All you need to know for your Australian Visa Application

Before looking at the documents required to apply for a Student Visa to Australia, let us take a look at what it takes to even qualify to apply for the Student Visa to Australia.

Even as you fill up your ‘Online Visa Application’, you will have to keep ready proof for the following:

Financials

You need to provide proof that you have enough money to cover your tuition and living costs. At present, the figure is at about 20,290 AUD and this is for the living expenses alone. Of course, the figure will be higher when you include your tuition and travel expenses. To add on, if you are moving there with your family (spouse and children), then you need to be able to support them as well, as in you should be able to afford your spouse’s and children’s living expenses plus the children’s school fees, etc. In case your spouse or parents are willing to fund your education, you need to provide evidence that they earn at least 60,000 AUD annually.

Language

Coming from a non-English speaking country, you need to prove your proficiency in English. There are globally recognized English proficiency tests such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English as a Foreign Language – internet-based test (TOEFL iBT), and Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic, and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE). The qualifying scores for these tests vary from university to university and from program to program.

Health

Health is another important factor while gauging your qualification for the Student Visa. Applicants may also be required to undergo a medical check-up. You need to be certified as being ‘Healthy’ by a doctor who has been approved by the Australian Immigration Department. Aside from the applicants from Belgium and Norway, everyone is mandated to buy an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Character

An applicant must be of good character – as in, he/she must not have any criminal record of any sorts.

So if you hold good on each of the above parameters, then continue reading to know what all documents do you need to submit along with the Visa Application. You will have to get the copies of your documents attested or notarised before submitting them. The attestation should be obtained from persons or establishments recognised under the law of the applicant’s home country.

The pre-requisite for a Visa application is an acceptance to a full-time program at an Australian university. If you have been accepted, you will submit an original Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) or an Acceptance Advice for Secondary Exchange Students (AASES). The CoE will mention the name of the course, the projected level of entry, CRICOS course and provider codes, start and end dates of the course, and full tuition fees. It is important to note that if the Visa category requires an English language course and there is no CoE for the same, then your Visa application will be rejected.

Coming to the other documents that you need to submit, they can be broadly categorised into three groups:

Academic documents

• A Student Visa application form (Form 157A) and if applicable, a family composition form (Form 54)
• Attested or notarised photocopies of the passport (the details page) of each person mentioned in the visa application
• Attested or notarised photocopies of the identification card of each person mentioned in the visa application
• Attested or notarised photocopies of the transcripts, degree, etc, in short, all proofs of academic qualification
• Attested or notarised copies of the applicant’s English Language Test score which was taken not more than two years ago from the date of application
• One Passport-sized photograph and four name and address labels for each of the persons mentioned in the application
• Proof of clean character record (evidence of no criminal history)
• A checklist mentioning the documents that are submitted along with the application

Financial documents

• A loan certificate or an attested copy of a letter issued by a recognised financial institution that states, in clear terms, that the applicant has been approved a loan for the required amount for the study period
• Deposit certificates from banks which mention the amount held in the applicant’s account at the time of the application
• Bank passbooks, deposit slips, etc. which mention the amount of deposit

Medical documents

• Reports of the medical condition of the applicant and his/her dependants such as the X-Ray and blood reports
• Receipt from the medical institution for the medical check-up
• Evidence of having bought the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire duration of his/her stay in Australia

Things to remember

While gathering all the evidential documents, you need to keep these things in mind:

• Your awards and certificates should contain your full name, the title of the award or certification and the date, the name of the institution which has given the award
• Your transcripts should mention your full name, name of the institution which has issued the transcripts, the title of the course, and the confirmation of the award
• Course completion certificates will not be accepted

In the event of the Visa being granted and you travelling to Australia to pursue your dreams, please remember that following the rules is important to stay there for the entire duration of the Visa period. The rules are pretty simple:

• Meet the attendance and course requirements
• Do not work for more than your study hours
• Make sure your insurance cover is adequately maintained

We would love to see you spread some love by sharing this article, as it may help many who are looking to study abroad. If you have decided to move abroad you need to work on your entrance exam and conquer it, a good test prep institute like Manya-The Princeton review can definitely help.