Student Visa Checklist Australia

Your chosen education provider must be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Only CRICOS-registered courses are eligible for the Student Visa (Subclass 500). When selecting a course, consider the course level, duration, provider reputation, total cost (including tuition and living expenses) and how the qualification aligns with your career goals. Use the official CRICOS search at cricos.education.gov.au to verify that your chosen provider and course are registered.

After accepting your offer and paying any required tuition deposit, your education provider will issue a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). The CoE is a mandatory document for the Student Visa application and cannot be substituted. It contains your student ID, provider CRICOS number, course details and study period. Ensure all details on your CoE match your passport exactly — any discrepancy between the CoE and your identity documents must be resolved before submitting your visa application.

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a compulsory health insurance requirement for all international students on a Student Visa (Subclass 500) in Australia. You must hold OSHC for the entire duration of your student visa — from the visa grant date until the last day of your course. Keep your OSHC policy certificate handy as it is required when applying for the visa. OSHC can be purchased through several approved providers in Australia — your education provider may arrange it on your behalf, or you can purchase it independently.

The Genuine Student (GS) requirement — which replaced the former Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement — asks applicants to demonstrate that they genuinely intend to study in Australia and that the course is consistent with their circumstances and future goals. When completing GS questions in your ImmiAccount application, you will be asked about why you chose this course, this education provider and Australia as your study destination; your career plans after graduating; your study and employment history; your family situation; and your ties to your home country. Provide honest, specific and evidence-backed responses. Vague or incomplete GS responses are a common reason for visa refusals.

You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees, living expenses and travel costs for yourself and any accompanying family members for the duration of your study. The Department of Home Affairs sets indicative living cost amounts that it considers when assessing financial capacity — check the current amounts on the official website as they are updated periodically. Acceptable evidence typically includes recent bank statements (showing funds held in your name for at least 3 months), scholarship award letters, employer or family sponsor declarations with supporting financial documents, and education loan approval letters. Ensure all financial documents are recent, clearly identify you and show the source of funds.

Academic transcripts and certificates from your previous study (including secondary school, any university or vocational qualifications) demonstrate your educational background and support the credibility of your Genuine Student responses. All documents not in English must be accompanied by NAATI-certified or equivalent translations. For English language proficiency, check the specific score requirements for your course and visa application. The most widely accepted tests include IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Cambridge C1/C2. Some nationalities and some qualifications taught entirely in English may qualify for a waiver.

Health: Most student visa applicants are required to undergo a health examination through an approved Panel Physician before lodging their visa application. You can complete the health examination online through the eHealth portal and upload the results to your ImmiAccount application. Check whether you are required to complete an examination based on your nationality and the country you have lived in. Character: You may need to provide national police clearance certificates from countries where you have resided for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Requirements vary by nationality. Check the current character requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website.