Moving to Australia is a dream for many Indian students as it is one of the perfect destinations for students to pursue their education for many reasons. There are many benefits that a student can yield when they are studying in Australia. But to move to that country, a student needs an Australian student visa. To get it you have to research about Australian student visa process, the fees in Indian rupees, the estimated processing time, the new rules for an Australian student visa and ofcourse, the role of IELTS. But hey, do not worry, we have lessened your effort of searching for the perfect article to get you all the required information. Read on to find every detail you were looking for till now.
Australia Student Visa Process
The type of visa that you will apply for will depend on your age, level of study and course that you want to pursue and how long you are willing to stay in Australia. But most commonly, Subclass 500 visas are required by the students of every field.
What is a Subclass 500 Visa?
This type of visa came into effect on July 1, 2016. This type of visa gives you permission to stay till you study a program which is usually till 5 years from the enrolment date. To have a worry-free stay in Australia, you have to make sure that your visa remains valid and you are following all the rules of the country to stay away from legalities. This type of visa gives you the freedom to :
- Participate in your desired study program.
- Be accompanied by your family members to Australia.
- To apply in or outside Australia through an online portal.
How and When to Apply for an Australian Student Visa?
To apply online, you have to create an account on DIBP’s online application system that is ImmiAccount. You need to complete it, upload the required document and submit the application. You also have the option to track your application when you have submitted it.
You should apply for the student visa maximum of 124 days earlier from the commencement of your courses. If you want to travel before your course you can travel 90 days earlier and not before that.
When you are filling in the application form you need to make sure that you have the required documents to be submitted in the application form.
Also Read:- Study in Australia for Indian Students: Australian Education and Scholarships Clarified
Document You Need for a Smoother Process
Keep everything handy, so that while you are filling the application form you don’t have to search for the documents at that time. Make sure that you have the scanned copies of the documents given below and put them in a folder that is easily accessible to you. Keep the following documents with you-
#Valid passport- Your passport should be valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the period of your stay.
#Application fee payment receipt
#Non-immigrant Visa application
#Confirmation of Enrolment Form (COE)- To apply for the student visa you should have the enrollment confirmation from the college you will be studying in. You will be required to submit the confirmation in the student visa application.
#Overseas Health insurance Receipt (OSHC)
Recent Digital Photographs
#English language test score- A band score equal to or above the required minimum score
#Statement of Purpose (SOP)
#Evidence of financial capacity.
#Certificates from the schools.
Along with the above-given documents, you also have to provide the proof of documents listed above.
1. Proof of Health
Health is the major priority of the country in such a pandemic situation and before it also the health of the student was imperative to be aware of. So it was mandatory for the student to get a health checkup.
For the health checkup students have to make an appointment with the doctor who is given approval by the Australian immigration department. Furthermore, students who come from various regions except for Belgium and Norway, need to purchase OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover). Students need to purchase this coverage from their university or you can also purchase it from-
- NIB OSHC.
- Australian Health Management.
- Medibank Private.
- BUPA Australia.
- Allianz Global assistance.
Also Read: – Australia Student Visa Requirements 2021: Criteria to Know When Applying for a Visa in 2021
2. Proof of Finance
Every government asks for proof of your financial resources which will be supporting your tuition fees and living expenses. Every country has a different minimum requirement which you need to fulfil. Students need to prove that they have AU $ 20,290, in US dollars it is $ 13,750.
Make sure that you are able to show this proof to get your application approved. If you lack the financial resource then it might be difficult for you to complete the application process.
English Proficiency Test: IELTS
Yes, as the language used in Australia for education and daily conversation is English, thus if you are willing to study in Australia you have to give proof of your English proficiency in the form of IELTS test scores. You need an IELTS test score, to get confirmation from the college you are planning to enrol yourself in.
IELTS is conducted by IDP and British Council in four sections such as reading, listening, reading and writing. The duration given for the IELTS examination is 2 hours and 45 minutes. So to get the desired score you need to practice each section separately. You can go through sample question and answer to practice each section. You have to score equal to or above the required score.
New Rules for Australia Student Visa
COVID-19 has changed the operations of organisation and institutions all around the world. Similarly, COVID-19 has brought some changes to the Australia student visa process that students need to be updated with. These new changes are:-
1.If your classes are online then you don’t need to apply for a students visa, as it is only required when you are entering Australia. In this online mode you will only need confirmation from the college you are enrolling yourself in.
2.Student visa holders who are studying online and are living outside Australia will be able to continue with their existing visa for the post-study work visa.
3.A student who holds a student visa, is eligible for a post-study work visa not only in Australia but outside it, after the completion of the course, if he/ she is unable to return to Australia.
4.Now, additional time is given to the applicant for English language results.
What is the Australia Student Visa Fees in Indian Rupees?
Australian student visa fees in Indian rupees is INR 28,300. So if you are willing to pursue your studies from there, make sure that you have the required application fee to complete the student visa process.
Australia Student Visa Processing Time
The processing time is different for the visa type that you are applying for and the education program you want to enrol yourself in. Hence, it is suggested that you should take time for the application process and should start your application a maximum of 124 days before your course commencement. The student visa process takes the following time:-
#The duration of the application process for post-graduation student’s 500 visas is 7 to 11 weeks. For the higher education sector, 90 % of the applications are completed in 42 days and 75 % of the applications are completed in 29 days
#To attend school in Australia the duration is 6 to 11 weeks.
#For the vocational education and training sector, the duration of process is of 7 to 11 weeks. 90 % of the applications are completed in 77 days and 25 % of the applications are completed in 43 days.
Also Read- Australia PR Process from India: Know all about IELTS Requirement & Australia PR Points Calculator
Conclusion
To get an entry into Australia which is the desired destination for many of the students who dream of going abroad to pursue their education, you need to apply for an Australian student visa. As the visa application process takes time, it is advised that you start applying atleast 124 days earlier from the commencement of your class. Keep all the documents mentioned above handy and make sure that you provide authentic documents.
Hopefully, this article has given you enough information on the process of applying, time required, basic criteria etc. Want to get more of such informative articles? Keep your eyes here. Best of luck.
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