Student Visa Grant Period

Australian Student Visa Grant Period

Generally, a student visa is granted for up to five years, but in some circumstances it could be longer. The consideration of granting a student visa for longer than five years, where:

• A student is studying a medical or architectural degree that could take up to six years to complete
• There is reasonable course progression, for example where each course is a pre-requisite or foundation for the next course in the package.

For those of you who are postgraduate students, you are granted an additional six months past your course end date on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) to allow for interactive thesis marking.

Primary school-aged students will get the maximum of two years for the period of student visa granted. It will be an important safeguard for younger and more vulnerable primary school students.

In some case where a student intends to enroll in primary school before secondary school, it would be acceptable to grant the visa for five years as long as the primary school component has not exceeded two years.

For example when a student seeking to study year five and six could be granted a student visa until year nine.

School students who are applying for subsequent visas must meet all relevant requirements, including the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement.

Age requirements for school study

There is an age requirements where all school students must be of a certain age to the entry level for their school course, regardless of their country of citizenship.

To be granted a visa for school studies, you must meet the following age requirements:

• at least six years old at time of application
• less than 17 when commencing Year 9
• less than 18 when commencing Year 10
• less than 19 when commencing Year 11
• less than 20 when commencing Year 12.

A child below six years old is able to enroll in school for up to three months on a Visitor visa (subclass 600).

Welfare arrangements

To be granted a student visa, applicants must demonstrate that they have adequate welfare arrangements in place for the length of the student visa or until they turn 18 years of age.

Document checklist picture belongs to © National visa.

Visa requirements

Evidence of enrolment

Primary and secondary school students

You can lodging your application from outside Australia, but when you lodge your Student visa application you must be enrolled in a registered course of study and provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

If you are in Australia, you can still apply with a letter of offer or a CoE but you must obtain a CoE to be granted the visa.

Secondary exchange students

For secondary exchange student (whether you are in or outside Australia), if you want granted a visa you must provide an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student (AASES) form when you lodge your visa application. 

Genuine temporary entrant requirement

The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement applies to all students.

The individual circumstances indication of the intention for a temporary stay in Australia will be considered by GTE. An important consideration for school student is to be confident that you can effectively reintegrate to your home country on completion of your study.

This may be challenging in circumstances where a student completes all their primary and secondary education in Australia.

On this basis, a school student intending to study in Australia from year 1 through to year 12 would not meet the GTE requirement.

Thus the information we can share to you about student visa grant period. Do not forget to visit our website at www.educationone.net.au to find out more interesting info about study abroad, in addition you can also get free consultation about anything you need to study abroad!