The Student visa is designed to facilitate international students in pursuing full-time education and training in Australia. This visa grants students the opportunity to reside in Australia for the entire duration of their chosen course. Before applying for the visa, students are required to either enrol in a course or, in certain instances, possess a letter of offer from an Australian educational institution.
The Federal Government has released some important updates for the Student Visa Program 2023-24, including the introduction of the Student Program integrity, which includes the following points:
- Financial capacity requirements – Ensure students stay in Australia with enough finances to cover courses and expenditures during their stay.
- Misuse of concurrent enrolments (otherwise called ‘course hopping’) – The Department of Home Affairs will have a harsh approach to students trying to circumvent the system to stay in Australia longer by applying to different courses without the intention to actually study.
- Condition 8202 – which requires that a student maintains enrolment in a registered course that is the same Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level as, or higher than, the course for which they were granted their visa.
Return of student visa work limitation to 48 hours per fortnight (Students working in the aged care sector can continue working unrestricted hours until December 31st 2023)