As of 1 July 2016, the Australian student visa programme will undergo major changes.

Firstly, there will only be two student visa subclasses. Namely, the Subclass 500 (student) and the Subclass 590 (Student Guardian).

The current assessment level framework and streamlined visa processing arrangements will be abolished and the genuine temporary entry criteria will be expanded by providing a larger range of factors for Case Officers to assess genuineness.

All applicants will now be assessed against and have to meet the same criteria. This criteria will include:

  • Enrolment requirements;
  • English language requirements;
  • Financial capacity requirements; and
  • Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirements.

As a replacement for the current assessment level framework and streamlined visa processing arrangements, the decision makers will be provided with a new combined country and provider immigration risk framework which will guide new student visa evidentiary requirements and create possible streamlined visa processing for various education providers.

We will provide more information on the specific requirements as they become available.

If you have any questions or seek any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us at PAX Migration Australia.