Follow the tips below to help you apply for a student visa to come to Australia.
Attach a Confirmation of Enrolment with the correct start date
If you want to apply for a student visa you need to attach a current Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) with the date your course starts to your
ImmiAccount.
If the course start date has passed, you must submit an updated CoE with the new course start date. The sooner you do this, the sooner you will get a visa decision.
Provide translated copies of all documents
If any of your required documentation is not in English, you will need to include a translation as well as a copy of the original. Each translated document must include in English the translator's:
- full name, address and telephone number
- qualifications and experience in the language they are translating.
If you use a translator in Australia they must be accredited by the
National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
Make sure you opt-in to receive electronic communications from us when you apply for a visa through
ImmiAccount.
Check the format of your date of birth
Make sure you have entered your date of birth in dd/mm/yy format.
Get your health assessment done quickly
You may receive a message in your
ImmiAccount asking you to get a health assessment to make sure you meet Australia's health requirements. If you complete your health assessment quickly you will get a faster decision on your visa application.
Complete your biometrics quickly
Once you have submitted your visa application, check your
ImmiAccount regularly to see if you need to provide us with more information, such as biometric data (photo and fingerprints).
If you have been asked for biometric data, you need to do this as soon as possible so your visa application is not delayed.
You may have to travel some distance to a nominated biometric collection centre. Start arranging to get your biometric data collected as soon as you receive the request.
Submit additional information if you are under 18
If you are applying for a student visa and are under 18 years old, you must include as part of your student visa application:
- details or documentation showing your parent/s or guardian consent to you coming to Australia to study
- information about the arrangements that have been made for your welfare in Australia (such as living arrangements and guardianship)
- details and documents that identify your parents or legal guardians (such as your birth certificate or proof of guardianship).
For more information see
Subclass 500 Student visa - Step by step.
If you are accompanying a student who is under 18
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.
For more information see Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa - Step by Step.
Check your
ImmiAccount regularly. We will send you requests for further information to ImmiAccount. If you respond quickly, you will get a faster visa decision. You can also check the status of your application in ImmiAccount.
More information
Student visa
For more information on the steps you need to take and the documents you need to provide, see
Subclass 500 Student visa - Step by step.
Student guardian visa
For more information on the steps you need to take and the documents you need to provide, see
Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa - Step by step.
To find out which documents you need to attach to your student visa application based on your country of passport and your education provider use our
Document Checklist Tool.
If you need help with your visa application
If you need help with your visa application you can:
Visa processing times
Visa processing times are updated as new data becomes available. For an indication of how long your visa application may take to process see our visa processing times guide.
