Student visas
Find out what you need to know about applying for a visa to study in Australia.
If you wish to study in Australia as an international student, you will need a valid temporary visa with the appropriate study entitlements. For most students, you'll be required to have a student visa issued by the Australian Government.
Student visa eligibility criteria
Before you apply for a student visa, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:
- have been accepted to study full-time at La Trobe University
- hold a passport that has been valid for at least six months
- have valid Overseas Health Insurance for the entire duration of your studies
- have a valid visa if you are onshore at the time of application
- if you are under 18 years of age, you’ll also need to demonstrate appropriate welfare arrangements for your time in Australia.
Once you’ve applied for a student visa, you will receive an outcome in writing from the Australian Government. If successful, you’ll be notified of your visa grant number, date of expiration and visa conditions.
Applying for a student visa
A student visa is a temporary visa that allows you to come to Australia for a specified period to study at an Australian educational institution.
As a student visa holder, you are required to enrol in a Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) registered course.
You can apply for a student visa online at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) website. The DHA will assess your student visa application against a range of criteria which is specified on their document tool checklist. If you applied to La Trobe via an authorised agent, they may be able to apply for the student visa on your behalf.
You are strongly encouraged to submit all required documentation with your student visa application to reduce the visa processing time. Failure to do so might lead to processing delays or visa refusal. We recommend applying for your student visa three months before travelling time or your current student visa expires.
What you need for your visa application
Once you have accepted your offer, then you will be issued with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). You will use this for your student visa (subclass 500) online application.
A CoE is an official document issued by La Trobe that contains your study details such as where you will study, fees and dates. If you are applying from outside Australia, you must include a CoE for each intended course of study with your visa application. A letter of offer from your education provider will not be accepted.
If you are applying for more than one course in your student visa application, you must include all CoE codes in the application form, or the visa may only be granted for the CoE provided.
To study in Australia, you’ll need to have enough money to cover your course fees, travel and living costs for you and any dependent family members while you are in Australia.
For the exact details on what documentation and financial evidence is required, please refer to the Australian Government’s document checklist tool.
The DHA may require you to provide evidence of English with your student visa application. While the DHA accepts a minimum English Language test score, you can use the document checklist tool to find out if you are required to provide evidence of English.
You may also be required to complete a health assessment as part of the student visa application process. The health assessment process can take several weeks to complete. To help avoid delays, you can choose to undertake your health examination before lodging your visa application.
You can learn more about eligibility on the Department of Home Affairs website.
As part of your student visa application, you must provide evidence of your Overseas Health Insurance Cover (OSHC) for the proposed duration of your visa.
Bringing your family
If you have family members or dependents such as your partner and children, you may be able to bring them with you to Australia.
You should declare your immediate family members on your visa application, even if you don’t plan to travel with them to Australia. If you don’t declare them, your family members won’t be eligible to join you in Australia at a later date.
Any family members you bring with you to Australia must have health insurance as one of the conditions of their visa. They will also have conditions for work and study, so it’s important to understand their rights and obligations in Australia.
For the most up-to-date information, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
There are often long waiting lists for childcare services in Australia. If you need childcare, it’s a good idea to contact childcare services as early as possible. Most La Trobe campuses have on-site childcare services.
Generally, there are three types of childcare services in Australia:
- Community childcare: you need to register with your local council. Fees and waiting lists usually apply, so register early. Find your local childcare service at StartingBlocks.gov.au
- Private childcare: you need to register with each service individually. Search online for private childcare providers in your area. Fees and waiting lists can apply.
- Family daycare: placing your child with a registered childcare professional in their own home. These services are usually available through your local council. Fees and waiting lists usually apply, so register early.
Find out more on the Victorian Government’s Child Care webpage.
If you have school-aged children, it’s a condition of your visa that you enrol them in school. School is compulsory for all children in Victoria aged between six and 17 years old. There are two different levels of schools.
Primary school starts from the age of five (Prep) to approximately age 11 (Grade 6). Children who turn five before 30 April are eligible to start primary school.
Secondary school (also known as high school) starts from the age of approximately 12 (Year 7) to the age of 17 or 18 (Year 12).
The Victorian Department of Education website lists all the schools in Victoria that admit international students.
Helpful information
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FAQs
Most international students will be on a Student Visa (Subclass 500). If you are commencing your course on another visa type, such as a bridging visa or other temporary residence visa, it's important that you know what type of visa you are on so that you can meet the requirements of that visa.
If you currently hold another visa that has study rights, you will be required to apply for a student visa if you intend to study a course longer than the study right granted on that visa.
The Department of Home Affairs website can provide the most current and accurate information about visa types, eligibility and requirements.
After you’ve accepted your offer, you’ll receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). You need to submit it to the Department of Home Affairs with your student visa application. It includes important information about your course and will reflect the details outlined in your Letter of Offer from La Trobe.
A student visa (subclass 500) is a temporary visa that allows you to come to Australia for a specified period to study at an Australian educational institution. You will need to apply for a course and accept the full offer then you will be issued with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) which you can then use to apply for a student visa (subclass 500).
Your CoE will include the date you’re expected to finish your course. The duration of your student visa will be based on this date.
You must complete your course within the time granted by your student visa. Except in extremely limited circumstances, you cannot stay in Australia beyond your visa expiry date.
If your visa expires and you don’t have a valid CoE, you need to contact the Department of Home Affairs urgently to check what you should do.
To apply for an updated CoE, you’ll need to submit a CoE application. This can take up to seven working days in peak periods.
To apply for an updated Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), complete the online Application for Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) form and provide:
- a copy of your passport
- a copy of your current visa page or e-visa
- a receipt showing that you have extended your OSHC
- coursework student - your Agreed Progression Plan (APP)
- research student - progress review report.
If you need further information about the CoE process, please contact International Operations and Compliance team.
You’ll need to submit an application for visa extension with the Department of Home Affairs. Make sure you have all the required documents before applying for your Student Visa (subclass 500). You must begin the process at least three months before the expiry date of your current visa.
Be aware of the expiry date of your student visa as you must either depart Australia before it expires or lodge a new visa application.
If your visa expires you need to contact the Department of Home Affairs immediately. If your visa has expired for more than 28 days an exclusion period may be imposed which means you cannot return to Australia for three years.
If your residency status changes before or after you commence your studies, you must notify the University immediately.
If you apply as an international student but become an Australian permanent resident before you enrol, your full-fee paying place will be withdrawn and you will have to re-apply for your course as a local student.
If you start your course as an international student, but become an Australian permanent resident after the census date of your current teaching period, you will be considered an international student until the end of that teaching period.
Please complete the Change of citizenship or residency status form. You will need a certified copy of your Australian Citizenship Certificate or residency change document and a copy of your passport with the change reflected.
If you are on a temporary visa and wish to apply for a new student visa to continue your enrolment, you will need to apply for a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
An application for CoE will be subjected to a Genuine Student requirement check which may include a financial capacity assessment. Once your Genuine Student requirement has been assessed and completed, meeting the University's assessment criteria, you will be issued with a CoE which you can then use to apply for student visa (subclass 500).
To apply for an updated Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), complete the online Application for Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) form.
On a student visa, you must be enrolled and studying in Australia, studying on-campus in each compulsory study period until the end of the examination period.
As international student on a student visa, you must comply with the following:
- Maintain enrolment in a CRICOS registered course (maintain a valid Confirmation of Enrolment CoE in the same AQF level your visa was granted).
- Complete your course in the time duration listed on your CoE.
- Maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole time you're in Australia.
- Inform your education provider your residential address within 7 days of arrival, including any change of your contact details within 7 days of the change.
- Not exceeding allowable work hours. Please visit the Department of Home Affairs website for more information about working in Australia.
- Complete 6 calendar months in your principal course as per the commencement date of your CoE or apply for a release before transferring to another education provider. Please see rour release procedure and refund procedure pages for more information.
- You can take up to one third (or equivalent) of your course subjects online as long as you have at least one on campus subject in each compulsory study period.
- Maintain adequate arrangements for the education of your school-age dependents.
- There may be other conditions, depending on what type of visa you have. You will need to check your conditions and make sure you always meet them so that your visa stays valid while you are in Australia.
If your residency status changes before or after you commence your studies, you must notify the University immediately.
If you apply as an international student but become an Australian permanent resident before you enrol, your full-fee paying place will be withdrawn and you will have to re-apply for your course as a local student.
If you start your course as an international student, but become an Australian permanent resident after the census date of your current teaching period, you will be considered an international student until the end of that teaching period.
Make sure you complete the Change of citizenship or residency status form. You will need a certified copy of your Australian Citizenship Certificate or residency change document and a copy of your passport with the change reflected.