Applying to Study: General Requirements

Introduction

    Whether applying in or outside Australia, in order to be granted a student visa, applicants must meet specified evidentiary requirements which demonstrate their ability to meet the financial capacity, English proficiency and other relevant matters criteria. All student visa applicants must also satisfy general requirements relating to character, health, acceptable health insurance and intention to comply with visa conditions and have no outstanding debts to the Commonwealth of Australia (or have made acceptable arrangements to repay such debt).

Health

Individuals applying to study in Australia must satisfy the health requirements specified in the Migration Regulations. Any family unit members who are included in the visa application are also required to satisfy health requirements.

Applying from outside Australia

Health processing for students applying for student visas will vary according to your country of citizenship and travel/residence history. You may be required to undergo medical examinations and a chest x-ray as part of your student visa application. Such standards ensure that the most comprehensive information is used when assessing your application against the health criterion. When you present yourself for your health check, you should bring the following:

form 26, Medical examination for an Australian visa, with a passport photograph attached;

form 160, Radiological report on chest x-ray of an applicant for an Australian visa, with a passport photograph attached;  your passport for identification; any prescription spectacles or contact lenses that you may wear; and where you have a known medical condition, any existing specialist reports. If you think or know that you are pregnant, you must tell the person taking the x-ray. It is most likely that you will be asked to complete the x-ray examination after the birth. Female applicants should not undergo the medical examination during their menstrual period.

Applying from within Australia

  Health processing for students applying for student visas will vary according to your country of citizenship and travel history. Students from countries where there is a high risk of tuberculosis will be required to undertake a chest x-ray if aged 16 or over and a medical examination, if they intend to study for more than 3 months.

Students from countries where there is a medium risk of tuberculosis will be required to undertake a chest x-ray if aged 16 years or over and a medical examination, if they intend to study for more than 12 months.

Students from low health risk countries Iceland, Monaco, Norway, San Marino and Sweden are generally not required to undertake health examinations unless a health condition of special significance is declared.

Any applicant will be required to undergo a medical examination and chest x-ray for any length of stay if their circumstances are of special significance. Your application is of special significance if:

you are likely to enter a hospital or health care area (including nursing homes) for any reason;

you are likely to be engaged in an Australian childcare centre (including preschools or creches) either as an employee or trainee; or

there are any indications that you might not meet the health requirement.
There are three situations where a new medical examination and chest x-ray are not required:

1. you are applying for a further student visa, and the new visa does not exceed the validity of the initial visa. For example:

you seek a new visa with work rights, which has the same validity as the original application, and you are already medically cleared; or

you have changed your education provider and the new course is of equal or shorter duration than the initial course for which you are already medically cleared.
In these circumstances you may be regarded as continuing to meet the health requirements without the need for a new health check.

2. You have undertaken health examinations within the last 12 months. The medical examination and x-ray results may remain valid for 12 months from the date they are performed, providing no health concerns were or have since been identified.

This means that you may be able to reuse your medical examination and x-ray for subsequent visa applications within this 12-month period in some circumstances.

You should advise the departmental officer if you have completed health examinations in the past 12 months, so medical clearance can be arranged.

3. You are a resident of Iceland, Monaco, San Marino, Sweden or Norway, in which case health examinations are generally not required unless a health condition of special significance is declared.

If you are required to undergo a new health examination, you should obtain the following forms from your nearest departmental office:

Form 26 Medical examination for an Australian visa;

Form 160 Radiological report on chest x-ray of an applicant for an Australian visa.
Examinations are undertaken by doctors employed or authorised by Health Services Australia (HSA) on behalf of the department. Details of the nearest HSA office are available on HSA's website. Fees for medical examinations are set by HSA and you pay the fees directly to them.

Should more detailed medical information be required, a medical officer of the Commonwealth or examining doctor may ask you to undergo additional specialist examinations.

Such standards ensure that the most comprehensive information is used when assessing your application against the health criterion.

Overseas student health insurance

It is a condition of the grant of your overseas Student visa that you and your dependents have acceptable health insurance cover during the whole time you are in Australia.

To be covered for health insurance, you will have to pay the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for yourself and any family members travelling with you.

The OSHC provides medical and hospital insurance for overseas students and their dependants who have travelled to Australia with them. All applicants must show evidence that they have health insurance cover before a visa can be issued to them.

To arrange for the OSHC, students can pay the OSHC premium to the education provider which will then arrange to pay the health insurance cover on their behalf.

Student Health Cover for AusAID Students
If you are a student sponsored by AusAID, you will not need to pay the OSHC yourself. You will, however, need to provide proof that AusAID supports your application.

Student Health Cover for Students from Norway and Sweden

Students applying from Norway and most Swedes do not need to obtain OSHC because the Department of Health and Aged Care has advised that these countries have a national health scheme or other arrangements that provide acceptable health insurance for them while they are overseas.

For the OSHC requirement to be waived, Norwegian students should have documentation proving that they are covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.

Swedish students should have proof that they have insurance provided by CSN International (the Swedish National Board of Student Aid). OSHC is available to Norwegian and Swedish nationals if they require it.

Character

To enter Australia, you must be of good character. The information you provide at the 'Character Declaration' section of the application application form 157A, Application for a student (temporary) visa (PDF file, 158KB) enables an assessment to be made in respect of your character.

form 157A, Application for a student (temporary) visa (PDF file, 158KB) enables an assessment to be made in respect of your character.

Debts

To enter Australia, you must have no outstanding debts to the Commonwealth of Australia, or have made acceptable arrangements to repay such debt.

If you are under 18

Approval for accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements

If you are under 18 years of age and declare in your application that you will be residing in Australia with a parent or a person who has custody of you, you must provide evidence of the relationship and that they hold a visitor visa of 11 months stay, or of a shorter stay if you seek to study for less than 11 months or turn 18 years before 11 months.

If you will be residing with a relative nominated by a parent or a person who has custody of you, you must provide evidence of the relationship, and that the relative is at least 21 years old, has police clearance, and has the right to remain in Australia for the period that you are under 18 years old.

If you will not be residing in Australia with one of the above-mentioned persons, you must provide a signed statement from your education provider confirming that appropriate arrangements have been made for your accommodation, support and general welfare during your stay in Australia.