Get your Student visa application right the first time. Avoid making common mistakes that will delay your visa application or lead to a visa refusal.
If your visa application has all the information and documents we need, you will get a faster outcome – so make sure you check it twice before submitting.
Tips for submitting a ‘decision ready’ application
- Check that your name is spelt correctly and matches your passport. Watch out for auto correct. If you only have one name, rather than a first name and a family name, complete the family name field only.
- Provide all names you have been known by. For more information about documents that prove a name change see the ‘step by step’ tab.
- Provide your correct date of birth in dd/mm/yyyy format.
- Find out which documents you need to give us using the Document Checklist tool.
- Check what evidence to give us to show you are a genuine student on the Genuine Student requirement page.
- Upload a current Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) to your ImmiAccount.
- If the Document Checklist tool says you need to give us evidence of your English ability, make sure you include it when you apply.
- Provide English translations of all non-English supporting documents. Include the translator’s NAATI practitioner number if they are in Australia, or their full name, address, phone number and qualifications in the language they are translating if they are outside of Australia.
- Make sure you agree to receive electronic communication from us when you apply for your visa through ImmiAccount. This is the best way to stay updated about your application. It will help you get a faster visa decision.
- Respond quickly to requests for more information. If you cannot give us the information we have asked for, let us know and explain why. If you need to contact us, use the contact details included in the correspondence we have sent to you in ImmiAccount.
Student Guardian visa
For more information on the steps you need to take to apply for a Student Guardian visa, see Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa - Step by step.
If you are applying for a visa to accompany and care for a student under 18 years old, you will need to prove that you have enough money to support both of you. You will need to attach a document such as a current bank statement to ImmiAccount.
Submit additional information if you are under 18
If you are applying for a student visa and you are under 18 years of age, you will need to give us some more information and documents. For more information, visit Welfare and custody arrangements for students under 18 and find the document checklist.
ImmiAccount – your gateway to an Australian visa
You will need an ImmiAccount to apply for a Student visa. When setting up your ImmiAccount, make sure that you choose to receive messages from us. This will include updates about your application. Check your ImmiAccount regularly for updates and requests for more information.
Your ImmiAccount is the place to:
- track the progress of your application and see requests for more information
- add more information or documents to your application
- update your contact details.
If you need help with your visa application
If you need help with your visa application you can:
Visa processing times
We encourage you to apply for your visa well before your course commencement date.
For an indication of Student visa processing times, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.