Requirements
To apply for a Student Visa you must meet the following:
How to lodge your application in Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh city?
Visa Application Charges (DIAC charges) and IOM service fees are collected in Vietnamese dong only. The lodgment process for Hanoi differs from that of Ho Chi Minh City.
For your convenience, the Australian Visa Application Centre charges applicants a service fee in addition to any Visa Application Charges (VAC). For Temporary Entry visa applications for Student visas will be VND 350,000.
Alternatively, clients may seek an appointment to lodge applications at the Visa and Citizenship Section of the Australian Embassy. Clients will not be admitted to the Embassy without a prior appointment.
Why do I need an appointment?
Appointments are required at the Embassy for:
PROCESSING TIMES
The target processing times are set dependant on the assessment level of the student.
| Assessment Level (AL) | 50% of applications are decided within: | 75% of applications are decided within: |
| AL 1 | 7 days | 14 days |
| AL 2 | 14 days | 21 days |
| AL 3 | 60 days | 90 days |
| AL 4 | 60 days | 90 days |
We aim to process cases within the above timeframes, however actual processing times may vary as the following notes explain:
Source: Australian Embassy in Vietnam
Student Visa Conditions
Mandatory Conditions
The following table describes the mandatory conditions that are attached to all Student visas in the following subclasses.
| No. | Subclasses | Description |
| 8105 |
All
Mandatory only where Student visa granted on or after 26 April 2008 |
You cannot work more than 20 hours per week* when your course is in session (other than work which has been registered as a part of the course). Note: No work limits apply during recognised periods of vacation offered by your education provider. You cannot undertake work until you have commenced your course in Australia. *A week begins on a Monday and ends on the following Sunday. |
| 8202 | All |
You must remain enrolled in a registered course (unless you are an AusAID/Defence student or secondary exchange student in which case you must maintain full-time enrolment in your course of study or training). Note: a registered course is one that is on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). You must maintain satisfactory attendance in your course and course progress for each study period as required by your education provider. |
| 8501 | All |
You must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance during your stay in Australia. Note: Under policy, this means that you must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). |
| 8516 | All | You must continue to satisfy the requirements for grant of your student visa. This means, for example, that your main course of study must continue to be a course in the education sector that matches your student visa, and that you must continue to have sufficient financial capacity to support your study and stay in Australia. |
| 8517 | All | You must maintain adequate schooling arrangements for your school-age dependents who joined you Australia on a student dependent visa for more than 3 months. |
| 8532 | All (except 576) |
If you have not turned 18 you must maintain adequate arrangements for your accommodation, support and general welfare for the duration of your stay in Australia. To maintain adequate arrangements for welfare you must stay in Australia with:
or
or
Note: You must not change those arrangements without the written approval of your education provider. |
| 8533 | All | You must notify your education provider of your residential address in Australia within 7 days of arriving in Australia. You must notify your education provider of any change in your residential address within 7 days of the change. You must notify your education provider of a change of education provider within 7 days of receiving the electronic Confirmation of Enrolment certificate or evidence of enrolment. |
| 8534 |
Assessment Level 3 and 4 applicants only, where the course duration is 10 months or less. |
You are not entitled to be granted a further substantive visa, other than:
Note: if you apply for and are granted Permission to Work, this will change only the work conditions on your Student visa, all other conditions will remain the same including 8534
or
|
| 8535 | 576 |
You are not entitled to be granted a further substantive visa, other than:
Note: if you apply for and are granted permission to work, this will change only the work conditions on your Student visa, all other conditions will remain the same including 8535
or
Note: The effect of this visa condition is that, except in extremely limited circumstances, it will not be possible for you to remain in Australia beyond the date authorised by your visa. |
Discretionary Conditions
The following table describes the discretionary conditions relating to each subclass that may be attached to a Student visa.
|
No. |
Subclasses |
Description |
| 8101 | All |
You cannot work in Australia.
Note: You may apply for a new Student visa with Permission to Work when you have arrived in Australia and commenced your course.
|
| 8203 |
|
You must not change your course, or your thesis or research topic, unless the department has granted approval. |
| 8204 |
|
You must not undertake or change a course, or a thesis or research topic for a:
or
unless the department has granted approval.
|
| 8303 | All | You must not become involved in any activities that are disruptive to, or in violence threaten harm to, the Australian community or a group within the Australian community. |
| 8523 | All | Your family unit members must not leave Australia later than you. |
| 8534 | All (except 576) |
You are not entitled to be granted a further substantive visa, other than:
Note: if you apply for and are granted Permission to Work, this will change only the work conditions on your student visa, all other conditions will remain the same including 8534
or
Note: The effect of this visa condition is that, except in extremely limited circumstances, it will not be possible for you to remain in Australia beyond the date authorised by your visa.
|
| 8535 | All (except 576) |
You are not entitled to be granted a further substantive visa, other than:
Note: if you apply for and are granted permission to work, this will change only the work conditions on your student visa, all other conditions will remain the same including 8535
or
Note: The effect of this visa condition is that, except in extremely limited circumstances, it will not be possible for you to remain in Australia beyond the date authorised by your visa. |
Student Visa English Language Requirements
The Student Visa Regulations require some students to provide the results of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test.
You may submit either an Academic or General IELTS test result as proof of your English language ability, however, check with your education provider if you are required to sit a specific IELTS test for entry into your course.
IELTS test shortages
There is a strong demand for IELTS tests in Australia and all centres are booked well in advance. You must book your IELTS test as early as possible. Check with individual IELTS centres for their test schedule as new places regularly become available through cancellations.
If you require an IELTS test and are on holidays in your home country, you are encouraged to consider sitting your IELTS test while you are there.
IELTS cancellation policy
If you have made multiple booking for IELTS test places, and you do not intend to sit the test, you should notify IELTS to cancel your booking. If you postpone or cancel your test more than five (5) weeks prior to the test date, you may be eligible for a partial refund.
Source: Australian Embassy in Vietnam Website
