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Visa information

How to apply for a visa

A Student Visa in Australia is a temporary visa issued to non-Australian residents and is granted to students who are enrolled in a CRICOS registered, full time course in Australia. International students can be issued with a multiple entry visa for the duration of their study in Australia.

How to apply for a Visa

International students need to fill out and submit an Australian Visa application and be approved to receive a Student Visa to study in Australia for more than 12 weeks. Short stay visas are for students studying in Australia for less than 12 weeks.

A Student Visa in Australia is a temporary visa issued to non-Australian residents and is granted to students who are enrolled in a CRICOS registered, full time course in Australia. International students can be issued with a multiple entry visa for the duration of their study in Australia. You can travel to and from Australia within the visa period. 

Further information on Student Visa requirements in Australia is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
 

Conditions of your student visa

  • Maintain enrolment in a Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) registered course and maintain satisfactory course progress and attendance.
  • Maintain enrolment in a registered course that is the same level as, or at a higher level than, the registered course for which your student visa was granted.
  • Continue to satisfy the requirements for grant of your student visa, for example that you still have sufficient financial capacity to support your stay in Australia.
  • Notify TAFE Queensland within seven days of any change to your contact details, including home address, mobile number and email address.
  • Must not work more than 48 hours per fortnight during course semesters.
  • Maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entirety of your student visa.
  • Maintain adequate schooling arrangements for any school-age dependents who joined you in Australia on a student dependent visa for more than three months.
  • You must not be involved in activities that are disruptive to, or violent towards, the Australian community.
     

Students under 18

When you are applying for a student visa you are required by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to have adequate welfare arrangements in place. You must maintain adequate arrangements for your accommodation, support, and general welfare for the duration of your course or until the end of the week you turn 18.

To maintain adequate arrangements for your welfare you must stay in Australia with:

  • your parent, legal custodian, or
  • a relative who has been nominated by your parents or custodians who is aged over 21 and is of good character, or
  • Have accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements in place approved by your Education provider. This is not currently available with TAFE Queensland.

Please note: you cannot change your arrangements without the written approval of TAFE Queensland.

What is international student Fee Waiver and who is eligible to apply for a Student Fee Waiver?

Department of Home Affairs may waive the visa application fee to allow you to submit a further student visa application to complete your study. This will be available to students who held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 and couldn’t complete their course in their original visa validity period because of the impacts of COVID-19. This includes students who:

  • deferred study as they were unable to enter Australia because of travel restrictions
  • were forced to reduce to a part-time study load
  • were unable to complete their work-based training or placements.

This measure is not intended for students who are applying for a new student visa because of ordinary reasons (including if you have failed a course or a unit of study, deferred for personal reasons or voluntarily reduced your study load.).

You must apply for a student visa to have your application for a fee waiver considered and attach a completed Form 1545 COVID-19 Impacted Student (PDF 228 KB) from your education provider with a valid student visa application.

If applying for a fee waiver in Australia, a Bridging visa will not be issued automatically as the fee exemption must be checked first.

This waiver only applies to the visa application fee.

Refunds will not be available for students who have already applied for a student visa. Only new applications will be eligible to have the application fee waived.

Am I eligible to apply for Student Fee Waiver (1545 form)?

TAFE Queensland will complete 1545 Fee waiver form for students who need to apply for a new student visa as they couldn’t complete their course in their original visa validity period because of the impacts of COVID-19. This includes students who:

  • deferred study as they were unable to enter Australia because of travel restrictions
  • were forced to reduce to a part-time study load
  • were unable to complete their work-based training or placements

TAFE Queensland will not complete 1545 Fee waiver form for students who are applying for a new student visa due to ordinary reasons:

  • Students have failed a course or a unit of study,
  • Students deferred their course for personal reasons
  • Students voluntarily reduced their study load
  • Students suspended their course due to compassionate and compelling reasons (excluding COVID-19)
  • Students who have already submitted student visa application. This waiver only applies to the visa application fee. Refunds will not be available for students who have already applied for a student visa. Only new applications will be eligible to have the application fee waived.
  • Students requesting to waive OSHC fee with 1545 Fee waiver form. Waiver only applies to the student visa application fee.
How to apply for 1545 Fee Waiver form?

If you believe you are eligible, please complete Part B – Student details and Part C – Student (Subclass 500) visa application of Form 1545 COVID-19 Impacted Student (PDF 228 KB). Send the completed form to TQIAssist@tafeqld.edu.au. For new students who have not commenced, submit your form to Admissions Team: Admissions.TQI@tafeqld.edu.au.

Please ensure that you include your TAFE Queensland student ID number.

If you are deemed eligible, you will need to include Form 1545 with your application for a new student visa.

When to request 1545 Fee Waiver form from TAFE Queensland?

Contact TAFE Queensland before your current visa expiry date and submit your request. This will ensure that you have enough time to apply for your new visa with your new COE and approved 1545 Fee waiver form.

How many times can I re-apply and complete Form 1545?

Students will be issued with the 1545 Fee waiver form only if they meet the eligibility criteria. The student visa fee waiver is a temporary measure and will continue for as long as necessary. More information is available at: covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/student-visa.

Important to note

As the Australian Government may change the conditions for waiving the student visa application fee, you should always read the latest advice. The current Fee Waiver is a Department of Home Affairs initiative.
Visit the Department of Home Affairs for more information.