The application process

Whatever your course of study or country of citizenship, you will need to meet the following basic requirements:

• adequate health insurance
• no debts to the Commonwealth
• good character, and
• if you are under 18 years of age - additional requirements.

You will have to also prove that you have been accepted to a full-time course of study. You can do this by showing your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which your chosen school will send you.

You should note that if you are planning to study for less than three months, you do not need to apply for a student visa. You can study for a maximum of three months on a Visitor visa or Working Holiday visa.

If you intend to study for more than three months, you must apply for a Student visa.

There are advantages to applying for a Student visa, because visitor visas provide you with fewer rights and opportunities. If you are studying on a Visitor visa you:

• do not have access to Australia's subsidised student health cover,
• are not able to study for more than three months,
• are generally not able to change status to an overseas student in Australia, and
• do not have permission to work.

Working as a student

Students will not be automatically granted permission to work in Australia. You may apply for work permission once you have begun your studies. There are restrictions on the amount of time you may work when school is in session.

Extending your stay

From 1 Nov. 2005, overseas students will also be able to apply, on completion of their studies in Australia, for an Occupational Trainee Visa to undertake up to 12 months of supervised on-the-job training in their area of expertise. Employers will also be able to offer overseas students practical employment experience on an occupational trainee visa where this leads to registration in their chosen profession in Australia.

Otherwise, students can extend their stay in Australia by applying for a new visa before your current visa expires. If you wish to continue your studies, you must apply for a new student visa. If you wish to attend your graduation ceremony, you must apply for a visitor visa. If you wish to simply vacation in Australia after your studies have finished, and you do not have a "No Further Stay," condition on your current student visa, you may apply for a visitor visa.

If you wish to immigrate permanently to Australia, you will need to apply under general skilled migration. You may try our points calculator to see if you qualify.