Australia offers premiere education for students and welcomes international students to study and live in the country. Students around the world are drawn to Australia because of the quality of education it provides and because of the distinctively Aussie lifestyle that everyone wants to experience. Combining learning with cultural exploration is a sweet combination that hone many international students in their professional development in Australia.

Before coming to Australia, a student must hold a valid student visa. There is a process to be followed before becoming a bona fide student. This article will show you the steps to having the student visa (subclass 500)

Student visa (subclass 500)

This student visa grants the holder permission to enter the country, live, work and study in Australia for the duration of course taken. This visa allows a student to work for a maximum of 40 hours a fortnight during the term and no limit on the number of hours work during term breaks. Students who are taking a master in research degree and students in the critical industries – including tourism and hospitality, have more work-hours flexibility.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Student Visa 500 the following requirements must be met:

The student has to be

1. 6 years or older;
2. Must prove to have welfare arrangement, if he or she is under 18;
3. Should be enrolled in a course of study in Australia;
4. Holds an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) or fall in one of the exemption categories;
5. Meet health and character requirements
6. Holds enough funds to sustain his or her stay in Australia

Process of getting Student Visa (Subclass 500)

1. Decide what course to take and what school to attend.

The first step to studying in Australia will involve deciding what course to take and what school to attend to. There are several top notched schools and universities in Australia. You can choose to study vocational courses or bachelor’s degree or post graduate studies. It is an important consideration to enrol to a course that is in line with your previous studies or in line with past work experiences. Australia is more keen to approve student visa application if they can see that the course taken is relevant to the previous studies or work experience of the applicant. It is an indication to them that the student applicant is a genuine student. Australia is looking for genuine students to study in their country. A genuine student is someone who is planning to study in Australia with the intention of going back to their home country to work or set up business.

2. Apply to an Australian education provider.

This can be done directly to the school or through an Australian education agent.

The application for enrolment for schools would involve several documents. It is wise to ready these for smooth transactions. The documents needed would usually involve the following:

1. School certificates, transcript of records and other relevant school credentials. The documents must be in English or translated into English;
2. Evidence of English language proficiency;
3. Work certificates from current or previous employment (if needed).
4. Other documents as requested by the school.

3. Issuance of letter of offer.

Receiving a letter of offer signifies that the application of the student has been accepted in the program he or she applied to. The student signs the letter of offer if he or she agrees to the terms and conditions of the school.

4. Issuance of COE.

This document verifies the student’s eligibility to enrol at the college or school and has agreed to the terms of the school. This document is a requirement for the visa application. The student needs to pay the tuition fee deposit or the amount the school requires the student to pay for the issuance of the Confirmation of enrolment (CoE)

5. Apply online.

Create an ImmiAccount. This is an online portal where applicants will lodge their request for visa. This is a self-service tool that helps applicant submit requests, make payments and manage visa online. The website: https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login

Have all the needed documents in digital format and submit it to this account. For student visa the documents needed are usually: Copy of CoE, copy of your passport, genuine temporary entrant (GTE) statement. Depending on what country are you lodging, you may also be asked to provide a copy of your birth certificate, bank statements to show that you can finance your studies in Australia; proof of previous employment, English proficiency (IELTS-test result).

6. Pay the necessary Fees.

After completing the online application, the student will be asked to pay for the visa fees. Payment can be done online and this is the safest and fastest method. The visa application will be processed only after the correct payment of the fees.

After successfully lodging the application, the applicant will be given transaction reference number (TRN). The TRN can be used to manage the application or change details, used to identify the application if making a follow-up with the department for immigration and border protection.

7. Health check-up or interview.

Health check-up may be given as a requirement depending on the circumstance of the applicant and on the country to which he or she is from. If the applicant will be studying and will be staying in Australia for more than 6 months, then he or she will be required to undergo medical check-up. Link on the list of countries: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/health/what-health-examinations-you-need

8. Wait for visa decision.

Processing time for student visa would usually take 8-16 months for vocational education and training sector. Processing times would vary depending on many circumstances.

9. Travel to Australia.

Once the visa has been received, it is now time to book a ticket, travel to Australia and start the adventure.

Coming to Australia as a student is a wonderful experience. Getting the student visa should not be a cause for worry. Be guided by the steps laid above in getting the visa. Better yet, avail the service of expert student education agency for stress free transaction.

AMES Group has been in the student education services for more than 10 years. It has successfully helped several international students with their visa. For more information, check www.amesgroup.com.au

References:

Abroad, D., & Australia, S. (2021). Student visa to Australia – how to apply step by step [Article]. Retrieved 13 December 2021, from https://www.dreamstudiesabroad.com/articles/student-visa-australia

Length of stay for Student visas. (2021). Retrieved 13 December 2021, from https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500/length-of-stay

Australia, I., Australia, I., & Australia, S. (2021). Student Visa Australia (Subclass 500) – Study & Migration In Australia | IDP Australia. Retrieved 13 December 2021, from https://www.idp.com/australia/international-student-services/student-visa-500/

Student Arrivals, T., & Student Arrivals, T. (2021). Step-by-step guide to visa and entry requirements. Retrieved 13 December 2021, from https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/english/student-arrivals-travel-and-visas/updates/step-by-step-guide-to-visa-and-entry-requirements