The student visa (subclass 500) enables those of school age to enter Australia to undertake a course of study. Study visas are valid for up to five years. The length of stay granted is determined by the course the applicant intends to study.
To be eligible, applicants must:
– Be enrolled in a course of study in Australia
– Hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), or fall into an exemption category
– Be 6 years of age or older
– Prove they have a welfare arrangement if they are under 18 years of age
In addition to these specific requirements, applicants must also meet the conditions that are usually standard with any visa application, including:
– Meet English language requirements
– Have adequate health insurance
– Meet health requirements
– Meet character requirements
– Have enough money for the duration of their stay
– Sign the Australian values statement
– Have paid back any outstanding debt to Australia, if applicable
– Have not had a previous visa cancelled or refused
Holders of a study visa were able to work up to 20 hours a week before Covid-19. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these working restrictions were relaxed and will remain so until 30th June 2023. Working restrictions will revert to the 48 hours per fortnight from 1st July 2023.
How many student visas (subclass 500) are granted in Australia per year?
There is no cap on the number of student visas (subclass 500) granted. The first half of the 2022/23 program year saw 283,573 student visas (subclass 500) granted. On 31st December 2022, there were 456,970 student visa (subclass 500) holders in Australia which equated to an increase of 44.6% when compared to the figures on 31st December 2021.
Australia’s student visa (subclass 500) program experienced a blow back in 2020 when the Australian government told temporary visa holders to leave Australia as they prepared to close borders in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s now reported that study visa applications could soar past pre-pandemic levels.
Where do international students come from?
International students come from all over the world including from countries such as China, India, Nepal, Philippines and Columbia, to name a few. In pre-pandemic times, Chinese students made up a large part of the international student cohort, it has since been surpassed by India. According to SBS News, 44,000 student visa applications were received from India in the last six months of 2022 compared to China’s 38,700.
What makes an Australian education attractive to overseas students?
While many students look forward to embracing Australia’s great education system, a lot of these students are also choosing Australia because it offers a better standard of living and campus environment. But is that the only reason?
Recently, it came to light in the media that a lot of international students are potentially scamming the student visa (subclass 500) system. It has been reported that some overseas students, many of which are from India, have applied and been granted a student visa (subclass 500) based on being enrolled in a relevant course or in some cases by submitting fraudulent documentation, solely to gain a pathway to permanent residence in Australia. Once a student visa holder is in Australia, there is nothing to stop them from downgrading their course, so they have minimal study requirements allowing them to work more. Being in Australia makes it easier for visa holders to apply for permanent residence.
This isn’t a new thing. Where pre-Covid this was happening about 10% of the time, it is now happening in about 70% of instances. The Australian government and higher education sector are concerned about how this will impact the integrity of Australia’s immigration system. A parliamentary enquiry into international education was set to commence in mid-April.
While there may seem to be some negativity surrounding student visas (subclass 500), there are also many benefits to international students and Australia when these visas are utilised for the purpose intended.
If you would like to learn more about student visas or any other aspect of migration, contact the team at Visa Solutions Australia.
