Australia’s Student Visa Program Update: Changes Effective from 1 July 2024

Australia's Government has a commitment to improving the integrity of the Student Visa Program. This initiative aims at issuing visas to real students who are going to help in boosting Australia's economy. In terms of the Migration Strategy, there have been major changes regarding eligibility criteria for Student visas.

Key Changes to Student Visa Eligibility

Starting from 1 July 2024, certain temporary visa holders will be restricted from applying for a student visa while in Australia. These include:

• Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate)
• Subclass 600 (Visitor)
• Subclass 601 (Electronic Travel Authority)
• Subclass 602 (Medical Treatment)
• Subclass 651 (eVisitor)
• Subclass 771 (Transit)
• Subclass 988 (Maritime Crew)
• Subclass 995 (Diplomatic Temporary) - primary visa holders only
• Subclass 403 (Temporary Work - International Relations) - Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream
• Subclass 426 (Domestic Worker (Temporary) - Diplomatic or Consular)

This policy targets 'visa hopping', which involves people moving from one temporary visa category to another so that they can stay in Australia permanently.

The government wants to end this loophole which is meant to prevent the growth of a 'permanently temporary' population consisting of prior international students.

Impact on Affected Visa Holders

Temporary Graduate Visa Holders: Must either vacate from Australia or opt for employment in a skilled area as well as other visa pathways that could lead them to permanent residency.

Visitor Visa Applicants: They have to apply for their student visa when they are outside Australia if they plan on studying.

Genuine Student Visa Applicants

People who really want to go to study in Australia can obtain a student visa from overseas. Such visas will be issued if the eligibility requirements are met, hence only genuine students will benefit from the system.

Other changes effective from July 1st, 2024

Visa Application Charges

Visa application charges will be changed for “Students” and “Student Guardians”. For more information see Subclass 500 Student visa guidelines.

Student visa details

• Stay Duration: Your enrolment time will not exceed five years.
• Cost: Starting at AUD 1,600.00 unless exempted.
• Processing Times: Use the visa processing time guide tool for an estimate – note this is general guidance and may not be specific to individual applications.

All applications for a student visa are processed in order of their priority as directed by the Ministerial Direction No. 107. Applications having less priority would take longer to process.

Benefits of Student Visa

On this visa, you can:

• Participate in a course of study that you are eligible in Australia
• Travel to and from Australia
• Be eligible to work for 48 hours per fortnight while your course is still going on.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for Student visa, you must:

• Apply online either inside or outside Australia.
• Be enrolled in an Australian study programme.
• Have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) or be exempted.
• Be at least six years old.
• Provide evidence of your welfare arrangements if you are under the age of 18.
• Hold an eligible substantive visa if applying from within Australia.

In conclusion, by implementing these changes, the Australian Government seeks to uphold the integrity of the Student Visa Program, ensuring that it benefits genuine students and contributes positively to the nation's economic growth. If you need further assistance with filing your application, you can contact us at MWT Education Consultancy.

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