There are a number of visas which allow people to study in Australia. It is important that you choose the most suitable visa, depending on the course in which you would like to study. We offer professional advice on studying in Australia: we can help you choose the course and the visa that would be most appropriate for you.
IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.
The Occupational English Test (OET) is a language test for overseas qualified health professionals. The test assesses English language proficiency as it is used in medical and health professions. The OET is administered by the OET Centre seven times a year and in over 40 locations around the world. The test measures the language competency of health professionals who are seeking registration and the ability to practice in an English-speaking context. It is designed to ensure that language competency is assessed in a relevant professional context.
The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) manages the federally funded overseas aid program. The program assists developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia’s national interest. AusAID contributes to global and regional poverty-reduction programs by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, among others.
AusAID assigns aid work to Australian and international companies, who complete the aid projects and train local persons to take the projects forward. AusAID funds non-profit organisations to deliver aid programs at the local community level in developing countries. Refer to the AusAID site for more details: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/
An Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) issued by your Australian education provider is the only accepted evidence of enrolment for processing student visa applications. Depending on your country of nationality and your principal course of study, you may have to undergo a preliminary assessment before an institution issues an eCoE. A copy of your eCoE must be submitted to your local Department of Australian Immigration (DIAC) office before your student visa can be issued.
Before you apply for this visa, you must have:
- been accepted to study full-time in a registered course at an educational institution in Australia
- organized appropriate welfare arrangements for the duration of your intended stay in Australia if you are under 18 years of age.
Please check details following: http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/500-
- Enrolment
- Packaged courses
- Students under 18 years of age
- Genuine temporary entrant
- English language requirements
- Acceptable English language test score
- Financial capacity requirements
- Documentary evidence of financial capacity
- Health insurance
- Health
- Character
- Pre-qualifying visas
- Family members applying to join you
- English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS)
School students - Documents
The Working Holiday Visa is meant for persons between the ages of 18 to 30. Australia has entered into reciprocal working holiday agreements with the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Malta, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany and countries of Scandinavia (namely Denmark, Sweden and Norway).
As of now there is no provision for citizens of any other country to apply for this visa. It is likely that some more countries may be added to the list of eligible countries in due course.
A permanent residence visa allows the holder to live and work indefinitely in Australia. You are eligible for state medical care immediately, but must be resident in Australia for two years before qualifying for social welfare assistance (i.e., unemployment benefits) in most cases. You are not permitted to vote as a permanent resident in Australia. This changes when you obtain Australian citizenship provided you meet the eligibility criteria. Please contact us to find out if you are eligible to apply for Australian citizenship.
There are a number of factors which the Australian Government considers before granting Australian citizenship. Eligibility criteria are complex and need minute attention to detail.
An Australian permanent resident entitles you to certain privileges. With a permanent visa, you are allowed to:
- live and work in Australia permanently
- study in Australian schools and universities
- access subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
- be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residence eligibility criteria)
- propose or sponsor people for permanent residence
Skill Migration Visa
We have attempted to cover most of your questions related to Australian immigration here. If you are unable to find answers to your questions here and in the corresponding section in the website, please contact us for more details.
The Australian Skilled Occupation List (SOL) is a list maintained by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. It is an alphabetical list of occupations with:
- the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations number for the occupation
- the relevant assessing authority for the occupation
- the number of points an occupation is awarded for the “skill” factor under the points test
If you wish to apply for any General Skilled Migration visa, you must nominate an occupation which is on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
Yes, in most cases you will need a visa to enter and remain in Australia.
New Zealand citizens or a permanent resident of Norfolk Island who meet certain requirements do not need a visa to visit Australia for a short stay. Citizens of all other countries must obtain an appropriate visa prior to their travel to Australia. All transit passengers who need to remain in Australia for more than 72 hours need only a transit visa which is issued free of cost.
There is nothing that can prevent you from lodging more than one visa application at any time. However, you are expected to meet the criteria in respect of each application that is under processing by DHA.
Note: An applicable fee has to be paid for each application.
Visa expenses other than the application cost include Skills Assessment Fee, IELTS Test, Visa Application Charge (payable to the Department of Home Affairs), Medical Examination, Penal Clearances and nominal documentation charges. It is important to note that the Government can change the visa application charges at its discretion.
Visa fees vary across visa types; it is best to check with your migration consultant to arrive at the specific costs associated with your visa application.
Processing times for visas vary; it depends on the type of visa. Typical approximate processing times are:
- 9 to 18 months for most skilled residence visas (including the time required to prepare the application)
- 3 to 6 months for family, business and temporary work visas
- Additional 6 to 12 months for applications requiring professional registration
Your visa is stamped with an initial entry date. This is the date by which you must travel to Australia on your visa. If you (and any members of your family included in your application) do not enter Australia by the initial entry date, your visa may be cancelled.
It is obligatory for you to inform DHA in writing of any change in the information that is given in your application form (or was submitted later while your application was still under processing). However, there is no need to intimate any changes in your circumstances to DHA if your visa was granted in Australia or if you have arrived in Australia after the visa was granted to you.
NO. This type of service is not provided by the Australian Government. Only an Australian Registered Migration Agent can provide this kind of service.
YES. Immigration regulations are very strictly enforced and all applications are assessed on the basis of information and documentary evidence submitted. Many applications are refused or delayed due to technical errors on the application or because the supporting documentation is irrelevant or insufficient.
A large number of visa applicants who apply on their own fail to receive their visas due to application errors, misunderstandings or confusion that commonly arise during the immigration process. Compare this to a high success rate for those applicants that apply through an officially recognized migration agent. Given these facts, most people prefer to apply through a migration agent to reduce the risk of their application being refused.
It is hard to guarantee success in any visa application even though you may qualify under the immigration policy. In order to be approved, your application must adhere to the prevailing immigration regulations and be submitted with all the appropriate supporting documentation. Many applicants send incorrect or incomplete applications leading to rejection.
It is recommended that you seek the advice of a Registered Migration Agent if you are not sure of the detailed process.
The Australian Skilled Occupation List (SOL) is a list maintained by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. It is an alphabetical list of occupations with:
- the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations number for the occupation
- the relevant assessing authority for the occupation
- the number of points an occupation is awarded for the “skill” factor under the points test
If you wish to apply for any General Skilled Migration visa, you must nominate an occupation which is on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
Medicare is the Australian Government scheme that provides help with basic medical expenses, health care services and programs, such as free public hospital care, help with the cost of out-of-hospital care, and subsidised medicines. You could also consider many different private health insurance options, as Medicare does not cover services such as dental care, most optical care or ambulance services.
Please Contact us to discuss your requirements for a detailed assessment of your particulars towards migration to Australia.