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Australia is an increasingly popular destination for young people who want to study abroad.
It ranks fifth in the world with over 463,000 international students-behind only the US, UK, Canada, and China.
Educational institutions in Australia are generally more affordable than in the US and UK while upholding the same rigorous standards. Plus, Australia has the benefit of a warm, sunny climate.
To study abroad in Australia, you must secure a Student visa (subclass 500). In this article we walk you through how to do it.
Student visa 500 definition
The Student visa 500 gives you the right to live and study in Australia for up to five years. You can leave the country and return as needed during this time. You are also permitted to work in Australia during your studies, although you cannot work more than 48 hours in two weeks.
To obtain an Australian Student visa, you must meet the eligibility requirements. These include:
- being enrolled in a course at an Australian institution
- being at least 6 years of age
- having a welfare arrangement if you are under 18 years of age
- holding an Overseas Student Health Cover (unless exempt)
- holding a valid Australian visa (if already in the country at the time of your application)
- being proficient in English
- being in good health
Now let's take a look at the application process.
How to apply for a Student visa 500
If you are currently residing outside of Australia, you must submit your visa application at least eight weeks before the start of your course. If you are already in Australia, bear your current visa expiration date in mind and give yourself sufficient time to apply for a new one.
Your first order of business is making sure you have all the necessary documents. These include:
- Basic identity documents, namely your birth certificate, passport, national ID card, and (if relevant) all the pages of your household registration book. It is not necessary for you to have these documents translated into English.
- The Details of Relatives Form, which can be found here.
- Your CV, certified by a local authority.
- A valid Certificate of Enrollment (CoE) for your courses in Australia.
- A personal statement in English which discusses your current circumstances, your prospective circumstances in Australia, how the course will benefit you, information regarding previous visa applications in Australia and other countries, and any supporting documentary evidence.
- Evidence that you satisfy the Australian government's health requirement. To do this, you must first create an ImmiAccount. See here for details.
If you are under 18, you also need a parental consent letter. In addition, if you intend to stay with relatives in Australia, you must submit a police clearance certificate for your relatives. You can complete a police check online with one of the many accredited bodies. In the case of a federal national police check Australia, you must provide a "Complete Disclosure" police check.
How to apply for a Student visa 500
So you've collected all your documents; now it's time to apply. The only way to apply for this visa-whether you're inside or outside Australia-is online via your ImmiAccount.
The importance of making sure that you have all of the relevant documents prior to submitting your application cannot be overstated. If anything is missing, it can cause a delay in processing or even a flat rejection.
And needless to say, it's imperative that the information you provide in your application is 100 percent accurate. Giving false or misleading information will result in your application being refused, and you may not be able to reapply for several years.
To apply for an Australian Student visa 500:
- sign in to your ImmiAccount
- attach all necessary documents
- pay the visa fee (unless exempt)
The visa fee is $710 AUD. Your application has to be submitted on time; late applications won't be considered.
Following your application
In the days and weeks that follow your application, you should regularly log in to your ImmiAccount to see if you have new messages. The Immigration Department will contact you if it needs clarification or further information, in which case you should provide the requested information as quickly as possible to avoid delays.
The Immigration Department will notify you of their decision in writing. If approved, bring the approval letter with you when you travel to Australia. Do not make any travel arrangements until you receive the approval letter. If you've been refused, the decision letter will explain why. Your visa application fee will not be refunded.
