How to apply for Australian student visa from Nigeria

Congratulations if you have been offered admission to study in Australia (by an approved Australian institution).

According to Educations.com, Australia is one of the best countries in the world to study.

I can assure you, you will enjoy your stay here.

However, before you enjoy what Australia has to offer, you need “an Australian student visa” to enter the country.

Your student visa permits you to enter Australia for academic purposes.

If you are ready to apply for your visa, here are the steps to apply for an Australian student visa from Nigeria.

For many, navigating the visa application process is stressful, but if you follow the steps below, you will find the process easy.

Australia houses over 10,000 Nigerian students currently, so, when you get there, you won’t be alone.

Make sure you connect with other Nigerians, it will make life easier for you.

You won’t feel lonely!

How early can I apply for an Australian student visa?

You can apply for an Australian student visa as early as 4 months before the start date of your program which will be specified in your confirmation of enrollment (CoE).

Australian student visa takes time to process, so, you have to apply well in advance to ensure you have your visa before your course starts.

Apply immediately after you get your Confirmation of Enrollment.

If you want to apply for an Australian student visa from Nigeria, below is how you can do it.

How to apply for an Australian student visa from Nigeria online

To apply for an Australian student visa, first, get a Confirmation of enrollment.

1. Get your confirmation of enrollment

You cannot talk about applying for an Australian student visa (from anywhere including Nigeria) if you have not been offered admission, accepted the offer and gotten a confirmation of enrollment.

You must have a confirmed place in a registered Australian educational institution.

Your Confirmation of enrollment (CoE) is proof that you have been admitted to study in an institution in Australia.

In addition, you must make sure that the institution offering your admission (in Australia) is recognized by the Australian government and is eligible to enrol international students.

In a simple term, the institution must be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Furthermore, Australia has different student visas, however, as a Nigerian on full-time study, you need the student visa subclass 500.

It is also the most common visa subclass for international students and allows you to study a full-time course in Australia.

2. Get all the documents you need to apply for your student visa ready

To apply for an Australian student visa from Nigeria, you need to submit along with the application form, all the required documents.

Every visa application has document requirements and the student visa is no exception.

Australian student visa requirements for Nigerian citizens?

Australian student visa requirements for Nigerian citizens include:

A confirmation of Enrollment: You already have this from our first step. You’ll need it to apply for the visa – It confirms your acceptance into a course.
Proof of finance: Before your visa is approved, you must provide proof that you can cover your expenses like tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs while in Australia. You can use your bank statement, scholarship letters (if you’re on scholarship), or financial guarantees (if you are being sponsored by someone else).
Proof of health insurance: This is another important document, purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) to cover your medical expenses while in Australia.
Proof of English Language proficiency: To study in Australia from Nigeria, you need to prove that you are proficient in the English language. To do this, take the IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE Academic exam and submit your score.
Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Statement: Write a statement explaining that you have a genuine intention to study in Australia and return to Nigeria once you’re done with your studies.
Passport: Your documents aren’t complete if you do not attach your passport. It must be valid for the entire duration of your studies. If you’re on a 4 years course, your passport must be valid for at least 5 years.
Proof of character and security verification: Get a police report as proof of your good character.
Visa fee proof: You must provide proof that you paid the 620 AUD visa fee
Letter of acceptance from the university or college where you’ll be studying.
A completed visa application form.
Your transcript.

These are all the documents you need to apply for an Australian student visa from Nigeria.

If you have a specific situation; maybe your school requires further documents, attach them.

You can go through other eligibility requirements for an Australian student visa here.

With your documents ready, you can start the application properly.

3: Create an ImmiAccount

Australian student visa application is done online. To start, visit the Australian Department of Home Affairs website here and create an ImmiAccount.

The ImmiAccount platform is where you’ll lodge your application, upload the documents above, track the status of your application, and receive updates on your application status.

Make sure you use an active email address to create the account.

4: Fill out the online application form

Once you are done creating your account, fill out the online visa application form, be honest when filling out the form.

You will be required to provide your personal information, information about your educational background and your purpose of going to Australia – You will explain why you chose Australia for your studies.

On your dashboard, you will find a list of all the documents you must upload.

Scan and upload copies of each document on their specified spot.

5: Pay the visa application fee (also, done online)

To complete the online part of your application, pay the visa application fee through any method they provide.

Keep a copy of your payment receipt – you need it later.

Attach the original copy of the application fee payment to your application and submit everything.

Make sure you attach all the required documents before you submit your application.

6: Schedule and attend biometrics collection

As a Nigerian, the biometric collection is required as part of your Australian student visa application process.

So, once you submit your application, schedule an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) for the biometrics collection (fingerprinting and facial recognition).

Biometrics collection for Australian student visas is done at designated Visa Application Centres (VACs) authorized by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Where can I do biometrics for an Australian visa in Nigeria?

You can do biometrics for an Australian visa in Nigeria in Abuja or Lagos through TLScontact.

Make no mistake, the Australian High Commission in Nigeria does not perform any visa function.

They do not process visa applications, their office in Pretoria, South Africa manages all visa services from Nigerians.

However, you don’t have to go to South Africa to do your biometrics for an Australian student visa.

They have a Service Delivery Partner (SDP) agreement with TLScontact to handle all biometric collection services in Nigeria.

This is done through Australian Biometric Collection Centres (ABCCs).

So, where you will go for your Australian student visa biometrics collection is at the TLScontact office in Lagos or Abuja.

However, before you go, you need to register and schedule an appointment with TLScontact by clicking here.

After completing your biometrics, wait for a decision on your visa application.

7: Wait for your visa to be processed

After submitting your application and completing the biometric collection process, wait for a decision from the Australian authorities.

Australian student visa processing takes between 1 to 4 months so, apply on time to meet up with the start date of your course.

You can track the progress of your application through your ImmiAccount.

8: Visa approval

If your visa is approved, you will receive a visa grant notification from the Australian authorities.

Read the conditions of your visa and ensure that you keep them while in Australia.

Always remember to be a good ambassador of Nigeria while in Australia for your studies.

Follow the rules and do what’s right all the time.

After receiving your visa, you can start making plans for your travel, book your flight, and arrange your accommodation before you travel.

Upon arrival in Australia, follow your visa rules, attend classes, get insurance coverage, comply with work restrictions and ensure you inform the authorities if you change your contact details.

You’ll find all the rules and regulations on your student visa – obey them.

FAQs

How much does an Australian student visa cost from Nigeria?

The application fee for an Australian student visa in Nigeria is 620 AUD, however, you need more than the application fee to convince the authorities to grant you a student visa.

If you have paid your tuition fees, you can include proof of the payment.

Is biometrics required for an Australian student visa?

Yes, biometrics is required for an Australian student visa. As a Nigerian, you’re required to provide your biometric data like fingerprints and a facial image as part of the application.

Is it easy to get an Australian visa from Nigeria?

It is easy to get an Australian student visa from Nigeria if you meet the requirements for an Australian student visa and submit a complete application package on time.

Do Nigerians need IELTS to study in Australia?

Of course, Nigerians need IELTs to study in Australia. To study in Australia as a Nigerian, you need to demonstrate that you’re proficient in the English language, and one of the ways to do that is by taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.

If you are a Nigerian who has been admitted to study in Australia, congratulations once again.

Follow the steps here and get your student visa.

You can check the video below for more information on getting an Australian student visa.

Good luck with your academics!