Visa Procedure

Study Visa
You need to apply for a student visa. To be granted a student visa you must complete a visa application form, lodge it with the evidence required, pay the application charge and satisfy the student visa requirements. You can be granted a student visa only if you intend to study a registered course on a full-time basis and meet with a number of visa conditions after you have entered Australia.
To be granted a student visa you must satisfy the visa requirements and meet with a number of visa conditions for attendance and academic performance which come into effect after your entry in Australia. Your Student (Temporary) Visa will list the conditions that apply specifically to you. It is important to meet with your visa conditions to avoid visa cancellation. Student visa information on this website is an outline only and subject to change. For more detailed, accurate and up-to-date information on student visas and visa requirements please check the Kathmandu Infosys. The Student (Temporary) Visa has separate sub-classes for each education sector. You should apply under the visa sub-class for your principal course of study.
The Student (Temporary) Visa has separate sub-classes for each education sector. You should apply under the visa sub-class for your principal course of study.
Student visa sub-classes
Subclass 570    Independent ELICOS Sector
for international students undertaking ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) as a stand-alone course, and not as a prerequisite to commencing another course (for example,  a degree course)

Subclass 572    Vocational education and training (VET) sector
Covers Certificate I, II, III and IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma.   
Subclass 573    Higher education sector           
Covers a Bachelor degree, Graduate certificate, and Graduate diploma 
Subclass 574    Masters and Ph.D. sector        
Covers a Masters degree by coursework or by research, and a Ph.D.degree    
Subclass 575    Non-award foundation studies/other sector      
Covers foundation, bridging or other courses that do not lead to the award of a degree, diploma or other formal award 
Subclass 576    AusAID or Defence sponsored sector  
Covers full-time study undertaken by AusAID or Defence-sponsored students for the whole or part of an education or training course offered by an Australian education provider       

Common student visa requirements
(Check 'Applying for a Student Visa' information sheet Form 1160i)

you are of good character
you are of sound health
you have acceptable health insurance through the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for yourself and members of your family unit accompanying you to Australia
you have no outstanding debts to the Commonwealth of Australia, or have made arrangements acceptable to the Minister to repay such a debt
if assessed at level 1 or 2, or you are in Australia under any assessment level, an electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE) certificate is required before you lodge your application and a copy is to be furnished with your application
if you are outside Australia and assessed at level 3, 4 or 5 you will need an 'offer of a place in a course' letter from your Australian education provider at the time you lodge your application.  If you are at Assessment level 3 or 4 you must apply for Pre-Visa Assessment.
an electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE) certificate issued by your education provider after you lodge your application if you are requested by the Australian embassy to do so.  GeeBee can help you with this.
 
Common visa conditions
you must satisfy attendance and course requirements and maintain a valid enrolment for your course
you must not work unless you have special permission
you must maintain your Overseas Student Health (OSHC) cover while in Australia
you must leave Australia before your visa expires
you must remain with the education provider you originally enrolled with for the first year of your course or, if the course is less than 12 months, for the duration of your course
you must advise your education provider of your residential address within 7days of your arrival in Australia and must advise any address change
if you change education provider you must inform your current education provider within 7 days of issue of an eCoE
 
Visa application forms
Application for a student (temporary) visa         Form 157A 

Application for a student visa with permission to work   Form 157P

only to be lodged after you have arrived in Australia and commenced study in a registered course in Australia
Application for a student visa with permission to change education provider       Form 157C

             
Application for pre-qualified institution (PQI) status       Form 157Q

Short Term Visitor/Tourist Visas - Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)    ETA

 
Visa information forms
Applying for a student visa        Form 1160i

Country Assessment Levels - Student Visa Processing
(you should read this document along with form 1160i) 
Charges (fees)  Form 990i

Student Dependant Nomination Form 991

Health requirements for temporary entrants        Form 1163i

Preparing and processing visa applications         Form 1025i

Bridging visas   Form 1024i

Short Term Visitor/Tourist Visas - Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)    ETA

 
Temporary Entry Overseas Students Booklets
Independent ELICOS   Form 1173

           
Vocational Education and Training        Form 1175

Higher Education          Form 1176

Masters and Doctorate Form 1177

Non-award Foundation Studies/Other   Form 1178

Country assessment levels
Each education sector in each country is rated according to 4 Assessment Levels based on the levels of students not meeting with their visa conditions. The visa requirements or Evidentiary Standards you must satisfy are increasingly difficult from Assessment Level 1 through to Assessment Level 4. A fifth Assessment Level is available for emergency use and has the most stringent requirements. Further information on country assessment levels can be found at the DIMIA website.

Evidentiary standards/Assessment Factors
financial ability to cover air fares, tuition fees and other expenses related to your education and stay in Australia
English language proficiencylikely compliance with visa conditions
any other relevant matters such as age, academic background and usefulness of course for employment and immigration history
capacity to support any family unit members for the duration of your stay in Australia
the specific provisions for each of these depend upon the country assessment level and are described in the Student Booklets provided by DIMIA for each sector

Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment

An Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) is issued by your Australian education provider and is the only accepted evidence of enrolment for processing student visa applications. Contingent on your country of nationality and your principal course of study you may have to undergo a Pre-Visa Assessment (PVA) before an institution issues an eCoE. The institution will advise you of its requirements but generally it will require payment of at least one semester of course fees before issuing an eCoE. A copy of your eCoE will be submitted for getting a student visa.
Information collected through the eCoE process includes the student visa application, visa grant and visa compliance data from a student's arrival in Australia and course commencement through to their departure from Australia.