Plans To Tighten Australian Student Visa Requirements

Zhanna Heenan

Visa News

International education in Australia stands as the fourth-largest export industry, and safeguarding its quality and trustworthiness holds paramount significance for both the Australian economy and Australia’s regional partnerships.

On August 26, 2023, the Labour Government unveiled a comprehensive set of measures aimed at upholding the integrity of the international education system and providing genuine international students with the support they need.

The crucial step taken by the government is the closure of a loophole that allowed educational institutions to transition international students who had been in Australia for fewer than six months from legitimate study programs to arrangements intended to facilitate employment in the country. This change took immediate effect.

Furthermore, the government is raising the financial requirements for international students seeking a student visa. It is stated that this adjustment is long overdue, as the requirement has not been adjusted since 2019, failing to account for the rise in living expenses. Starting from October 1, 2023, international students will be required to demonstrate evidence of $24,505 in savings.

Currently, to meet the financial requirement for a student visa to Australia, an applicant is required to demonstrate $21,041 in available funds to cover their living costs in Australia for the first 12 months. The proposed change will mark a 17% increase. This increase considers the inflation since 2019, ensuring that students coming to Australia for education can adequately support themselves without facing undue pressure to seek immediate employment.

To prevent fraud in visa applications, the government will apply additional scrutiny to high-risk cohorts, requesting supplementary documentation. Every student visa applicant must demonstrate their intention to come to Australia temporarily for the purpose of obtaining a high-quality education. The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement is designed to ensure an applicant is coming to Australian with a genuine intention to complete education they are enrolled into.

When applying for a student visa, you must submit a personal statement in English that specifically addresses the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement. Your statement should comprehensively cover your individual circumstances and reasons for pursuing your intended studies in Australia.In addition to the written statement, a student visa applicant will also need to attach relevant documents to support their application. Generic statements lacking substantiating evidence will not carry significant weight in the GTE assessment.

Getting your student visa evidence right from the start can help you avoid a potential refusal. It can be very hard to obtain a new confirmation of enrolment from a reputable college or university in Australia when you have a refusal history for an Australian student visa. If you require assistance with your student visa application, book an appointment with Heenan & Browne Visa Migration Services. Our registered migration agents have the required expertise and experience to help you achieve your migration goal.

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