You’ll Be Sorry If You Miss this Guide To Understanding Australia Student Visa Requirements

You’ll Be Sorry If You Miss This Guide To Understanding Australia Student Visa Requirements

Australia student visa requirements are changing every year. If you plan to apply for an Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500), you must have a thorough understanding of the Student Visa 500 requirements. Otherwise, you will end up with a Student Visa Refusal. Reasons for a Student Visa (Subclass 500) refusal may include inadequate qualifications or supporting documents, lack of financial support, unclear goals for your future, and more. Read on to understand the Australian Student Visa requirements and have a foolproof visa application!

Contact us here for a one-stop Student Visa solution to Australia.

Below are the highlights of this article:

1. Are you eligible for a Student Visa (Subclass 500) in Australia?
2. What is the Country Assessment Level and How it Affects the Student Visa?
3. Financial Requirement for a Student Visa
4. Genuine Temporary Entrant Requirements and Tips to Write a Strong GTE Statement.
5. Appointing a Guardian

Are you eligible for a Student Visa (Subclass 500) in Australia?

If you have decided to study in Australia, it is essential to first check if you meet the Australian Student Visa Requirements. In Australia, a Student Visa will let you participate in an eligible course of study, travel in and out of Australia, and work up to 40 hours every 2-week period once your course starts. If it suits your purposes in Australia, you may be eligible for a Student Visa.

If you are outside Australia, it is suggested you apply for your visa at least six weeks before your course starts to avoid delay in decision, making you unable to start your course in Australia on time. All international students apply for the same visa: the Student Visa (Subclass 500), which you must apply for online through IMMIAccount.

In education ONE, we provide professional and friendly assistance for Student Visa Application and beyond, book a FREE CONSULTATION with our education specialists now!

Before you apply for a Student Visa, you have to:

• Be a certain age (school student);
• Be enrolled in a course of study and provide evidence;
• Make welfare arrangements if you are under 18 years;
• Meet English language requirements;
• Have adequate health insurance;
• Have this visa if applying while in Australia;
• Have enough money for your stay;
• Be a genuine temporary entrant;
• Meet the Immigration’s character requirement;
• Meet the Immigration’s health requirement;
• Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government;
• Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused;
• Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused.

In your online application, you have to declare that you have met the Australian Student Visa requirements mentioned above. You are also required to provide sufficient evidence to support each claim you make. The evidence may include official statements, pictures, and identification documents. Once you have everything ready, you may include them in your application.

What is the Country Assessment Level and How it Affects the Student Visa?

Immigration has made changes to the risk levels (assessment levels) for certain countries. These progressions depend on a balance of offshore refusals and onshore immigration ‘risks’: rate of visa cancellations, overstayers, and subsequent protection visa applications.

Australian Immigration uses a combination of evidence of a student’s education provider and citizenship to decide if the student needs to give financial evidence and English language ability with their Student Visa application. You may want to utilize the Document Checklist Tool to figure out the Australia Student Visa requirements for you and if you are required to provide financial and English language ability evidence with your Student Visa application:

Once you have selected your Country of passport, Education provider or Education provider CRICOS code, you will see a drop down information. If you do not see Financial Evidence and English Language Ability on the list, it means that your country is considered ‘low risk’ and thus do not need to demonstrate Financial and English ability unless the Immigration specifically requests you.

The assessment level of your application will determine the Australia student visa requirements that you will need to provide. If you see English ability and financial capacity requirements, then you must include them in your Australian Student Visa application to avoid visa refusals. Otherwise, you may want to explore your options more. Other Australian education providers that are in Assessment Level 1 may not require you to provide those.

On the other hand, if you choose a Level 3 education provider, which is a High Risk category then your Australia Student Visa requirements will be more difficult and your application will be highly scrutinized. You may be required to provide the Financial and English evidence even though you hold a passport from a Level 1 or Level 2 country.

Also read: Australian Government Launches Visa Changes for International Students

Financial Requirement for a Student Visa

You may or may not be required to provide financial requirements for an Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) application. However, it is okay if you want to. It may show your readiness and access to funds to support your future studies in Australia. Hence, you could provide it to secure your Student Visa (Subclass 500) even if you are not required to do so.

For the Australian Student Visa requirements in terms of finance, student visa applicants are required to show an annual income of at least AUD 62,222 for single students, or AUD 72,592 for students with dependents.

Not sure whether you have met the Student Visa (Subclass 500) requirements? Book a consultation with our education specialists for FREE here!

To fulfill the Australia Student Visa requirement, as an alternative, a Student Visa applicant can choose to show sufficient funds to cover your travel costs, and 12 months of living and tuition fees for you and your accompanying family members and school costs for any school-aged dependents. It may include a recent bank statement under your own, your parents, or any other parties’ names, depending on who to support your studies in Australia.

From July 2021, every application where evidence of funds is required should include the updated cost of living amounts or travel cost in their calculation of funds:

Living costs:

• Student or Guardian: AUD 21,041
• Partner or Spouse Dependent: AUD 7,362
• Child Dependent: AUD 3,152

Travel cost:

• Student, Guardian, Dependents: AUD 2,000 – 3,000 per person

Study costs:

• Student: Estimation of 1 year tuition fees for their chosen program in Australia
• Dependent Child (School Aged): Estimation of 1 year tuition fees

The more you are able to show, the better it would be to meet your Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) requirements. A sound financial standing may show that you have a genuine intention to study in Australia. Therefore, it is better to show a higher amount in your Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) application.

Also read: Financial Requirements Increased In Applying For Australia’s Study Visa: Notice For Students From “High Risk” Countries

Work out how much money you need

Utilize the information below to work out how much money you need to show. To proportionally calculate the costs, divide the annual expense by 365 and multiply the results by the number of days you expect to remain in Australia.

1. Living costs in Australia

The actual living costs vary throughout Australia. You could research the area you intend to live in including the cost of living in that area. But the minimum amount that your guardian must show to the immigration for 12-month living costs is currently set at AUD 21,041 or equivalent, and AUD 3,152 for each child under the age of 6 years old coming with them.

Talk with our education consultants for FREE and get well-informed on your destination city in Australia.

2. Schooling costs

12 months course fees for the student visa holder(s) (or proportionally if less than 12 months). The fees vary between level of study, college, universities and destination city in Australia.

Contact us and get study recommendations to suit your needs and career plan.

If you or your guardian includes school-age children (under 6 years) in their application, add schooling costs of at least AUD 8,296 per year per child. Costs vary between states, territories and schools in Australia – you are responsible for finding out how much the child’s schooling will cost.

3. Travel Costs

As a guide, you can allow AUD 2,000 per person.

Prove that you have genuine access to the money

You and your guardian should show you will have a genuine access to funds while you are in Australia for:

• Meeting the expenses and costs of yourself, and your accompanying relatives.
• Demonstrating your financial ability with regards to the matters indicated previously.

In the event that another person is sponsoring you, you must provide:

• Proof of your relationship with them,
• Their identity documentation.

In case you are providing evidence of deposits of money or investment, clarify their source.

Genuine Temporary Entrant Requirements and Tips to Write a Strong GTE Statement

As a Student Visa (Subclass 500) applicant, you must show that you apply for the visa merely to gain the quality of education in Australia. This is also known as one of the most crucial Australia Student Visa requirements. Even though you will be required to elaborate your future plan in your home country or a third country, this Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement does not intend to exclude you to acquire skills that Australia needs, then apply for your next visa and permanent residency in Australia after you finish your studies. You may provide all supporting reasons and information about your genuineness to apply for an Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500) and to stay temporarily in Australia in the forms of a GTE Statement.

Contact us now for assistance in making sure you provide a strong GTE Statement and Secure your Student Visa.

Writing a statement addressing the GTE Requirements (GTE Statement)

Evidence can include a statement that you genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily, having regard to:

a. Your Circumstances

You may include information on your:

1. Previous academic qualifications
   • Academic records showing qualifications acquired
   • Name of your previous educational institution(s)
   • Length of study
   • Testaments of accomplishment
2. Gap in Past Study
   • Motivations behind why there is a gap in your studies including where you didn’t keep up with enrolment.
3. Your Current and Past Employment
   • Your current and past employer
   • Company address(es)
   • Period of employment
   • Details of your capacity, tasks and responsibilities
   • The name and contact details of someone who can confirm the nature of your employment.
   • NOTES: If you are proposing a study program that is not in line with your previous academic background, your previous professional experiences such as training, volunteering, or employment in the new field could show why you are interested in taking such a new program.
4. Proof of your ties to your home country or country of residence
   • Your family ties
   • Your financial ties
   • Your ownership of assets
   • You need to show that you have compelling incentives to return to your home country or country of residence once you complete your Australian studies in the future.
5. Financial circumstances in your home country or country of residence
   • Documents showing your or your sponsor’s employment or business activities for the past 12 months before lodging your Student Visa application;
   • Potential employment offers including salary and other benefits, which you will return to after course completion in Australia;
   • Your or your sponsor’s income tax return or bank statements.
     
6. Work in a third country
   • Potential work offers, including salary and other advantages, after your course fulfillment
     You must include as much information and evidence as possible in your GTE statement that elaborates a full view of your situation. It would accelerate the assessment process of your visa by the immigration. Otherwise, they might need to ask you for more information, delaying their decision on your Student Visa application.

b. Your immigration history

Have you got a visa refusal, cancellation, or overstay in Australia or any other countries? If yes, you must declare it and provide as much evidence as possible from your side to show why the previous refusal or cancellation was unreasonable, and that this time, you have provided enough evidence to show that you do not have any intention to maintain ongoing residency in Australia and you do not plan to use the student visa program for any other motives than gaining a quality education.

c. If the applicant is a minor — the intentions of a parent, legal guardian or spouse of the applicant

Appointing a Guardian

In this article, we will also cover information on how to appoint a family member to accompany and support you during your studies in Australia as a guardian. Also, to make sure that your appointed guardian could show a genuine intention.

For applicants under 18 (minor), you must be accompanied by a guardian, who is your appointed relative until you finish your study in Australia or until you turn 18, whichever comes first.

In this case, the relative must be:

1. The parent of the student visa holder, or
2. A person who has custody of the student, or
3. A relative of the student, aged 21 years or older, nominated in writing by a parent or person who has custody of the student.

The relative will provide care and support for:

1. A student visa holder who is under 18 years of age or
2. A student visa holder who is 18 years of age or older and needs care and support due to exceptional circumstances.

Important Note: Please note that if you are 18 years old or older, and would like to appoint a guardian in Australia due to exceptional circumstances, you would be required to provide supporting evidence, and have them approved by the Immigration. Otherwise, you may end up with a Student Visa (subclass 500) refusal.

You may appoint a family member who is currently outside or in Australia. And, if your family member who is currently in Australia does not have any visa to be able to accompany you during your study, then they, similar to a family member who is still outside Australia, may be eligible to apply for a Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590).

For this Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590), a relative is the student’s:

1. Parent or step-parent;
2. Grandparent or step-grandparent;
3. Sibling or step siblings;
4. Aunt, uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle;
5. Niece, nephew or step-niece or step-nephew;
6. Partner;
7. Child or stepchild.

To be eligible for this Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590), your relative must:

1. Have a certain visa

Your relative may be outside or inside Australia when applying for this visa, however please notice that this visa cannot be applied onshore by holders of certain types of visa. For example, a Bridging Visa holder will not be eligible to apply for this visa.

Not sure whether your relative is eligible to be appointed as your guardian? Talk to our education specialists for FREE here and get your case assessed by professionals!

2. Be a parent, a custodian or a relative

You may appoint one of your parents, your legal custodian, or a relative with a written permission from your parent or legal custodian to accompany you during your studies in Australia if you have met the criteria. This subclass 590 Visa will generally let your guardian to study for three months at maximum but this visa will not let them work.

3. Be able to provide for the student

Your guardian must ensure that you have all your necessities in Australia such as accommodation, and general welfare.

4. Have enough money for your stay

Your guardian must provide that they have enough money to support them, any children who come to Australia with them, and most of the time, to support you as the student visa holder(s).

Bringing children

In general, if your relative that you appoint to be your guardian has a member of their family unit that has not turned 6, they cannot be granted the Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590) unless there are very compelling reasons that you can show, or if granting the visa would significantly benefit the relationship between the Australian Government and the government of another country.

Make welfare arrangements for dependants overseas

You and/or your guardian should make sufficient arrangement for the accommodation, support, and welfare of any family member who:

• Isn’t accompanying you to Australia;
• Is under 18 years old;
• Doesn’t have a Student visa.

The Immigration will be satisfied that you have had the necessary welfare arrangement for your children aged 6 to 18 years in the event that they will be living with:

• Another parent or caretaker;
• A relative who is at least 21 years of age.

Further Reading: Do you get a Student Visa Refusal even after Providing Ample Documents? Find Out Why Here!

5. Have adequate health insurance

Different from you, your guardian applying for a Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590) requires an adequate Overseas Visitor Health Cover before applying for their visa.

6. Be a genuine temporary entrant

Similar to you, your guardian must show that they intend to stay in Australia temporarily. When assessing your guardian’s genuineness, the Immigration will take into account some relevant matters, which include any evidence of immediate family members in home country, visa or residence status in home country and right to return, proof of property or other significant assets in home country, a return air ticket, and a letter from employer confirming leave.

7. Meet the health requirement

Heath requirement for Student Visa (subclass 500) and Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590).

8. Meet the character requirement

Character requirement Student Visa (subclass 500) and Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590).

9. Sign the Australian values statement

10. Have no debt to the Australian Government

In the event that you, your guardian, or any other family member owe the Australian Government money, it must be paid or you must have arranged to pay it back.

11. Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused

Have you or your guardian had a visa refused while you were in Australia? If yes, you may not be eligible for a Student Visa (subclass 500) and your guardian may not be eligible for a Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590).

12. Best interests of the child

The Immigration will not grant the visa if it is not for the benefit of a minor applicant.

With all such information. We completely understand how it may cause confusion for you, especially in writing your Genuine Temporary Entrant statement or GTE Statement.

Reach out to us and speak with one of our study specialists for assistance in writing your GTE Statement for Student Visa!

Here we will give you some important tips on writing a GTE Statement

1. Make sure you include all the relevant information

Did you join a seminar or training that is somewhat related to your proposed course in Australia? If yes, it will be helpful for you to include them.

2. Make it personalized

You must show that your proposed course in Australia will be beneficial for your personal development and future career plan in your home country or a third country.

3. Focus on the relevant emergency issues

Try to show how your proposed course will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to solve the emerging issues in your surrounding. You need to focus on what you will get from your proposed course in Australia, and how it will complement your previous qualifications and experiences. On the other hand, you must also cover the obstacles and challenges you currently have to solve the issues due to lack of the necessary skills and knowledge that you can only acquire by studying in Australia.

4. Have a clear career plan

We know that modern lives are very complicated, but the Immigration will be satisfied that you genuinely intend to study in Australia for its quality education, and that you will stay only temporarily if they see that you have a career plan. For example, if you state that you will open your own business in your home country upon the completion of your Australian studies, you could provide information on how you have been preparing for it so far. It can be a little step that you take such as a discussion with your family or your participation in a seminar regarding entrepreneurship, or as significant as evidence of property ownership in which you plan to build your business premises.

5. State why you think you are eligible for the visa and that you should be granted a Student Visa

You could complete your already compelling statement with how you have met each of the requirements for the grant of a Student Visa, including financial requirement, immigration history, character, health insurance, and health.

Therefore it is very important for you to choose the right course in Australia. You may think that you are choosing the right course and providing enough evidence, but, without giving the right evidence, you may end up with a Student Visa Refusal!

Also read: Four Steps to Secure your Study after Student Visa Extension Refusal in Australia

If you are unsure of whether you have met all the requirements for your Student Visa (subclass 500) or Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590) application, book a FREE Student Visa Consultation with one of our Career Development Consultants or contact us education ONE Australia through email at [email protected] or via phone on at 1300 083 663.

At ONE derland Consulting along with our highly experienced and professional Registered Migration Agents we have a dedicated team of consultants that will be on hand to offer you insight and assistance on securing your Student Visa and Student Guardian Visa in Australia.

We have years of experience in helping hundreds of international students to fulfill their visa requirements no matter how complex the circumstances. We treat every individual differently based on their situation to determine the best options for their future visa. We look forward to assisting you with your visa and dreams of studying in Australia.

Also read: International students may return depending on the Australian vaccination rate!