This visa applies to international students applying to study in Australia under a primary school, a secondary school course or an approved secondary school exchange program.

In applying for this visa, the student applicant must first select a registered course by an Australian Education Institution and it must be full time. Applicants must submit all the required documents and pay a non-refundable visa charge during the application process. Once the visa application is lodged, this enables case officers from the immigration process the visa application quickly. Student applicants and their eligible family members can apply in person, by post or online. Once the application is submitted, student applicants must attend a scheduled interview with the department.

Once the visa is approved, the department will send a letter of grant to the student applicant via post or e-mail. It’s highly recommended that the letter must be kept when travelling in and out of Australia because the letter contains the visa grant number, terms & conditions and the validity date. This visa is only temporary and only valid during the duration of the course applied. Once studies are completed, international students are required to leave Australia on the date indicated in the visa. However, they may be entitled to apply for another Temporary visa or even a Permanent Residence visa before the Student visa expires. If the application is denied, the department will send a letter of refusal to the student applicants and if the application is lodged within Australia, student applicants may appeal to review the rights. However, if the application is lodged outside of Australia, they have no right for a review of the merits of the decision.

Vocational Education and Training Sector Visa (subclass 572)

This visa allows student applicants to study in Australia if they graduated from a vocational course. Like subclass 571, this visa can be applied for via post or in person. Student applicants can apply online for this student visa subclass only if the education provider has undertaken approval of the applicant’s welfare arrangements. If the applicant’s parent, legal custodian or suitable relative will provide the welfare arrangement, the applicant needs to lodge a paper visa application to the department. The applicant must attend a scheduled interview agreed with the department.

Higher Education Sector Visa (subclass 573)

This visa can be applied for if international students applying to study in Australia have Bachelor’s degree, Associate degree, or Masters by coursework. This visa also allows student applicants to work at least 20 hours per week throughout the year. However, they must also comply with the Australian State and Territory laws.

Master’s and Doctorate Sector Visa (subclass 574)

This visa applies to international students who want to study in Australia under Master’s degree by research and Doctorate’s degree courses. This visa also benefits student applicants to study and work in Australia and at the same time, a dependent family member can work unlimited hours once the student applicant starts their school courses.

Like subclass 573, student applicants must comply with the Australian State and Territory laws.

Skilled Overseas Student Visa (subclasses 880, 881 and 882)

The Student Visa subclass is applied to eligible overseas students who have completed an AQF (Australian Qualification Framework) Diploma (at least Level 3 AQF) or a Trade Qualification from at least 1 academic year of full study in Australia. This student visa allows non-Australian citizens or Australian Permanent residents to study in Australia.

Student applicants should undertake a course study in a registered course full time from a recognized Australian education provider; registered by the Australian Government that offers courses to overseas students.

Visa applications will be assessed by assessment levels. This will be based on the passport held and corresponding visa subclass. This will also relate to how student applicants will comply with the visa terms and conditions and it can be based on the student’s behaviour. Here are the assessment requirements for these visa subclasses:

Independent Overseas Visa (subclass 880) – The applicant must have a skills assessment for a skilled occupation at least 60 points on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) or 50 points if the applicant is a successful PhD student.

Australian-Sponsored Overseas Student Visa (subclass 881) – Applicants must have satisfactory skills for a nominated skill occupation at least 50 points on the Skills Occupation List.

Designated Area-Sponsored Overseas Student Visa (subclass 882) – Satisfactory skills assessment for any nominated skilled occupation. At least 40 points or more are required if applicants apply for this visa subclass.