How to Apply for Australia Student Visa – The Ultimate Guide

Australia Student Visa – Australia is a favorite destination for many because of its climate, society, politics and economy. Australia has a large Pakistani diaspora, many of whom are successful in higher education, professional and business roles. In addition, many Pakistani students choose to pursue higher education in Australian universities. Australia has over 1,000 universities offering over 22,000 courses. Notably, seven of the world’s top 100 universities are in Australia.

This blog is for Pakistani students who have been accepted to an Australian university and are currently applying for an Australian student visa.

Australia Student Visa Requirements

Offer Letter

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a student visa (subclass 500) to study in Australia:

Once your course application is approved for Australia Student Visa, you will receive an Offer Letter from the school or University of your choice. Please review carefully before accepting. This letter will contain information about your course, enrollment requirements and any fees you will have to pay if you agree.

Understand your rights and the refund process. If you do not start or complete your course, the letter will state that you will receive a refund. If you do not agree with any of the terms in the offer letter, do not accept.
Keep a copy of this letter. It helps you know your rights and is useful if you need to make a claim against your school or university.

Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE)

Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) is a document from your school confirming that you are officially enrolled in a particular course. Moreover, you will receive your login credentials after accepting the offer and paying the deposit.

Submit a copy of your CoE for your student visa to show the Australian Government that you are enrolled in your chosen course.
Note: They do not issue multiple CoEs for different courses. If you have transferred from university to vocational training, you must meet all visa requirements. You can get credit for previous education.

Proof of English Proficiency

Australian courses are in English, so you must provide a certificate from an approved English test. It proves that you know the English and you don’t need to learn. Moreover, there are special tests like IELTS that are issued by the Australian government and you can take them anywhere in the world.

Genuine Temporary Entry (GTE) Requirements

When you apply online for a student visa, you must write a 300-word statement in English and provide documentation that you meet the Genuine Temporary Entry (GTE) requirements. You can add these documents to your ImmiAccount.

Check the Home Office website for information on what to include in your application and what documents to provide.
Note that the GTE requirement does not prevent students from studying in Australia and applying for other visas if they develop the necessary qualifications in the country.

Proof of Sufficient Funds

To obtain a student visa, you must show that you have enough money to support yourself for the duration of your stay. There are two options:

Show a bank statement, scholarship or grant to prove that you can cover all expenses such as travel, tuition and rent.
Provide evidence of the annual income of your parents or spouse, which must be at least AUD$62,222 (or AUD$72,592 if you bring family members).

For specific funding requirements, go to the Home Office website under “Gather your documents”. Remember, the cost of living can vary across Australia, so research where you plan to live for an accurate budget.

Also Read: Top Medical Universities in Pakistan – The Ultimate Guide

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

As an international student in Australia, you must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay. Otherwise, your student visa application will be rejected.

OSHC helps:

Medical and hospital expenses during the course.
Includes the cost of most prescription drugs.
Provide first aid in emergency situations.

Further, don’t forget to get your OSHC card to visit your doctor while you’re in Australia.

Health Requirements

International students must be in good health before coming to Australia and require a health check to meet visa health requirements. You can use the Health Declaration service to complete this test before submitting your visa.

Character Requirements

Must meet character requirements to study in Australia. In your application, you will also be asked to answer questions about your habits and history. Sometimes you need to provide a police check.

Apply using ImmiAccount for Australia Student Visa

To apply for Australia student visa, complete the requirements on the Home Office website and apply online using ImmiAccount. You don’t need an agent, but if you want help, use a registered migration agent or dome legal practitioner.

Only certain people can provide immigration assistance in Australia. Education agents can help you with your education opportunities but cannot provide immigration assistance unless you are a registered migration agent or legal officer.

Check Travel Requirements

Keep up to date with the latest travel requirements by checking the ‘Prepare your travel’ page on Study Australia, the official source of information about studying in Australia.

Also Read: Top Engineering Universities in Pakistan – Complete Guide

Australia Student Visa Fees

The conversion below from AUD to PKR is accurate as of October 20, 2023. All amounts are rounded to the nearest whole number.

From July 2023, student visa fees start at AUS$650 per visa (approximately Rs.115,000).

Australia Student Visa Processing Time

Visa processing can take time and may be delayed if you do not provide all the required information in your application.

In Australia, international students are usually accepted for the months of February and July, with February being the main month for international students.

Current visa processing times for February 2023 and July 2023 are as follows, according to the Visa Processing times page on the Australian Government’s Immigration and Citizenship website:

As of February 2023, 90% of applications for admission are processed within 29 days.
For July 2023 intake, 90% of applications are processed within 29 days.

However, postgraduates experience longer time for processing, with 90% of applications processed within 58 days.

Top Universities in Australia for International Students

We hope you find this guide useful. For more information and questions, please visit official website of Australia Study Visa online.

Also Read: Canada Student Visa for Pakistani Students – Ultimate Guide