also need to meet the requirements for character and health, and if you're applying while in Australia, you need to have a valid visa already.

 

Q. How much time does it take to obtain an Australian student visa?

Ans: The processing time for an Australia student visa is typically one month, but it can take up to three months. The average processing time for an Australian student visa is:

Stream

50% processing

90% processing

Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector

4 days

35 days

Postgraduate Research Sector

14 days

13 months

Independent ELICOS Sector

17 days

52 days

Non-Award Sector

14 days

85 days

Vocational Education and Training Sector

41 days

68 days

Higher Education Sector

19 days

57 days

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