We are all clear, your Australian tourist visa allows you to enter the country for tourist purposes not to study.
But, what if you enter the country on a tourist visa and now you want more?
Maybe you fall in love with what you see in the country, and to get more of it, you now want more than just a few days/months of visiting.
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You want to study in the country – to move from a tourist visa to a student visa
Is that possible?
If yes, how can you do that?
Can I change my visitor visa to a student visa in Australia?
Yes, it’s possible, you can change your visitor visa to a student visa in Australia if you do not have the “No Further Stay” condition on your visa and if meet the eligibility requirements to study in the country like being accepted in a full-time program by an Australian institution.
With a tourist visa, what you can do in Australia is limited.
What can you not do with a tourist visa in Australia?
With a tourist visa in Australia, you cannot:
- Get involved in paid work or business activities.
- Study anywhere in the country for more than three months.
- Stay in the country beyond your visa’s validity period without extending or changing your visa type.
The limitations on a tourist/visitor visa do not stop you from changing your visa type or looking for a full-time study program.
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It does not also mandate you to leave the country before you change your visit status, therefore, you can legally be in Australia on a visitor visa and convert to a student visa.
Who can convert from a tourist visa to a student visa in Australia?
To successfully convert from a tourist visa to a student visa in Australia, you must:
- Hold a valid tourist visa at the time of converting
- Hold a valid passport
- Not have the “No further stay” condition in your visa
- Meet the language requirements to study in Australia
- Have a genuine intention to study in Australia
- Comply with all visa regulations while in the country
- Get an offer of enrollment from an approved Australian institution
- Provide proof of funds.
In addition to meeting the requirements to convert a visitor visa to a student visa, you must also meet the requirements to study in Australia.
What requirements are needed to study in Australia?
- Get a letter of acceptance from a registered Australian institution.
- Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your studies in Australia.
- Provide evidence of your language proficiency. You can take tests like the IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent and present your result.
- Provide proof of funds – Show proof that you can cover your tuition fees and living expenses while in the country.
- Purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your entire stay.
- You also need to submit details about your academics like your transcripts, diplomas, certificates, or other evidence of previous academic qualifications.
- Submit a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Statement. This is a statement showing that you have a genuine intention to study in Australia and leave after your studies.
- You must pass character and health checks.
- Get a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your institution in Australia.
How to convert a tourist visa to a student visa in Australia
While in Australia on a tourist visa, if you want to convert your tourist visa to a student visa while still in the country, below is what you should do:
Get accepted to study in Australia
It takes being admitted by an educational institution to become a student.
Apply to study your desired course in any approved educational institution in Australia.
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Get an admission offer letter, accept the offer, and receive your enrollment confirmation.
Get all the student visa requirements
To get your student visa, you must apply through the Department of Home Affairs website and submit all the required documents.
If your documents aren’t in the English language, translate them before uploading.
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You need:
- Your Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) from your institution.
- Your passport.
- The visa application form – you must complete the form.
- Receipt of visa application fee payment.
- proof of your language proficiency
- Health examination result
- Your Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement.
- Proof of funds
- Your transcript
- Police report
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
- Health examination results.
- Character assessment documents.
Apply online
The Department of Home Affairs encourages applicants to apply for student visas online.
To apply, create or log in to an ImmiAccount at the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs website.
On your dashboard, fill out the student visa application and upload scanned copies of your supporting documents to your ImmiAccount.
The procedure is quite simple.
To complete your application, pay the visa application charge.
Payment is also online.
Attach evidence of your application fee payment to the application and submit it.
What to do after submitting your student visa application
The Department of Home Affairs can request for further information after receiving your application.
Maybe there is part of your application they need clarification on.
If you get such a request, respond to them promptly.
Always check your ImmiAccount for any updates or messages.
Wait for a decision
When a decision is reached on your application, the Australian authorities will inform you in writing about their decision.
If your student visa application is approved, you will receive:
- Your visa grant number
- The expiration date of your visa
- And the conditions attached to your visa.
Keep a copy of your visa decision with you always.
If your visa is rejected, you’ll also be informed in writing and the reason for the rejection will be explained to you.
You’ll also be informed if you have the right to appeal the decision.
In either approval or rejection, your visa application fee will not be refunded.
What happens now?
If your student visa is approved, your tourist visa will automatically be terminated and you can remain in the country with your student visa.
What if your tourist visa expires while your student visa hasn’t been approved?
Your tourist visa can expire while you are still waiting for a decision to be made on your student visa application.
In this situation, you’ll be issued a bridging visa.
A Bridging Visa is like a temporary pass.
Just like the name sounds.
It lets you stay in Australia while you switch from one visa type to another.
It bridges the gap between your current visa expiring and waiting for a decision on your new visa application.
With it, you can stay legally in the country till a decision is reached on your student visa application.
What are the mistakes you should avoid when converting from a tourist visa to a student visa in Australia?
Below are mistakes you must avoid if you want to successfully convert from a tourist visa to a student visa in Australia
- Not applying on time: Do not wait till the last minute before you apply.
- You must be eligible: You’ll be wasting your time if you try to convert from a tourist visa to a student visa when you’re not eligible for an Australian student visa.
- Submitting incomplete application: You must include all required documents in your application.
- Ignoring visa conditions: Your application will be refused if you do not comply with your current visa conditions.
- Inadequate proof of funds: You must present enough proof of funds (to cover all your expenses in Australia) to get approval.
- Providing false information: Be very honest in your application. Demonstrate a genuine interest in studying in Australia.
- Do not neglect health checks: Ignoring health examination requirements will get your application refused.
Another very common mistake is not seeking professional advice.
How long will it take to convert a tourist visa to a student visa in Australia?
If you submit an error-free application, it takes 2 to 4 weeks to successfully convert a tourist visa to a student visa in Australia.
If you’re currently in Australia on a tourist visa and wish to study here, you can convert your tourist visa to a student visa.
However, you must meet the requirements to study in Australia.
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In addition, you must not have a “No further stay” condition on your visa. If you do, leave the country before applying for a student visa.
Australia is a great place to study and you’ll love it here.