Education Library

International students who intend to study in Australia must have a valid student visa. Here is a general guideline on how to apply for a student visa in Australia:

Before filing your application, you should first check with the Australian Embassy in your country if you are eligible to apply for a student visa before obtaining official confirmation of your enrollment and paying tuition fees. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) also has offices located in many countries.

If your application for study in Australia is accepted, the university will then send you a letter of offer with details on the first payment due. An electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCeO) is sent to the Australian diplomatic mission (embassy, consulate etc) that you have nominated in your application form after you return the acceptance of the offer and after making the first payment to the university. A paper copy of the eCeO is also sent to you, which you will then submit to the diplomatic mission when applying for a student visa.

Visa application forms are available in English, Portuguese or Spanish and can be downloaded from the DIAC website. Contact the nearest Australian Embassy or DIAC office in your country in securing visa application forms. Most students will need to fill in the Application for a Student (Temporary) Visa Form 157A. The visa application forms are designed so you will be able to complete them with minimal, if any, help. You will also be asked to undergo a medical examination and will be given a list of approved doctors and special forms for the doctor to complete as part of the visa proces.

Unless instructed otherwise by the institution or by the agent you have been dealing with, your visa application for (together with the correct visa charge and all necessary documents) should be sent to the nearest Australian Embassy or DIAC office.

Before a visa can be issued all students must present a proof of Health insurance coverage. In most cases, you can pay the compulsory Overseas Student Health Cover or OSHC premium to the education institution which will pay the health insurer on your behalf. If you are a student sponsored by AusAID you will not pay the OSHC yourself but you will need to provide proof that AusAID supports your application. Norwegian Swedish students studying under CSN International (the Swedish National Board of Student Aid) who have obtained insurance through CSN are exempt from the OSHC requirement.

A student visa can only be granted to you if you are part of a registered course on a full-time basis or if you intend to study in a registered course. With a successful application, you will be given a Multiple Entry Visa within the period of which the visa has been granted. This will depend on the course for which you have been accepted. Your student visa can be cancelled when you fail to meet the conditions of your visa or when you discontinue your studies.

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