Guide to applying for a student visa

• independent ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students)
• schools (primary and secondary)
• secondary school exchange program
• vocational education and training (VET)
• higher education
• postgraduate research
• non-award courses
• international students sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs or Defence.¹

Note: For more information about student visas or if the options above do not describe your study, explore the visa finder tool at the Department of Home Affairs. The visa finder asks one simple question to help you find visa options that might suit your needs.

1. Apply for your visa at least 6 weeks before your course starts.
2. You might need to have health examinations. You can complete them before you apply. Find out the examinations you need and how to arrange them if you want to have them before you apply.
3. Have a valid passport. You and your family members must hold a valid passport in order to lodge a student visa application. If your current passport is expiring soon, you will need to renew it before you apply for your student visa. Your passport should be valid at least 6 months prior to your entry into Australia.
4. Prepare all the necessary documents for your visa application. The documents required will vary depending on your education provider, your country of origin (Malaysia) and if you’re a sponsored student. Visit the Australian Government  Department of Home Affairs’ Document Checklist Tool to ensure you don’t miss out all the necessary documents specific to your application.
5. Apply for the visa online once you have all your documents ready. The cost for the student visa subclass 500 starts at AUD$620 for the primary applicant:
   1. Create or log in to ImmiAccount
   2. Attach documents
   3. Pay the visa application charge
6. Wait for your visa application results. The Department of Home Affairs will let you know in writing about its decision on your visa application. You will be told:

• your visa grant number
• the date your visa expires
• your visa conditions

Keep a copy of the decision with you when in Australia. If your visa is refused, you will be informed in writing. You will be told why you are refused and whether you have a right to a review of the decision. Your application charge will not be refunded if your application is refused.

For more details on how to apply, visit the Department of Home Affairs website directly. You can also refer to a MABECS Global consultant who can guide you in your visa application process, free of charge.

The information provided above is accurate at the time of writing and is subject to changes by the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs.