If you’re a current Australian student visa (Subclass 500) holder or if you have a pending Australian student visa application (Subclass 500), the following may concern you:
- If you have a pending student visa application and the Covid-19 pandemic has affected your ability to access English proficiency test, health checks, and biometrics collection, you will be given additional time to comply.
The processing and granting of Australian student visa are still ongoing. Although, because of the current travel restrictions, you cannot travel to Australia yet.
- If you’re holding a current Australian student visa, and:
a. Your course was deferred or suspended, your student visa is still valid. If the end date of your course is affected such that it will go past the validity of your student visa, you can apply for a new student visa to complete your study and the fee will be waived. You should do this before your current student visa expires.
b. You’re working in health sector, or enrolled in a health course (like nursing or medicine) and are directed by a health official to assist in the ongoing effort against Covid-19, or working in an approved aged care provider or a Commonwealth-funded aged care provider, or working in a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme provider you are temporarily allowed to work for more than 40 hours per fortnight without breaching your student visa condition.
c. The delivery of your course is switched to online learning
– You student visa is still valid. You can remain in Australia.
– If you’re outside of Australia, your student visa is also still valid.
– Your online study, whether you’re in Australia or outside, will still count towards the Australian study requirement if you eventually apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485).
d. Your study in Australia is ending but you can’t return home just yet because of the pandemic – and you’re not eligible for any other type of visa like visitor visa – you may be eligible for the Temporary Activity (Subclass 408) Australian Government-Endorsed Event Stream visa or otherwise known as Covid-19 Pandemic Event visa. There is no cost to apply for this visa. It allows you to work if your work is in agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care or child care. You may be allowed to stay for up to a further 12 months. - You don’t need to notify the Department if you returned home, or if your study situation changes. Your visa remains valid until you applied for another visa, or your visa expires. The status of your visa will not change if you return home or defer your studies.
Education providers can issue a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and enrol students to study online. If you hold a valid student visa, your education provider will provide the Department with your new CoE. You do not need to notify the Department. If you have an open student visa application, you can attach your new CoE to your application through ImmiAccount.
