We continue to process Student visas. 

If your application contains all the required information, including a current active Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and health and police checks, it can be processed faster.

We cannot grant your visa without an active CoE. If you have changed your CoE since you applied, you need to attach your new CoE to your application. 

Make sure you (and any dependants included in your application) have provided all the documents that are relevant to your circumstances.

To check the requirements, visit: Document Checklist Tool (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Student visa holders (including dependents) who arrived in Australia during a specified period were eligible for a refund of their Visa Application Charge. 

• This refund period commenced on 19 January 2022 and closed on 19 March 2022. 
• Dependent visa applicants could also have their visa application charges refunded if they travelled to Australia during this period. 
• Eligible travellers will be able to apply for a refund of their visa application charge until 31 December 2022.

For more information, visit the Department of Home Affairs website. 

If you cannot complete any of these in time, please contact us and tell them what steps you have taken to get the information so far. we shall guide you through the process..

There is no limit to when you can submit your student visa application. It is recommended that you lodge a complete application at least six weeks before your course commences. 

Education providers can issue a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and enrol students to study online. If you hold a valid student visa, your education provider will provide the Department of Home Affairs with your new CoE. 

If you have an open student visa application, you can attach your new CoE to your application through ImmiAccount

With travel restrictions now easing, the Australian Government has recommenced reviews of student visas where the student visa holder no longer has a valid course enrolment.

Please note that the Australian Department of Home Affairs is taking into consideration circumstances where COVID-19 restrictions have disrupted studies.

For instance, where an education provider has approved a course deferral for a student or has delivered learning via online mode rather than face to face, a student visa holder will not be in breach of condition 8202 (i.e. ‘meet course requirements’).

You can apply for another type of visa which is more aligned to your intentions.

This should occur as soon as possible, as a visa cancellation decision may impact your future Australian immigration options. Students can explore their visa options by contracting with us.

You must re-enrol in a course at the same AQF immediately.

Condition 8202 requires students to maintain enrolment in a course at the same level or higher Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) level for which they obtained the visa. This rule does not apply to students undertaking a doctoral degree (AQF10) or transferring to a master’s degree (AQF9).

If you want to change to a lower level course or non-award course, you must apply for, and be granted, a new student visa before you change your course. More information is available about changing courses here.

If you do not intend to study, you can apply for another type of visa which is more aligned to your intentions.

This should occur as soon as possible, as a visa cancellation decision may impact your future Australian immigration options. Students can explore their visa options by contracting to us anytime.

You must depart Australia.

Many countries are opening up their borders, particularly to returning residents and outbound commercial flights are available from several major airports across Australia.

You may also wish to find out if there are any private or Government repatriation flights to your home country. If you would like further assistance to return home, please contact us.

If you have any questions on any of the above information, you can contact the Department of Home Affairs via one of the options listed on their website or contact us anytime.

You can use the Document Checklist Tool to determine if you are required to provide financial evidence with your application.

If you are required to supply it or if this information is requested of you by the Department of Home Affairs’ you must supply it. 

If you held a student visa holder on or after 1 February 2020, and were unable to complete your studies within the original visa validity due to COVID-19, you can lodge a further student visa application free of charge. 

All student visa applicants must hold adequate health insurance at the time of their visa grant and maintain this during their stay in Australia. Any changes to health insurance arrangements post student visa grant and prior to arrival in Australia are a matter for the visa holder (or education provider) and health insurance provider.

If you applied online, you can withdraw your visa application in ImmiAccount before the Department of Home Affairs’ make a decision. Instructions are available on the Department of Home Affairs’ website.

The Australian Government has implemented a number of measures to support students who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including: 

• Student visa holders studying online outside Australia due to COVID-19 can use that study to count towards the Australian study requirement for a post-study work visa. 
• Graduates who held a student visa will be eligible to apply for a post-study work visa from outside Australia if they are unable to return due to COVID-19. 
• Additional time will be given for applicants to provide English language results and biometrics checks where COVID-19 has disrupted access to these services.

Temporary Graduate – Graduate Work Stream

• From 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023, applicants for the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa Graduate Work stream will not need to nominate an occupation from the skilled occupation list and obtain a skills assessment.
• This will apply to all applications lodged on or after 1 July 2022 until 30 June 2023. It will not be applied to applications lodged before 1 July 2022, as this is a time-of-application requirement.

Temporary Graduate Visa Replacement stream

From 18 February 2022, Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who are eligible for a replacement Temporary Graduate visa because they lost time in Australia as a result of COVID-19 international travel restrictions, will have their visas extended to 30 September 2022.

This interim measure allows eligible Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who were affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions, to enter, or remain in, Australia to live and work until they can apply for a replacement Temporary Graduate visa from 1 July 2022.

• From 1 July 2022, current and former Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who lost time in Australia due to COVID-19 international travel restrictions can apply for a replacement visa through a new Replacement stream.
• This includes people who were outside of Australia at any time between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 while they held a Temporary Graduate visa.
• Applications for the Replacement stream may be made until 31 December 2026.
• The Department’s website has further information on the application requirements for the Replacement stream.

Visa holders will be notified directly by the Department of Home Affairs of the extension of their visa. For more information visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

The length of stay on the Temporary Graduate visa has increased from two to three years for Masters by coursework graduates, matching that of Masters by research graduates.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector graduates will also receive a two-year Temporary Graduate visa, increased from 18 months.

The new visa settings will also extend existing measures for students and temporary graduates to recognise time spent offshore studying online to count towards qualifying for a temporary graduate visa.

You must have successfully completed all course requirements as a result of at least two academic years (92 weeks) study to meet the Australian Study Requirement (ASR) eligibility.

During the COVID concession period, online study offshore will be counted towards Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa eligibility from the date of visa grant.

Restrictions on travel to Australia have been lifted from 6 July 2022. Unvaccinated travellers can now enter Australia without a travel exemption.    

All visa holders can arrive back in Australia after a holiday without needing an approved travel exemption. 

This means that temporary visa holders in Australia can plan to visit their home country, if border restrictions in that country allow, and return to Australia to continue their studies. If you would like further assistance to return home, you can contact your embassy or consulate in Australia. 

The status of your visa will not change if your education provider approves your deferral your studies.

Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) (COVID-19 pandemic event)

If you are a temporary visa holder working in, or intending to work in, tourism and hospitality, you may be able to extend your stay by up to 12 months through the 408 COVID-19 visa.

Read more about this visa on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485)

• This visa allows eligible international students who have completed an Australian education to stay in Australia to gain work experience.
• You can work in Australia for a period of 18 months and up to 4 years, depending on your qualification.
• This visa does not restrict the type of work you may do or the number of hours you may work.
• Applications for this visa must be made in Australia and you must hold an eligible student visa in the last 6 months.
• You must meet Australian study, English proficiency, health insurance, health and character requirements.
• You must meet the specific requirements of the stream in which you are applying for this visa.

Read more about Temporary Graduate visas on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Visa options and requirements are sometimes subject to change. In order to stay up to date, the best place to get accurate information is on the Department of Home Affairs website. The website provides comprehensive information on the types of visas available for different levels of study in Australia including people considering bringing family members with them (whether guardians, partners/spouses or children). You will also have access to help and advice about your specific visa requirements. 

Another option is to contact an education agent who can help with your visa application, your course application and answer any other questions.

Training visa (Subclass 407)

The Training visa (Subclass 407) temporary visa allows you to take part in workplace-based occupational training activities to improve your skills for your job, area of tertiary study, field of expertise or in a professional development training program in Australia for up to 2 years.

Visa options and requirements are sometimes subject to change. In order to stay up to date, the best place to get accurate information is on the Department of Home Affairs website. The website provides comprehensive information on the types of visas available for different levels of study in Australia, including people considering bring family members with them (whether guardians, partners/spouses or children). You will also have access to help and advice about your specific visa requirements.

Another option is to contact an education agent, who can help with your visa application, course application, and answer any other questions. 

If you are leaving, staying or coming to Australia and want information on your visa and travel restrictions:

1. Visit the Department of Home Affairs websitefor updates to Australia's immigration and border arrangements during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, , including specific advice for international students: www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19/visa-information/international-students.
2. If you still have questions, visit here for contact information if you are in Australia, or click here if calling from Americas, Europe, South Korea or Japan. You can also check the contact list of locations for other Home Affairs overseas offices.

If you are a current student located in Australia, and you are preparing to travel outside of Australia, please refer to information on international travel at the Smarttraveller website for information about:

• What to do if you are considering travelling to any destination with detected cases of the novel coronavirus.
• What to do while you are away.
• What to do if returning from a destination and you feel unwell.
• What to do if returning from a destination with reported cases.