student visa in australia from nepal
If you’ve ever considered studying abroad in Australia, you know there are tons of awesome benefits. And it’s easy to see why: year-round sunshine, good surf breaks, a home to some of the world’s most unique wildlife, loads of friendly people and killer beaches… man, it’s hard to beat!
Visiting Australia as a tourist is an amazing experience, and if you’re a Nepali citizen planning to visit Australia, you have already taken the right decision. Considering the visa process, it however can be complex especially if you are married, have children or aged parents.
Applying for a visa in Australia can be a lengthy and stressful process, especially if you have to stay in the country for more than three months. It’s hard to find information about this subject on the internet, especially by Nepali standards. So I’m writing on this topic as there are plenty of students in Nepal who want to study abroad. There is no need to feel confused while embarking upon the visa application process: with ten easy steps and a clear picture of how to apply, how much costs, how long it may take and what documents you will need, can be helpful not only for international students but also for everyone who wants to study or work abroad.
Student Visas in Australia from Nepal
Are you a Nepalese citizen looking to go to school in Australia? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, there are a lot of Nepalese students studying in Australia! But getting your visa can be a real headache. Here’s everything you need to know about getting your student visa for Australia from Nepal.
The first thing you need to do is make sure that the country you want to study in has an embassy in Nepal. You can find the list of embassies here: https://www.embassyworld.com/embassies-of/nepal/.
Once you’ve picked out a place and made sure they have an embassy here, contact them! They’ll tell you what paperwork they need and how long it will take for them to process it—usually around 1-2 weeks. Once they send back their forms, fill them out carefully and send them back ASAP. If there are any mistakes on the form, they won’t accept it and will send it back again! And if it takes too long for you to send back their paperwork… well then they might give up on helping you altogether!
Australia is one of the most popular countries for international students.
There are many reasons why Australians choose to study abroad, and Nepal is a country that is on the rise in terms of its popularity as a study destination.
The popularity of studying in Australia has increased over time, and Nepal is no exception. Many Nepalese students have been studying in Australia for years now, with many more deciding to study there each year. The number of Nepalese studying in Australia has increased by almost 100% since 2013, with over 5,000 students currently enrolled in Australian universities and other higher education institutions.
These students come from all over Nepal, including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Birgunj and Janakpur. They tend to study at colleges such as Monash University (which has campuses in Melbourne and Sydney), Swinburne University of Technology (which has campuses in Melbourne) and Deakin University (which has campuses in Geelong). Some also choose to study at private colleges such as Sunshine Coast University or Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
Australia is one of the most sought after destinations for international students applying to study abroad. Housing hundreds of world-class institutions for a range of courses, Australia promises bright career prospects after graduation. AECC Global Nepal helps you apply for a student visa for Australia to kick-start your study abroad journey.
Requirements to apply for student visa in Australia:
- Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement.
- Financial requirements.
- English proficiency test score.
- Character Statutory Declaration Form.
- Health Certificate.
Types of Student Visa in Australia
- Independent ELICOS Visa – Subclass 570 Elicos Visa is particularly for international students wanting to pursue an ELICOS Course (English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students).
- Vocational Education and Training Sector Visa – Subclass 572 VET Student visa is required for international students wanting to pursue Certificate I, II, III, or IV, VET Diploma, Vocational Graduate Certificate, Advanced VET Diploma and Vocational Graduate Diploma.
- Higher Education Sector Visa – Subclass 573 Visa is required for international students to study a higher education course, such as Bachelor’s degree, Associate’s degree, Graduate Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate, and a Master’s degree.
- Postgraduate Research Sector Visa: Subclass 574 PG Research Visa is mandatory for international students travelling to study a research-based Doctoral or Master’s Degree in one of the best universities in Australia for international students.
Note:
As an international student, you will be expected to prove your English proficiency by taking one of the accepted standard English tests (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL iBT and CAE). You will need to submit the evidence of your financial status to prove you can pay for your studies and stay in Australia.
OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) is a must and it should be valid throughout your stay in Australia. Some courses require students to have their health checked and certified as healthy by doctors in their country and later approved by the Australian immigration department. Furthermore, a criminal record check is mandatory as a part of your character assessment.
Australia Subclass 500 Student Visa
Nepalese who want to come to Australia to study full-time at a registered educational institution must apply for an Australia subclass 500 Student Visa. The applicant will be assessed as regular or streamlined based on the provider and country of passport.
If the visa applicant falls under the regular category, it is mandatory to satisfy English language and financial capacity requirements in addition to the general requirements. If the visa applicant falls under a streamlined category, it is not mandatory to provide evidence of English language and financial capacity.
Health and insurance requirements for Australia subclass 500 Student Visa
- Student Visa Australia applicant(s) must meet the health requirements. Visa applicant(s) might need to undergo health examinations as part of the visa application process and can choose to undertake them prior to lodging the visa application.
- Student Visa Australia applicant(s) must satisfy character requirements.
- Student Visa Australia applicant(s) must have adequate health insurance while in Australia. It can be only met by obtaining Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless exempted.
Genuine temporary entrant requirements for Australia subclass 500 Student Visa
- The genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement for Australia subclass 500 Student Visa is an integrity measure to ensure that the student visa programme is used as intended and not as a way for international students to maintain ongoing residency in Australia.
- The GTE requirement applies to all visa applicants. The officer assessing the visa will take into account whether the individual circumstances indicate an intention for a temporary stay in Australia.
English language requirements for Australia subclass 500 Student Visa
The main applicant needs to provide evidence of English language skills as part of the visa application. It is usually fulfilled by a satisfactory test score in an approved English language test, unless exempted. The following English language test providers such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, CAE, OET scores are acceptable for visa purposes.
Financial capacity requirements for Australia subclass 500 Student Visa
The visa applicant needs to have enough money that is genuinely available to pay for all costs associated with the study in Australia. Evidence of financial capacity can be demonstrated from either of the following:
- sufficient funds to cover travel costs to Australia and 12 months’ tuition, living and schooling costs (for school aged dependents, if applicable) for the main visa applicant and accompanying family members, or
- evidence that the spouse or parents of the main applicant are providing financial support and they have an annual income of at least AUD 60,000 for a single student visa application or at least AUD 70,000 for a visa application that includes accompanying family members
- an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Students (AASES) form for secondary exchange students only
- a letter of support from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Department of Defence
Visa Entitlements for Australia subclass 500 Student Visa
- Student Visa Australia holder(s) can study registered full-time course(s) in Australia.
- Student Visa Australia holder(s) can generally work a specified number of hours.
- Student Visa Australia holder(s) can generally stay in Australia until the course is finished.
Documents required to apply for a student visa in Australia
- A copy of your passport along with a copy of your driver licence or national identity card and your birth certificate.
- A completed visa application form (157A).
- English test scores.
- Confirmation of Enrolment or an Offer letter from the institution.
- Evidence of your financial capacity to support your studies.
- Health Insurance (OSHC).
- Criminal check record.
- Recent passport-size pictures.
Conclusion
The Australian Government provides an opportunity to international students to study in Australia but as a prerequisite, you’ll have to obtain a student visa for pursuing your chosen course in the country.
If you’re worried about the process, don’t be. IDP can help explain the visa process making it easier for you to understand. Our counsellors have been through the process many times before with students like you, so a few pointers from someone with experience may save you many hours and worries.
Which visa do you need?
The visa you need will depend on the type of study you want to do, and how long you want to stay in Australia. You can find out more about each type of visa on the Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) website (https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder/study)
You apply online
You will need to create an account using DIBP’s online application system – ImmiAccount (https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/applying-online-or-on-paper/online) – to complete and submit your student visa application. You can also track the status of your visa through ImmiAccount once you have submitted it.
The information you need for your visa application will depend on your nationality and which course you’re studying. You will generally need:
- Proof of enrolment (your Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment)
- Your health insurance (Overseas Student Health Cover) policy details
- Your Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement
- Evidence of your English skills (your counsellor can book your place in the IELTS test)
- Statement of purpose
- Evidence of financial ability (tuition fees, living expenses, expenses for dependents, return airfare).
- A valid passport
- Your visa application fee
- Academic and work experience documents
If you are under 18 years of age, you will also need to provide additional documents such as parental consent.
* For a detailed visa application checklist, please speak with your counsellor.
You should submit your application no later than six weeks before your course starts, and no earlier than 12 weeks.
Your application will be allocated a unique Transaction Reference Number (TRN) by the Australian Government. You can find out about the status of your online ( https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/ ).
Making sure your visa remains valid
Once you get your visa, there are a number of things you need to do to ensure it remains valid, including:
- Remain enrolled and maintain satisfactory course progress and attendance
- Provide your Australian address to your University or college so they can contact you (don’t forget to let them know if you move)
- Continue to be able to financially support yourself while in Australia
- Don’t breach the working conditions that apply to your visa
If you want to change your qualification level you will need to apply for a new student visa.
Your counsellor can walk you through the student visa application process and the relevant information on the Australian government’s website. They can help you prepare the necessary documents for your submission and for your visa interview.