In order to be eligible for a student visa, applicants will need to meet the following requirements:
- Have sufficient health insurance
- Be of good character; and
- Not have any debt to the Commonwealth
If you are under 18 years of age, there are further requirements.
Applicants also need to show that they have been accepted to a full-time course. The Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from the chosen school will be sufficient evidence.
Applicants intending to study for less than three months are not required to apply for a student visa. Both the Visitor Visa and Working Holiday Visa allow applicants to study for a maximum of three months. Any study for longer than three months requires a Student Visa.
Work
Once granted a student visa, students are not automatically eligible to work in Australia. Applicants can apply for permission to work once they have started the selected course of study.
Options to extend
Since 1 November 2005, once international students have completed their studies, they will be eligible to apply for an Occupational Trainee Visa which allows them to take up supervised on-the-job training in the particular area they have chosen.
International students also have the option of extending their stay in Australia by applying for a new visa before the study visa expires. Applicants can either apply for a new student visa in order to continue studying, or a visitor visa in order to attend a graduation ceremony.
After the completion of the course, if international students would like to stay in Australia for a vacation, an application for a visitor visa must be made.
