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VISA Info

Australia has become a major exporter of education at all levels, from primary school to tertiary education. Many people come here from overseas to take advantage of our excellent trade and vocational colleges, also the academic qualifications gained through universities and post-graduate courses.

Need Education provides general information on study, travel, work and business Visa requirements. You should contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information or visa forms.

Who requires a student visa?

Required by all except the following:

(a) New Zealand citizens travelling on New Zealand passports;
(b) transit passengers continuing their journey to a third country within 8 hours of arrival, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the transit lounge.

This ruling applies only to nationals of the following: EU countries, Brunei, Canada, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Korea (Rep. of), Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, USA and Zimbabwe.

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visas:

The ETA is an invisible electronic visa there is no need to complete an application form and no visa label will be placed in the passport. An ETA is suitable for tourist or business visits and allows multiple entries to Australia for a stay of up to 3 months on each entry.

ETAs can be obtained from authorised travel agents (most travel agents in the UK can issue them) and airlines. ETAs are also available from Australian Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates, but travellers should note that long queues and processing delays may be experienced at those outlets if applying in person. To check which travel agents and airlines are authorised to issue ETAs, travellers should contact their travel agent or BP Travel Trade Services.

Students taking courses of study for not longer than 12 weeks, and between 15-25 hours a day may only require a tourist visa (or ETA).

The ETA has replaced tourist visas, for citizens of the following countries, for stays of up to 90 days:

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Rep of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Rep of Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Vatican, United States, United Kingdom.

If you are planning a course of study for a longer duration than that listed above, or if you are a citizen of a country not listed above, you should contact the nearest Consulate as early as possible for further information on entering Australia.

What documents will be required?

Entry to Australia always requires a valid passport

ETA entry:

(a) Fee (if applicable; payable by cheque or postal order made out to the Australian High Commission).
(b) Photocopies of the personal details page of the passport. Applications can either be faxed or posted (to include a stamped, self-addressed envelope and the applicant's contact details) to the Australian High Commission in London or the Australian Consulate in Manchester. Note that passports should not be sent.

Tourist and Business Visitor (Non ETA):

(a) Form 48 for a Tourist Visitor visa (available from BP Travel Trade Services), and Form 46 for a Business Visitor visa (available from Australian Outlook, 3 Buckhurst Hill, Bexhill on Sea, Sussex, TN40 1QF), together with an A4 stamped, self-addressed envelope with a 55p stamp to cover postage.
(b) Valid passport.
(c) Fee (payable by cheque or postal order and made out to the Australian High Commission).

For visa applications, the following may also be required:

Proper medical clearance, Proof of acceptance from the Australian institute, Medical exam documentation

To be granted a Student visa you must show that you can pay for your living and study costs while you are in Australia.If you have a spouse or dependent children you must also show that you can support them, even if they will not be accompanying you to Australia.The evidence you must provide depends on your education sector and your Assessment Level.The financial requirements are explained in the Temporary Entry Overseas Students Booklets.
If you are from an Assessment Level 3 or Assessment Level 4 country (and China), the following documents will help you work out how much money you need to study in Australia and what evidence you must provide:

  • Assessment Level 3 – Financial information leaflet
  • Assessment Level 4 – Financial information leaflet

Contact the nearest Australian Embassy for additional documents which may be required. Note:

  1. Prior to lodging an application, visitors should confirm the current visa fees by calling the High Commission.
  2. All travellers to Australia, except Australian citizens and permanent residents, must satisfy health and character requirements.
  3. All travellers, including minors travelling on a parent's passport, require their own visa or ETA.

Time required to issue visa:

ETAs - Immediately, if applied for in person or by phone. Mail applications may take 3 weeks or longer.

Non ETA tourist Visa -Approx. 3-4 weeks (Allow more during peak periods).

What if my application is not successful?

If you have applied from outside Australia, the decision not to grant you a visa cannot be reviewed by the Migration Review Tribunal. If you have applied in Australia, you may apply to the Migration Review Tribunal for review of the decision not to grant a visa.

What is the cost of a visa?

ETAs - No government charge

Non ETA tourist Visa - Varies

How long is the visa valid for?

Tourist visas are valid for up to 90 days

Validity of ETAs:

Tourist Visit ETAs are valid for 12 months or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and permit multiple entries into Australia for a stay of up to 3 months on each visit.

Business Visit ETAs are valid until the passport expires. For nationals of Canada, France, Spain and USA, the ETA is valid for 12 months or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

Other information:

Students wishing to study for a period of over 12 weeks must enter Australia on a Student Visa, and must study for a minimum of 25 hours per week.

No tourist visas, or initial student visas, whether granted overseas or in Australia, allow employment. Your application will be assessed according to your Assessment Level. Your Assessment Level is determined by the country of your nationality and the education sector for which you are seeking a student visa. Generally, family unit members who intend to accompany you to Australia may be included in your application for a student visa and be processed for visa entry at the same time. They must undergo a medical examination and hold health cover insurance amongst other things. If your family unit members decide to come to Australia after you have arrived, they will have to apply separately. They may also require you to nominate them for entry.

Can I work in Australia?

All initial student visas granted do not provide for the holder to be granted permission to work in Australia. Students and their dependants will only be able to apply for a student visa with work rights after they arrive in Australia and the student has commenced their course of study. The charge is $55.Generally, students and their dependants are limited to 20 hours work per week while the student's course of study or training is in session. Students may work full-time during holiday periods. Dependents of Subclass 574 Masters and Doctorate students have unlimited work rights after the principal student visa holder has commenced his or her course in Australia. From 1 November 2000, a student visa is subject to mandatory cancellation if a student works in excess of their entitlements.

Can my family visit me in Australia?

Your spouse and dependent children may be included in your application for a student visa. Your parents and other family members wishing to visit you in Australia must obtain a tourist visa.

Can I change education providers?

You must remain with the education provider of your preliminary and principal courses for the first 12 months (or the duration of the course/s if they are for less than 12 months). This means that, if you are granted a student visa for example, for a package consisting of 6 months prerequisite English language studies followed by 3 years for a degree, you are required to remain with your provider/s for a total of 18 months, unless you successfully apply to DIMIA to change provider.

You must inform your current education provider if you intend to change to another provider. If you apply to change education providers within the same education sector as the student visa you currently hold, you must complete a form 157C. You will be subject to a visa application charge of $130, except where you have to change because the education provider is no longer able to provide the course.

If at any time after your arrival in Australia you wish to study a new principal course which is in a different education sector to your current principal course, then you must apply for a new visa using form 157A and will be subject to a visa application charge of $315.

Can I change my course?

You may change your course but if your course is in a different education sector to your current principal course, then you must apply for a new visa.

Can I extend my stay in Australia? If so, how?

You may apply for a further student visa while in Australia, provided your current visa is not subject to a 'No Further Stay' condition. You will have to apply for a new visa before your current visa expires.

Can I leave Australia and re-enter?

Your student visa has been granted allowing for multiple entry. This means that you can depart Australia and re-enter using this visa whilst your visa remains valid. If you leave Australia without a valid visa you will need to re-apply overseas, pay the application charge and meet the visa requirements that are current at that time.

Can I remain permanently in Australia?

Certain overseas students in Australia who recently completed a diploma or degree after at least one year of full time study in Australia may be able to apply for:

  • Graduate - Skilled (Temporary) (Class UQ), subclass 497
  • Skilled Independent Overseas Student (Migrant) (Class DD), subclass 880
  • Skilled Australian Sponsored Overseas Student (Migrant) (Class DE), subclasses 881 or 882.

Embassy contact information:

Please contact the nearest Australian embassy for information on what documentation you may require to enter Australia Australian Embassies & Diplomatic Offices Worldwide.