Are you thinking about studying abroad in Australia?
If yes, understand the four major changes in the rules and regulations for an Australian student visa. Additional changes are anticipated later this year.
CHANGE TO EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL CAPACITY
The financial requirements for Student and Student Guardian visa applicants have increased on May 10, 2024.
To be eligible, applicants must have funds equivalent to 75% of the national minimum wage. The financial capacity requirement for the primary applicant is now at AUD29,710.
This adjustment ensures that students have enough money to cover a basic standard of living while studying in Australia.
The 75% figure accounts for students being out of class for about 25% of the year, during which they might return home or work without restrictions.
Meeting this new requirement helps international students make better-informed decisions about studying in Australia and reduces the risk of financial issues, visa breaches, and exploitation.
Applications submitted before May 10, 2024, will still use the current financial requirements.
For more details, visit the Subclass 500 Student Visa and Subclass 590 Student Guardian Visa pages.
NEW MINISTERIAL DIRECTION 107
The Australian government has signed a New Ministerial Direction, prioritizing subclass 500 student visa and student Guardian visa applications from December 15, 2023, to help ensure the integrity of the International Education System in Australia.
According to the new Ministerial Direction 107, the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) now emphasizes processing student visa applications from international students who intend to pursue higher education studies in Australia, as well as those in ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students), Vocational Education and Training (VET), and Non-Award sectors.
This prioritization extends to applicants studying at an education provider with an Evidence Level 1. It is important to note that applications made within Australia will still follow the current processing arrangements.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY CHANGES
The Australian Government has also revised the English language test criteria for Subclass 500 Student visa and Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa applicants.
Effective early 2024, the required English language test IELTS score for 500 student visa applicants raised from 5.5 bands to 6.0, and likewise, the minimum IELTS score for 485 Temporary graduate visas has increased from 6.0 bands to 6.5 overall band (at least 5.5 for each test component).
NEW GENUINE STUDENT REQUIREMENT
Beginning March 23, 2024, Australia’s student visa assessment process will also incorporate the new Genuine Student requirement (GS). As a result, applicants will no longer be required to submit a 300-word statement. Instead, they will engage in the application process by answering specific questions.
This requirement does NOT affect student visa applications submitted before March 23, 2024. Those applications will still be evaluated based on the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement.
For any student visa application, you need to genuinely want to study in Australia. Your main reason for the visa should be education here. The new Genuine Student requirement aims to include students who study here, gain skills Australia needs, and might later apply for permanent residency.
To learn more about these changes, visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500
Talk to a migration agent if you are unsure about your visa application. Our registered migration agents can also be found in the Department of Home Affairs Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Please let us know if you have any questions or need further clarification.
The information provided is for general use only and should NOT be taken as Migration Advice. For information about your circumstances, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Milestone Migration for immigration assistance.
