If you are planning to study abroad and have obtained an offer of study at any university or institution abroad, you need a student visa to enter that country for your study purposes. A student visa is the most necessary travel document that allows students to legally enter a foreign country to study. It is vital to obtain a valid student visa, and it needs to be obtained well before the course or study program starts. Besides, it should be assured it covers the whole period of study in that particular country. If you have plans to study in Australia, the latest news about the Australian student visa requirements is that the country has imposed stricter student visa requirements for international students.
Details Regarding the Australian Student Visa Requirements
Talking more about the student visa, it is a government-issued immigration document that is granted by an embassy or a consulate general that allows students to study legally in a particular date range. Returning to the main topic of the post, from the beginning of this month of January 2025, the Australian student visa is required to include a ‘Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)’ in the visa application.
According to the Department of Home Affairs of Australia, the new changes come to strengthen the integrity of the system of visa. It has also been highlighted by the department that if the CoE is not attached or provided by the time the visa application is submitted, the visa application will not be considered valid.
A Comprehensive View on the Australian Student Visa
Since 1st January 2025, the visa applicants (students) are now required to attach a CoE to verify their enrollment in a registered study program (course) at a university or educational institution located in Australia.
The new changes have been placed to strengthen the integrity of the visa system. This step has been taken to ensure that only legitimate students can benefit from studying in Australia. The spokesperson of the Department of Home Affairs has also confirmed the decision regarding including the CoE with the visa application.
The spokesperson also uttered that the offer letter issued by the university or institution will not be accepted anymore (being proof of study program). If the visa application does not carry CoE, the application will not be taken as ‘valid’. The visa officials will not be eligible as well to renew it.
The Home Department emphasizes that a visa application with a CoE will demonstrate a strong commitment by the student to his or her study at an Australian institution.
Information Regarding the Alternative Forms of Evidence
The department also says that there are no changes to the alternative forms of evidence for student’s intended study program. In case the students are not eligible to get a CoE before their present visa expires, they will then need to either depart from Australia or find other options for visas.
The student visa is granted in line with the enrollment timeframes mentioned in the Confirmation of Enrollment with an appropriate additional (extra) period to allow the student to depart Australia or seek a further visa.
As far as the CoE is concerned, it is an electronic document that confirms that an applicant (student) has been accepted into a study program (course), has paid his or her tuition fees and Overseas Student Health Cover, etc.