The department of Home Affairs has made changes to the risk levels (assessment levels) for some countries. These changes are based on a balance of offshore refusals (both fraud-related and non-fraud related) and onshore immigration ‘trailing risks’: rate of visa cancellations, over stayers and subsequent protection visa applications.
India, Nepal, and Pakistan are among the higher risk countries and Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Hungary, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa are now considered ‘low risk’ for an Australian Student visa.
The department of Immigration uses a combined evidence level of the student’s education provider and country of citizenship to determine whether the student needs to provide evidence of financial and English language capacity with their student visa application.
Evidence of financial capacity
- Sufficient funds to cover travel costs and 12 months of living and tuition fees and school costs for any school aged dependants, or
- Evidence that spouse or parents are willing to support and have an annual income of at least AUD 60,000 for single students or at least AUD 70,000 for students that are accompanied by family members
- An Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Students form for secondary exchange students only
- A letter of support from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Department of Defence.
English language ability:
Evidence that they have either obtained a satisfactory test score in an English language test that been approved by DHA or evidence of certain eligible studies in English
Evidence that they:
- have obtained a certain test score in an English language test that the Department has approved (below table)
- have completed certain eligible studies in English, or
- fall into an exemption category
Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Hungary, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa are now considered low risk and therefore do not need to demonstrate Financial ability and English unless the department specifically requests them.
