Australian Language School Visa Application Process

Australia offers many foreign language education opportunities that international students can benefit from. Australia is a frequently preferred country for language education because it offers good foreign language education at all levels.

An Australian language school visa is a type of visa that allows the holder to travel to Australia to study at a language school and to live in the country during their studies. Those who meet the necessary conditions can apply for an Australian language school visa.

What Types of Visas Are Available for Language Education in Australia?

Within the scope of language education in Australia; An Australian tourist visa is required for participation in English language courses lasting less than 12 weeks, and an Australian language school student visa is required for participation in English language courses lasting longer than 12 weeks.

In the past, people who wanted to study at a language school in Australia were given a visa type belonging to the Subclass 570 visa class. With the regulation made in 2016, a single student visa was put into effect for all types of education and the visa class code in question was determined as Subclass 500 among the Australian visa types.

What are the Australian Language School Visa Requirements?

Australian language school visa requirements are listed below.

  • The visa applicant must be enrolled in a language school in Australia and have a certificate of enrollment from that school.
  • The visa applicant must have health insurance with Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) from an approved Australian health insurance provider.
  • The visa applicant must have sufficient financial means to support himself/herself during his/her stay in Australia.
  • The visa applicant must intend to stay in Australia temporarily and return home after completion of their studies.
  • The visa applicant must not have had any visas cancelled or rejected in the past.
  • Social support arrangements must be made in cases where the visa applicant is under 18 years of age.

Is There an English Proficiency Requirement for a Language Course Visa in Australia?

There is no English proficiency requirement for a language school visa in Australia. People who want to receive English language education from a language school operating in Australia do not need to provide proof of English proficiency.

How to Apply for an Australian Language School Visa?

Australian language school visa applications are made online through the Australian government visa application portal ImmiAccount. Since the regulations made in 2016, Australian language school visa applications are not accepted by hand at visa application centers.

For Australian language school visa application procedures, applicants must first create a user account via the ImmiAccount visa application portal. Applicants who log in to the ImmiAccount visa application portal must open a new visa application through the system. Applicants must select the Subclass 500 Australian student visa option as the visa type in the required field via the online system. After selecting the visa type; the application process is completed by filling out the visa application form, uploading the necessary documents to the system and paying the visa fee.

After the online visa application process is completed, an information email is sent to the visa applicant by the Australian Embassy Home Affairs Department. The information email sent to the individuals includes information that the visa application has been received and that the individual must make an appointment through the relevant intermediary institution VFS Global to provide their biometric information. The application process is completed when the applicant personally completes the biometric procedures at the visa appointment made at VFS Global’s visa centers.

What are the Required Documents for an Australian Language Course Visa?

The documents required for an Australian language course visa are listed below.

  • Passport: The visa applicant’s passport and photocopies of all pages containing personal information and visa stamps and stickers must be submitted in the visa application file. In cases where the person has traveled to different foreign countries, photocopies of the passport pages containing visa stamps and entry and exit information for these countries must also be included in the visa application file.
  • Identity documents: In cases where the visa applicant is a citizen of the Republic of Turkey, a photocopy of the Republic of Turkey ID card or, in cases where the applicant is not a citizen of the Republic of Turkey, a residence permit document issued for the Republic of Turkey, a copy of the full civil registration certificate and a photocopy of the driver’s license, documents proving the applicant’s identity must be submitted in the visa application file.
  • Australian language school visa application form: The Australian language school visa application form, which the visa applicant must fill out online via the ImmiAccount system, must be submitted for visa application procedures after being filled out completely using correct information.
  • Language school enrolment confirmation (CoE): In cases where the application process is made from outside Australia, the language school enrolment confirmation (CoE) showing that the person has been accepted and registered at the school where he/she plans to study language in Australia must be submitted in the visa application file.
  • Educational documents: Documents showing the applicant’s educational status, such as a transcript, education certificate, diploma or an official letter from the educational institution to which the person is affiliated, must be submitted for visa application procedures.
  • Proof of financial situation: A scholarship document, bank statement or sponsorship letter showing that the visa applicant has sufficient financial means to cover the various expenses of living in Australia for a minimum of 12 months of study, and financial status documents of the sponsor must be submitted for visa application procedures.
  • Australian health insurance: The visa applicant must have Australian health insurance that qualifies as Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). The Australian health insurance must be obtained at least 1 week in advance of travel to Australia and must be valid for the entire duration of the intended trip.

The required documents listed above are the standard documents requested for all visa applications, however, depending on the applicant’s special circumstances and whether an application is made for their family, additional documents may be required for the visa application. All documents to be submitted for the Australian language course visa application must be translated into English in a certified format. Care must be taken to upload the Australian language course visa documents completely to the relevant system. The documents required for the Australian language course visa application can be accessed via the applicants’ ImmiAccount account.

How Much Is the Australian Language School Visa Fee?

The Australian language school visa fee is set at 650 Australian dollars. The Australian language school visa fee is paid by credit card via the applicant’s ImmiAccount. In addition to the visa fee, a service fee of 63 Turkish lira must be paid for biometric procedures at the intermediary institution application center for Australian language school visa applications.

Australian student visa application costs for 2022 are an average of $560, including visa fee payment, online form filling, reservation procedures, Australian health insurance, sworn translation, online document uploading and consultancy services.

How Many Days Does It Take to Get an Australian Language School Visa?

Australian language school visas are usually issued within an average of 4 months, according to the visa processing times announced by the Australian Immigration and Citizenship Department. The main reasons why visa processing times take longer than average are; the high number of visa applications, the possible congestion in foreign missions, the wrong visa type applied for, and the visa application file being submitted with incomplete documents.

How Many Months Does It Take to Get an Australian Language Education Visa?

An Australian language education visa is granted for the duration of the person’s education in Australia.

Can the Language Course Visa in Australia Be Extended?

No, a language school visa cannot be extended in Australia. People who wish to extend their Australian language school visa must apply for a new visa within 2 weeks of the expiry of the first visa and while still in Australia.

Can I Work With an Australian Language Education Visa?

Yes, you can work with an Australian language education visa.

The Australian government has temporarily lifted restrictions on working hours and sectors for international students, regardless of the educational program that individuals study. An Australian language school and work visa grants Australian student visa work permit rights to holders.

What are the Best Schools for Language Education in Australia?

The best schools for language learning in Australia are listed below.

  • OHC English, Sydney
  • Einstein College of Australia, Melbourne
  • Australian International College of Language, Gold Coast
  • Language Studies International (LSI), Brisbane
  • Perth International College of English, Perth
  • InTuition, Sydney
  • Lexis English, Byron Bay

The prices of language courses in Australia vary depending on the school, the level of English language teaching provided and whether the course offers general English or exam preparation. Australian language school prices range from $180 to $420 per week.