Important changes to Australia's student visa programme from 1 July 2016

The following changes come into effect from 1st July 2016

Source: AAP

Australia's simplified student visa framework (SSVF) comes into effect from July 1 2016.

The following changes come into effect from 1st July 2016:

• international students will apply for a single Student visa (subclass 500), regardless of their chosen course of study
• student guardians will apply for the new Student Guardian visa (subclass 590)
• all students and student guardians will generally be required to lodge their visa application online by creating an account in ImmiAccount (opens in a new window).

The SSVF is designed to make the process of applying for a student visa simpler to navigate - and without paper!

For more detailed information on the changes go to https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Stud/changes-student-visa

To find out the documents you might need to provide with your student visa application, select your education provider from the list available at: Education providers.

For more information, refer to the fact sheets below:

• General information for students
• English language requirements
• Financial capacity requirements
• Simplified student visa framework - overview of key changes
• General information for education providers

Current visa holders

If you hold a student visa with subclass numbers 570 to 576, your visa will remain valid and your visa conditions will not change after 1 July 2016.

After 1 July 2016, family members of Student visa holders (subclasses 570-576) will need to apply for a subclass 500 visa if they want to join a family member in Australia.