Australia Student Visa For Indian Students: How to Apply, Visa Requirements, Fees

Applications prior to July 1, 2016, were accepted under different subclasses. The latest changes have combined the erstwhile subclasses 571 - 576 under subclass 500. So, students who are planning to apply to any of the sectors need to apply for a Student Visa under Subclass 500 w.e.f. July 1, 2016.

Recent Updates - Visa & Immigration in Australia

From July 1, 2023, students studying in Australia on a student visa will be able to work for 48 hours a fortnight only. While the students' institutions are not in session, they can work for an unrestricted number of hours. However, those working in aged care since May 9, 2023, are eligible to work for unrestricted hours up till December 31, 2023. Students studying in Australia must ensure that they maintain their attendance, course progress and course enrollment. Employers are restricted from cancelling visas if the extension is requested for those working in the aged care sector or bar students from working 48 hours a fortnight.

As per the recent talks held between India's Union Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister - Mr Dharmedra Pradhan and Australian Minister of Education - Mr Jason Clare on July 21, 2022, Indian students have been assured by the Australian counterpart of expeditious resolution to their visa related problems. 

Additionally, there have been talks related to strengthening collaborations towards skill building in educational sectors with inputs from Australia, for which it is globally known for. This, in turn, would prove beneficial for both the Australian and Indian workforce.  

Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482)

This is a short-term visa introduced in Australia to cater to the skill shortage issue, by bringing in more skilled workers through registered employers who are unable to source an appropriate workforce for their companies or businesses. Those applying for this visa will have to pay AUD 1,290 and will be eligible to stay for up to 2 years and 4 years in case of International Trade Obligation. Also, this visa would allow applicants or workers to travel to Australia innumerable times plus the ones who would be eligible will also be able to apply for PR as well. 

Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa applications may take processing time from 44 days to 15 months. The eligibility criteria say that applicants should be nominated to work in short-term skill occupations. They should also have 2 years of work experience and work for the dedicated sponsor only.

Note: Hong Kong passport holders can stay up to 5 years with this visa. 

COVID-19 Pandemic (subclass 408) Visa

A temporary (subclass 408) visa has been introduced by the Australian Government in order to encourage employment in critical skill sectors which saw a gradual decline amid COVID-19 restrictions. Check more details at Temporary (subclass 408) visa introduced to bridge employment decline in Australia 

The Australian government has announced that it will open its borders to international students from Dec 1, 2021. Fully vaccinated eligible visa holders (including international students) can come without applying for a travel exemption. Students holding valid visas need to provide proof of their vaccination status (should be vaccinated with an approved vaccine) and a negative Covid-19 PCR test report was taken within three days of departure. Australia has approved both the vaccines Covishield and made in India Covaxin. Also, travellers need to comply with the quarantine requirements in the state or territory of their arrival.

According to the Australian PM's statement, “The return of skilled workers and international students to Australia will further cement our economic recovery, providing the valuable workers our economy needs and supporting our important education sector,".

Track the COVID-19 Country-wise timeline at:

Countries Consider Re-Opening For International Students Amid COVID-19 

Main Features of the New Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) for Australian Student Visa

Earlier the visas were categorized under Immigration Risk wherein students applying from certain countries were categorized under Assessment Level Framework. The new guidelines have a new combined country and immigration risk framework instead of the old Assessment Level Framework and paper applications have been permanently discontinued. The New SSVF categorizes the students' based on both:

1. Nationality

Note, that a student’s nationality is determined by the passport. Irrespective of where the students are applying for the visa, the nationality on the passport would be considered. For instance, an Indian Student staying in the USA and applying for a visa from the USA would be considered under the risk levels as specified for India by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).

2. Education Provider’s risk of default

Some of the Universities in Australia have been marked as riskier than others.

The table below indicates the classification of students under the new SSVF rule

DIBP has a tool basis in which a student would be identified under the Streamlined/ Regular process. The tool would accordingly populate the list of documents students would be required to furnish. Students are advised to have all the documents ready as DIBP reserves the right to ask for either or all of the documents at the time of the application.

Australia Student Visa Fees

The cost of an Australian Student Visa (subclass 500) Base Application Charge is AUD 650 AUD 485 (if 18 and above) or AUD 160 (if under 18). The Australian Government does not require you to have a visa label on your passport to travel, enter, or remain in Australia. The following table throws light on the Australian student visa fees for reference for prospective applicants:

Note: All online applications and services are charged in Australian dollars.

Acceptable credit cards are MasterCard, VISA, and American Express for Australian student visa fees for Indian students. When paying by credit card in Australian dollars applicants may incur banking and currency conversion fees and might need to take the risk associated with currency fluctuations.

Various Programs/ Sectors Eligible for Student Visa under SubClass 500

Following is a list of the various sectors/ categories which have been combined to fall under the Subclass 500. Students applying for and admitted to either of the following are eligible to apply for a student visa to Australia.

Independent ELICOS Sector

Students can travel to Australia for a short-term English language course. Referred to as ELICOS or the English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students, the courses lead to a certificate I, II, III, or IV. The courses usually vary in length.

Vocational Education and Training Sector

Vocational Education and Training Sector Students enrolled in a registered Vocational Education and Training Course (VET) by a TAFE institute or a private institute can apply for this subclass of visa. That essentially covers students enrolled in either of the following courses:

• Certificate I, II, III and IV (except ELICOS)
• VET Diploma
• VET Advanced Diploma
• Vocational Graduate Certificate
• Vocational Graduate Diploma

Higher Education Sector

The higher Education Sector refers to Students that are enrolled in a registered full-time higher education course at a University/ college or institute. The following courses are covered under this category of visa:

• Courses at the undergraduate level at a University (Bachelor/Associate Degree)
• Courses for a postgraduate level at a university (master’s degree by coursework like MBA, MS, etc.)
• Post Graduate courses that offer a higher education diploma or advanced diploma like PGDBM, etc.

Essentially, these are courses that extend beyond a year. However, they can also be of a shorter duration.

Post Graduate Research Sector

This sector refers to students enrolled for postgraduate courses in Australia like:

• Master’s degree in research
• Doctoral Degree

Student sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs or Trade or the Department of Defense also falls under one unified category. 

Australian Student Visa Validity

Usually, the visa validity in Australia for international students i s5 years but as per the new guidelines in effect from July 1, 2016, the validity of the visa would be in accordance with the duration of the course the student is enrolled in.

Also Read:

• What should be your next step if your visa gets rejected
• Reasons for the Rejection of Australia Student Visa

Australia Study Visa Requirements

Like in any visa, Australia study visa requirements are listed below for students applying for a visa and key pointers that they must keep at the back of their mind while submitting an application:

Full-Time Study

Students enrolled in a full-time study course are only eligible to apply for a Student Visa under Subclass 500. Part-time and distance learning courses do not qualify.

Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE)

Getting an Australian Student Visa requires the student to be able to prove that he/she is a Genuine Temporary Entrant. Essentially, that means that you should be able to convince them that you only intend to travel to Australia for studies and would return to your home country at the end of the course or after a few years of experience. Your Visa Applications are accordingly assessed on various factors, namely;

• Your circumstances in your home country include your economic circumstances.
• Potential circumstances/opportunities for you in Australia
• Value of your chosen course to your future
• Your immigration history
• Any other relevant matters

Read: GTE Statement Australia Sample

Health Checkup and Insurance

In order to receive a student visa for Australia, you need to provide proof that you are in good health. You can do so by providing a certificate of good health. The health checkup and certificate can only be provided by the empanelled doctors. You can make an appointment with the one closest to you for the same. eMedical Facilities are available in India and often the records are updated immediately. You would be provided with a HAP id which you would need to provide at the time of filling the form. Also, Indian students also need to provide a Chest X-Ray that proves that they do not suffer from Tuberculosis since India is considered a high-risk country.

You can apply for a health checkup before or after starting the visa application. However, getting it beforehand would ensure quicker processing. Apart from a health checkup, you also need Health Insurance or an OSHC (Overseas Students Health Cover).

• At the time of the visa application, you should have an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa.
• Depending on the duration of your health coverage, your visa tenure would be settled so make sure that it covers the duration of your course.
• The average cost of OSHC is AUS$ 591 for 12 months for a single student.
• How much time immigration takes for a student visa after a medical test in Australia depends upon the availability of the medical reports.
• It may take from one week to three weeks for the report to be sent to the Home Affairs Department of Australia.

Good Character

Students are required to provide proof of good character which necessarily suggests that you do not have any criminal case against them and/ or they have never been deported from Australia before. Often, a simple declaration of the same is accepted on the form.

Documents Required for Student Visa for Australia

As per the tool available on DIBP’s website, students can ascertain the documents which would be required. We are providing you with all the possible documents which might be required under Streamlines and Regular Evidentiary documents. Remember, since the application is only online, students must ensure that they have scanned copies of all the documents listed ready before they start their online application. Also, please remember that the list of Regular Evidentiary Documents is in addition to the documents required for the SSVF processing.

• Valid Passport - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in Australia.
• Non-immigrant Visa Application
• Application fee payment receipt
• Confirmation of Enrolment Form (COE) - To obtain a visa to study in Australia you must be fully enrolled in an Australian institution and receive a “Confirmation of Enrolment (COE)”. These forms are issued by the Australian institution you will be attending. The forms are usually issued after the tuition fees have been received.
• An acceptance letter from your host university will include the proposed study plan
• Overseas health insurance receipt (OSHC)
• Recent Digital photographs
• Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended
• English Language Test Scores
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Evidence of Financial Capacity

How and When to Apply for an Australian Student Visa?

The Australian Student Visa process takes a maximum of 124 days prior to the commencement of your course. Also, you can travel to Australia a maximum of 90 days prior to the start of your course. Under the new SSVF Guidelines. the Australian Student Visa process from India is completely online. Here are the steps you need to follow

1. To start an online application, you will need to create and log into your ImmiAccount.
2. Applicants should fill out the visa application form corresponding to the visa subclass under which they are eligible to apply. (Education agents and Registered Migration Agents (RMAs) based in India who are registered to access the student online lodgement facility can lodge student eVisa applications on the behalf of the student.)
3. To track your application, you will again need to log in to your ImmiAccount.  You can use your account to attach documents, update passport details, change email, and address details, and check the progress of your application.
4. A Transaction Reference Number (TRN) is a unique number assigned to each online application. You will need this to track and manage your application, identify when you need to communicate with the visa centre and check your visa entitlements.

Dependents

The dependents also apply under SubClass 500 and pay the additional fee required. You must declare all family members on your visa application at the time of submission, even if they do not plan to travel with you to Australia. If you do not do this, later on, your family members will not be eligible for the grant of dependent visas to join you in Australia. The partner of the student gets a Dependent Visa and a valid work permit for the same duration as the primary applicant. This is applicable only for the Master's degree application.

What is the minimum IELTS band required for an Australian Student Visa?

There are a lot of queries that come in from students asking about the minimum IELTS band requirement for an Australian Student Visa. However, let us clear this confusion once and for all. Study abroad aspirants are informed that their IELTS Score does not impact their Australia Student Visa as your IELTS Score is a university requirement. Australia visa's top band in IELTS for undergraduate admissions should be 6.0 and no band less than 5.5, whereas for postgraduate courses the top band required is 6.5 to 7.0 for getting a student visa.  

So for admission to an Australian University, candidates usually require an overall band score of 6.5 with no component band score below 6 for postgraduate programs and an overall band score of 6.5 with no component band score below 6, for undergraduate programs and some programs like law, laboratory, nursing, etc. have higher IELTS band requirement. Candidates should note that the IELTS Band score is only indicative in nature, the real value could change depending on your university of choice. But your IELTS score in no way affects your Australian Student Visa. 

Part-Time Work Options under Student Visa Subclass 500

The part-time work options for students going to Australia have remained unchanged. Under Visa Subclass 500, students are eligible to work for up to 40 hours in a fortnight while the course is in Session and for unlimited hours when the course is not in session (during breaks). The only proviso is that the student cannot start working until the course commences.

A few things to remember:

• Students cannot work until the session begins. For instance, say your course starts in January 2023 and you reach Australia by December 2022, then you cannot take up employment till your session begins.
• In casework is a normal part of the curriculum of the course you are enrolled on then this limit does not apply. This is usually applicable in the case of compulsory internships or integrated courses.
• Also, students that fall under the Post Graduate Research Sector can work for unlimited hours when the research work or doctoral thesis begins. Also, in case there are any preliminary courses that the student has enrolled in, the student is eligible to work as per the 40 hours per fortnight rule mentioned above.
• Students completing the Australian study requirement can apply for a Post-study Work Permit under Graduate Stream. However, students enrolled in an ELICOS cannot apply for Post Study Work Permit for Australia.

Australian Study Visa Processing Time 2023

Amidst COVID-19, the visa processing time has increased slightly in comparison to the previous years. The new timeline varies for each of the student visa applications, hence the processing time may take from 7 working days to 85 days at the most. Since a lot of students are returning, this is the proposed visa processing timeline guide given in the table below for each of the subclass visas:

Australian student visa success rate in 2022 for Indian students declined by almost 56%. Around 50% of the Australian student visa applications of Indian students were rejected and as a result, only 96,000 Indian students were studying in Australia in July 2022. The visa applications for vocational education courses have also gone down drastically.

Check: All About English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) 

Scholarships for Studying In Australia

If you wish to study in Australia then various scholarships are available to fund your education. However, there are different conditions for securing a scholarship, which one can check in detail and then apply for the one that you are eligible for. The fellowships are provided to support international students’ education. Check out the list of popular scholarships for studying in Australia:

• Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship
• CCSE Graduate Scholarship
• Global Study Awards
• Golden Key Graduate Scholar Award
• BrokerFish International Student Scholarship

Also, read about student visas for study abroad and student visas for prominent international study destinations.