【 March Updates: Student Visa Requirement changed from GTE to GS 】
The Department of Home Affair replaced the GTE requirement with GS requirement which focuses on international students’ intention to study.
The Australian government published a 99-page Migration Strategy document at the end of last year, revealing the government’s future plans for immigration policy reform. Some measures are set to gradually take effect at the beginning of this year.
In addition to the impact on immigration policies, various visas, including student visas, will also be affected. If you are planning to study in Australia in the future, you should take note of the following 3 major impacts.
1. The student visa requirements will transition from GTE to GS
All student visa applicants must provide a GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) to demonstrate their intention to temporarily pursue quality education in Australia.
GTE requires students to prove that they will return to their home country after studying in Australia (even if it contradicts their actual immigration intentions). However, after the transition to GS, the focus will shift to proving genuine study intentions only.
It is definitely a good news for individuals intending to pursue skilled migration through studying in Australia. However, it will pose a significant setback for those planning to use a student visa to work in Australia.
2. English Language Proficiency Requirements Raised
The English level requirements of both Student Visa and 485 Temporary Graduate Work Visa have been raised.
The English requirement of ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) that is packaged with a main course, will increase from IELTS 4.5 to 5.0.
For bridging courses like foundation/diploma, the requirement will be raised to IELTS 5.5.
Meanwhile, most course requirements for the student visa will also increase from IELTS 5.5 to 6.0.
This adjustment in English requirements will impact the whole tertiary education sector. Australian institutions will need to adjust their entry requirements accordingly, particularly for Packaged programs (bridging course + main course). However, the impact on direct entry degree programs, which usually require IELTS 6.5 or above, will not be affected much.
If you’re unable to achieve an IELTS score of 5.0, consider enrolling in IELTS preparation courses or General English courses to improve your English proficiency.
3. Stricter Oversight of Australian Educational Institutions
The Immigration Department internally employs a risk assessment system for all educational institutions in Australia, categorising them into three levels. However, specific risk levels assigned to individual schools are not publicly disclosed by the Department. This information is only known internally within the respective educational institutions. We obtain insights primarily through verbal information shared during the agent meetings.
When preparing to study in Australia, it’s crucial for international students to consider the visa risk associated with their chosen institution as well. This helps mitigate the risk of visa application rejection. If opting for a high-risk institution due to course or budget considerations, it’s important to note that student visa processing times may be longer for applications with a CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment) from such institutions. Therefore, when submitting the student visa application, it’s essential to prepare all necessary documents and allow sufficient time for the Immigration Department to conduct its assessment.
While the Immigration Department has announced the new changes, they haven’t been implemented yet. However, given the time it takes to plan and apply for studying abroad, which can range from several months to a year or more, it’s advisable for students planning to study in Australia to prepare their applications earlier.
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