Students who will be studying in Australia for more than three months must obtain a student visa. Although applying for a student visa in Australia is relatively straight-forward, students should check the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website as soon as they are accepted to their course of study.
If students have specific questions about applying for a student visa, please contact the Information Service for Australian Visas (ISAV) by calling 1-905-280-1437. This service provides assistance with queries on visas, immigration and citizenship, and enables you to speak directly with an immigration officer. The hotline is in operation Monday through Friday from 9 am-5 pm Eastern Standard Time.
All US and Canadian citizens are eligible to apply online for their student visa using the DIAC's e-visa online processing website, www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/students.htm. After the student has submitted his/her online visa application, any questions should be directed to: evisa.students.helpdesk@immi.gov.au. It is helpful if students include their Transaction Reference Number (TRN), date of birth, and passport number in any email correspondence.
A Document Checklist:
- Your original, signed passport, which must have 6 months validity remaining post departure from Australia. Make sure the personal passport details (full name, date of birth, etc.) match those in the visa application and on the eCoE.
- An online application.
- An electronic Confirmation of Enrollment (eCoE). This is the official letter of acceptance from the Australian university. Students will receive their eCoE either electronically via email, or in some instances via regular postal mail. The eCoE is proof that the student has been accepted at an Australian university, has paid the required university tuition, and has obtained the mandatory Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). The student will need all three pieces before they can apply for their student visa.
- A credit card. As of July 1, 2009, the cost of a student visa is AU$540 (US$436), payable by credit card via an online payment system.
**Please note the student visa fee usually changes on 1 July and 1 January, based on current exchange rates.** Visit www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/students-visa-charges.htm for the most up-to-date student visa fee information.
- Four recent passport-sized photos (45mmx35mm). Head and shoulders only, and print name on back of each photograph.
- When students apply through the e-visa system, they will be prompted at the end of their online application to download medical forms. These forms will contain the applicant's transaction reference number and bio-data information. The forms should be mailed to the appropriate Australian embassy or consulate for processing. For US students, they may send their forms to the Embassy of Australia in Washington, DC.
Helpful hints
- An Australian student visa can be granted a maximum of 12 weeks before the student commences his/her course.
- This Australian student visa allows students the opportunity to work up to 20 hours per week while their course is in session, and an unlimited number of hours during scheduled course breaks.
- When students apply online, their visa application is typically processed within five to 10 business days. The student will be notified by email when his/her visa has been granted.
- Students should take note of their Transaction Reference Number (TRN) when they submit their online visa application. This number, along with the student's passport number and date of birth, can be used to track the status of their visa application.
- If students have questions about their electronic visa applications after it has been submitted, or if students would like to inquire about the status of their visa, they can email the e-visa helpdesk at eVisa.Students.Helpdesk@immi.gov.au.
- Students who are not a Canadian or American citizen may need to submit a paper-based application, depending on the student's nationality and program of study. Students may also need to undergo a chest x-ray, medical exam and pre-visa assessment, depending on their country assessment level. For additional information, visit www.immi.gov.au/students/index.htm.
- In some circumstances, individuals may be contacted by the Australian immigration department to provide more information, undergo a health check or schedule an interview with an immigration officer. US and Canadian students who are planning to study in Australia for 12 months or longer on a student visa (Form 457) will typically be required to undergo a chest x-ray-unless their health is of special significance, or they are likely to enter a classroom or healthcare facility, in which case a medical examination will also be required.
The information above is not comprehensive and may not reflect recent policy changes. For the most current and complete visa information please contact the embassy of the country to which you are traveling. Please contact a study abroad advisor with any questions or for a letter of support from the home institution verifying payment and ensuring that the student will return to the U.S. to complete his degree.
