Breaking News: The latest Australian Student Visa Changes in 2024
Significant changes have been made to the Australian student visa, particularly in relation to the Migration Strategy announced last December 2023. These changes are crucial as they involve the closure of the onshore Student Visa pathway for Visitor Visa and Temporary Graduate Visa holders.
The change emphasizes that from 1 July 2024, Visitor Visa and Temporary Graduate Visa holders cannot lodge a Student Visa application onshore. The government is attempting to block this route because it perceives it as undermining Australia’s more comprehensive set of visa integrity regulations.
Find the details of the Australian Student Visa changes below and the options left to continue your study plan.
Australian Student Visa Changes to Onshore Application
As of 1 July 2024, Visitor Visa and Temporary Graduate Visa holders cannot apply for a Student Visa onshore. The details are as follows:
- Onshore student visa applications will not be accepted from holders of visitor visas. From 1 July 2023 to 31 May 2024, the visitor-to-student pathway received over 36,000 applications, demonstrating its increasing popularity. This action blocks a route that has been exploited to evade the government’s more stringent regulations on the integrity of offshore student visas.
- The inability to apply for student visas onshore will affect holders of temporary graduate visas. According to the Grattan Institute’s most recent Graduates in Limbo research, 32% of Australians on Temporary Graduate Visas continue their education after their visas expire to extend their stay there. The change makes it evident that graduates should either leave the nation when they are more likely to become “permanently temporary” residents or obtain competent employment and become permanent residents.
What are the options left for prospective international students and graduates?
The changes to the Australian Student Visa might concern you in many ways, especially when you have the onshore Student Visa application in your plan. However, as resilient international students and graduates, you have the capacity to adapt and find alternative pathways. Whether you’re a prospective international student or an international graduate in Australia, the following options may ease your concerns.
Option for Prospective International Students
If you’re a prospective international student, there are few options left with the closure of the Visitor Visa to Student Visa pathway. However, don’t worry. Even though the onshore Student Visa seems out of reach, you can still lodge an offshore Student Visa application.
We understand the offshore Student Visa application seems terrifying. So, we’re here to give you some tips to boost your offshore Student Visa application approval.
Tips 1: Ensure you meet all Student Visa requirements
We know it sounds cliche, but meeting the Student Visa requirements is very crucial at this stage. In general, there are five main Student Visa requirements you should satisfy, which are:
-
- Passport with a minimum 6-month validity from the issuance date,
- Latest academic certificate and transcript,
- IELTS Certificate (overall 6.0 for Diploma, 6.0 – 8,0 for Bachelor, Master, or Doctoral) or equivalent,
- Proof of Financial capacity (for the single applicant: AUD 38,000 – 50,000 for a Diploma, AUD 50,000 – 90,000 for a Bachelor, Master, or Doctoral) in the form of a recent bank statement or annual income
- Meeting the Genuine Student Requirements.
Among these five requirements, pay close attention to the IELTS, financial, and Genuine Student requirements. Not meeting these requirements caused most student visa refusal cases.
To meet the IELTS requirement, consider taking an IELTS preparation course. An IELTS preparation course will help you get the minimum IELTS score in many ways.
Then, regarding the financial requirement, we understand it seems a lot, but with good preparation, you can achieve it. Getting financial support from your parents or relatives in your home country is best. It will show that you don’t intend to stay further in Australia after completing your studies, which leads us to the following requirements.
For the Genuine Student requirements, you must ensure the Department of Home Affairs that you will return to your home country after completing your course. It includes your ties, family ties, etc. You must show that the course you will take in Australia will benefit you in your home country.
If you’re still unsure how to meet these Student Visa requirements, the next tip will help.
Tips 2: Seek legal advice from an education consultant
When it comes to meeting the requirements for an offshore Student Visa, seeking professional advice from a registered legal education consultant is highly recommended. This will not only ease your concerns but also ensure that all requirements are met.
You can also discuss the risks you will face later and how to overcome them without stress.
Consider contacting a legal and registered Australian education consultant, like our sister company, Education ONE, which has been in the industry for over ten years. They are here to provide you with the support and guidance you need, no matter your concerns. This reassurance can help alleviate any anxiety you may be feeling about the visa changes.
Tips 3: Submit your Student Visa application at least three months before the course starts
Ensure you submit your Student Visa application at least three months before your course starts. By planning and preparing early, you can take control of your visa application process and avoid any last-minute stress. Submitting your offshore Student Visa application long before your course starts is even better, giving you a sense of proactive readiness.
It is another issue most Student Visa applicants face, resulting in Student Visa refusal.
You can discuss and plan a timeframe for submitting your offshore Student Visa application with an education consultant.
Option for International Graduates in Australia
We have seen that many overseas graduates—including you, perhaps—may need to return to the Student Visa (subclass 500) for various reasons. These may include getting a second degree to bolster your qualifications for a skilled visa or gaining more work experience to pass the Skills Assessment. You might be affected by the update in several ways.
Even so, once your 485 visa expires, you can extend your stay in Australia. You can always obtain a different visa, regardless of your reason for remaining onshore. When your 485 visa expires, you might want to think about doing one of the following to prolong your stay:
1. Training Visa (subclass 407)
The Training Visa (subclass 407) may be a good choice if you need to obtain more work experience after your 485 visa expires, either for Skills Assessment or to fulfil the requirements for a Skilled Visa. With this visa, you can further your abilities and expertise in your designated occupation by participating in workplace-based training. It gives you plenty of time to obtain the required job experience as it is valid for up to two years.
It may be challenging to locate a prospective company that provides training for recent graduates from abroad. Still, it is a viable choice to consider. To improve your chances of getting hired, we advise attending job fairs, contacting professional associations, and networking within your field. You can also look through career websites and online employment boards targeted at international grads.
2. Second Post-study Work stream of 485 Visa
The 485 Visa’s Second Post-Study Work Stream may be your best choice if you have finished your studies in a regional area and are currently in the post-study work stream. Regardless of their field of study, overseas students can apply for this visa if they have earned a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree in Australia. It has a maximum validity of four years, giving you plenty of opportunity to obtain further job experience or get ready to apply for a skilled visa.
But don’t worry—we’re here to help if none of the above solutions work for you or your circumstances. Our staff is committed to assisting you in navigating these changes and selecting the most cost-effective way to prolong your visit to Australia. We will provide you with the best migration plan possible to help you realize your dream, even in the worst scenario if you have to leave Australia!
Genuine Student Test Replacing GTE Requirement
As the new updates for Student Visas in Australia, the Australian government announced the launch of the Genuine Student Test (GST) on 23 March 2024, marking the complete termination of the GTE Student Visa requirements. The Genuine Student Test asks potential applicants to respond to a series of focused questions, which should be answered upon the submission of the Student Visa application.
Find the complete details on the Genuine Student Test here: Genuine Student Test Commencement in March 2024
IELTS Requirement Changes for Student Visa Australia
Starting on 23 March 2024, the IELTS test will be adjusted in the following ways for applicants seeking student visas:
- Increased IELTS Score Requirement: the minimum IELTS score requirement for student visas in Australia has been raised from 5.5 to 6 to guarantee greater English language competency.
- Minimum Score for Enrollment in the Packaged English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) Program: The required minimum score has increased from 4.5 to 5.0.
- ELICOS-only Study Unaffected: Students studying English through ELICOS will not have their necessary test scores changed.
- Foundation and Pathway Programs: Students must receive an IELTS score of 5.5 or above to be admitted to university foundation or pathway programs that provide credible English language instruction.
- Courses in Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training (VET): Students enrolled in VET programs must meet the exact higher education course prerequisites as those who choose packaged ELICOS courses.
Get the detailed changes on the IELTS requirement for an Australian Student Visa here: IELTS Test Score: New Student Visa Rules for Australia 2024
New Financial Requirement for Student Visa Australia
All student visa applications submitted on or after 10 May 2024 must meet financial requirements.
| Financial Requirement on and after 10 May 2024 | Financial Requirement before 10 May 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Main applicant | AUD29,710 | AUD24,505 |
| Spouse/de facto partner of main applicant (doesn’t apply to Student Guardian applicant) | AUD10,394 | AUD8,574 |
| Dependent child | AUD4,449 | AUD3,670 |
| Annual school cost | AUD13,502 | AUD9,661 |
| Personal yearly income (with no family member) | AUD87,856 | AUD72,465 |
| Personal yearly income (with family member) | AUD102,500 | AUD84,543 |
| Financial Requirement on and after 10 May 2024 | Financial Requirement before 10 May 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Main applicant | AUD29,710 | AUD24,505 |
| Spouse/de facto partner of main applicant (doesn’t apply to Student Guardian applicant) | AUD10,394 | AUD8,574 |
| Dependent child | AUD4,449 | AUD3,670 |
| Annual school cost | AUD13,502 | AUD9,661 |
| Personal yearly income (with no family member) | AUD87,856 | AUD72,465 |
| Personal yearly income (with family member) | AUD102,500 | AUD84,543 |
Find the complete details of the new financial requirement for a Student Visa here: New Financial Requirement Student Visa May 2024
What should I do?
The changes to the Australian Student Visa may surprise you, and you have less than three weeks to get ready. Even after reviewing your alternatives, we understand you still require more direction.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if this update is too sudden and you need expert assistance immediately with preparing your student visa application. Whatever your situation, our Registered Migration Agent is here to help. If you’re not happy with our consultation, we provide a 100% money-back guarantee:
We’re here to help you!
Don’t let the Australian Student Visa changes defer your study plan in Australia.
Our visa specialists at ONE derland Consulting will assist you in finding the best visa options despite the new changes on the Australian Student Visa. We have a 98% success rate and are one of Australia’s most highly recommended migration agents. Read our 4.9* score customer reviews.
We are complex visa specialists. As registered Australian migration agents with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the MARA.
Take the first step and get in touch with us. Our team members are professional and honest and speak various languages, such as Mandarin/ Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Japanese, and Thai. Contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1300 827 159. Alternatively, you may book your consultation online, and it is backed by our 100% Money Back Guarantee Program.
