Want to study in Australia? New student visa explained.

Starting from 23 March 2024, international students will be required to undergo questioning regarding their choice of course and reasons for choosing Australia as their study destination.

This new visa requirement aims to ensure that applicants are genuine students and not individuals who primarily intend to work instead of studying. In addition to explaining their motives for seeking a student visa, new applicants will also need to provide details about their study history.

These modifications to the student visa process and assessment criteria were announced by the federal government last year through the Migration Strategy. One significant change is the replacement of the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement with the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. The GS will incentivise applications from genuine students and discourage non-genuine students from accessing Australia's international education system.

The GS requirement acknowledges the availability of post-study temporary migration pathways for eligible students. The implementation of the new GS will subject international students seeking another student visa to further scrutiny. The GS requirement will apply to Student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.

The previous GTE requirement, which aimed to verify applicants' genuine intention to stay in the country temporarily for educational purposes, will now be replaced by the new GS application. This requirement will include targeted inquiries about the choice of course, reasons for selecting Australia as a study destination, and the benefits the course offers to the applicant. It will also address applicants who have previously studied in Australia and explore the motivations of those who currently hold a visa other than a Student visa.

If you are thinking or currently studying in Australia, we can assist you once you have finished your studies to obtain a Temporary Graduate Visa. We have a team of expert Australian immigration lawyers and have helped students from across the world to obtain Temporary Graduate Visas in Australia.

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