Document Checklist for Student Visa in Australia. A Complete Guide in 2022
If you landed on this page, you are trying to pursue your further education in Australia. When you are about to travel to a foreign country, things might seem quite confusing at times. But you don’t have to worry as here is everything you need to know which will help you achieve your dreams.
Choosing to study in Australia is a thrilling step toward a promising future. You must first finalize certain vital details before proceeding.
A student visa, specifically the student visa, is one of the most critical items you’ll need (subclass 500). But what are the requirements for submitting a successful application?
Here are a few documents that you need to have for the successful visa application.
Documents Checklist For Successful Visa
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Passport, your national identification card, and a birth certificate.
If you are planning to apply for further studies, some of the important documents that you need to have are your passport, national identity card, and your birth certificate. You will need all the documents mentioned in your application.
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Complete visa application form (157A)
Complete Visa Form (157A) is the application for student visa. You can fill out the application form online. Or else, you can also visit the nearby Australian Embassy or Consulate.
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English test (IELTS or PTE)
IELTS First: As the name implies, students in this method have already taken the IELTS Test and are now looking for a course. This method is advantageous for students who are confident in their ability to earn a high score.
You can use this strategy if you are confident in your ability to score higher without knowing the IELTS score necessary for the course.
The information-first strategy is often suggested since students will be better prepared for the test if they are aware of the IELTS score required for their course.
You are aware of the minimal score necessary by the chosen university before you apply.
Chances of your visa getting rejected-
The English language skills necessary will vary from university to university. This may differ from the skill level needed for your student visa application.
Check the English requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website as well as your university’s website to determine which English language level is expected of you.
In any case, you’ll want to ace the IELTS or a similar test.
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A confirmation letter of Enrolment or an Offer letter from the institution
Confirmation of enrolment (COE) is documentation that you are eligible to attend a university after obtaining an offer letter stating that you have accepted your spot.
It will be required when applying for a student visa to study in Australia. Your COE includes information on you, the program you are pursuing, the expected cost, and the length of your studies.
The offer letter contains
- Description of the course
- Date of Orientation
- Course commencement date
- Campus location
- Course fee
- Mode of study
- Tuition fee deposit
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Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE)
You must draft a statement that addresses two criteria to meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement.
The first is that you are truly come to Australia to study and not for any other reason. Second, you must ensure that you will only be staying in Australia temporarily (and not overstaying your visa).
Include information about your ties to home (such as friends and family or a job you must return to) as well as the importance of the course to your future career or academic aspirations in your statement.
By submitting these data, you will be able to demonstrate both your intent to return home at the end of your visa and your genuine intent to study in Australia.
Chances of getting rejected-
The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement in Australia serves as an integrity check. Its primary objective is to guarantee that your student visa program is designed for study rather than slipping in any ongoing presence in Australia.
The GTE test is a method for the government to weed out applicants who are utilizing the student visa program for reasons other than obtaining a good education in Australia.
You must demonstrate (give verifiable proof) that you are traveling to Australia on a genuine pilgrimage for knowledge and understanding as an applicant.
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Evidence of your financial capacity
You must have enough money available to pay for your course fees, transport, and living expenses for you and any accompanying family members while in Australia.
For payment approval, the Compliance team and Education provider analyze and verify financial documentation. Fees are then sent to the University/College.
You might get rejected for visa if you don’t meet the requirement.
You know the adage “money isn’t everything”? If you want to buy a yacht, it does. And it most emphatically does when it comes to obtaining a student visa.
So, if you want to get that yacht or soon, that visa, you’ll need to meet certain financial conditions. And the government will not take no for an answer. So, show them the cash.
Because one of the primary reasons the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) denies petitions is a lack of funds.
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Health Insurance (OSHC).
International students pursuing formal studies in Australia, as well as their dependents (spouses and children under the age of 18), must get OSHC.
It covers coverage for medical visits, partial hospitalization, ambulance service, and limited drugs (medicines). OSHC insurers can offer a variety of OSHC products.
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Police verification
You need to submit a report clarifying that you have had no history of any crimes. This is also one of the essential documents that plays a vital role in your visa application.
Incomplete Documentation can be a pointless failure
When you meet all the requirements, a slight mistake in your documentation can turn out to be the reason for your failure. Needless to say, you must get your affairs in order.
Organization is essential for ensuring that you fulfill all visa application standards and present all substantiating documentation to back your claims.
Something as easy as failing to provide a policy code or a health clearance paperwork might make or break your visa application.
Here is the list of documents that you need to have-
- Original Birth Certificate
- Passport Identity page alongside visa label and immigration stamps
- National Citizenship card
- Household Registration Book
- Local Authorities certified CV
- A genuine GTE and your circumstances in your home country
- Original documents of qualifications and associated transcripts of any courses completed
- OSHC for a fixed period of your student visa
- Parent Consent letter if you are under 18
- Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare Arrangements (CAAW
- Signed Financial statement and clear understanding of your and your sponsor’s relationship.
- English Language test certificate in between the duration of two years
Are There Any Other Requirements?
One of the most frequent questions that many applicants ask is if there are any other things that they need to know for applying as a student in Australia.
COVID-19 test was mandatory to travel anywhere after the global pandemic. However, the Australian Government no longer mandates COVID-19 tests for visitors to Australia.
You must still ensure that you meet the standards of your airline and any countries through which you transit.
How To Extend Student Visa
If a student’s current student visa expires before the end of the course, they must apply for an Australian student visa extension. This could be due to a variety of factors such as course deferment, decreased study load, failed subjects, extended research application time, or enrollment in a new course.
If your visa expires before you finish your course, you must apply for a new student visa with the Department of Home Affairs before your existing visa expires.
A visa cannot be extended technically! That means you won’t be able to extend the validity of your current visa. So, in order to continue studying in Australia, you must go through the entire student visa application process.
To avoid last-minute shocks, apply at least three to four months before your existing visa expires. If you apply from within Australia, you will be given a Bridging Visa A. (BVA).
It enables you to legally live in Australia while your visa is being processed and will take effect when your existing student visa expires. If you apply outside of Australia, you must wait until your student visa application is accepted before returning to Australia.
What Is Spouse/Dependent Visa in Australia
A Dependent Visa is a visa that allows spouses and children to accompany or join a family member who has a comparable Visa in another nation. The dependent can live with the principal applicant or travel and explore depending on how the dependent visa is granted.
To apply for a visa on behalf of dependents, the applicant must demonstrate that he has the financial means to sustain the dependents and will not rely on state or public subsidies to do so.
Children under the age of 18 must establish that they are unable to live freely and must rely on the primary applicant for support. Documents establishing the relationship are required, such as a marriage certificate for a spouse and a birth certificate for children.
What Makes You Eligible for a Spouse Visa?
There are a few requirements that you must meet to be eligible for a spousal visa.
You must be nominated by your partner in their application for an Australian student visa to acquire an Australian dependent visa. They must designate you while you are in Australia.
- Fill out the nomination form which is known as complete Form 919.
- You will have to make a list of all the documents which you need alongside your application form.
- Send the completed nomination form, along with the necessary documents, to your dependent overseas.
- Submit the Form 157A Application and Form 919 Nomination attached with the relevant documentation to an Australian mission or nearby consultancy.
- Don’t forget to pay the dependent student visa fee
- Also, you must collect the dependent visa as soon as it is issued.
Chances Of Your Dependent Visa getting rejected
No doubt there is always a risk that your spousal visa might not come through. There are a few things that you may do wrong during the application process.
- Mistakes in Application Form
- Wrong Format of Documentation
- Not submitting the required documents
- Hiding necessary visa-related information
- Not sending original documents
- Forged documents.
Key Requirements for Spousal Visa
One of the most significant conditions for a partner visa is whether your marriage satisfies the definition of a spouse connection under migration laws. Providing the Department with a marriage certificate alone is insufficient evidence to meet this requirement.
Under Australian law, your marriage must be legally valid (which will be most relevant for marriages that take place outside Australia). A minimum age of 18 is normally required, but this can be reduced to 16 if certain conditions are met.
Same-sex weddings are legally recognized in Australia and hence qualify for the grant of a partner visa based on marriage (provided all other requirements are satisfied).