Documentation to apply for an Australian Visa

1.   ACADEMIC PROCESS & DOCUMENTATION

ENGLISH COURSES

1. Copy of Passport (first page).

2. AISO application form. Including passport copy.

3. Institution application form (signed and dated).

4. Evidence of payment to the school directly.

DIPLOMA, BACHELOR OR MASTER COURSE

1. Copy of Passport (first page).

2. AISO application form. Including passport copy.

3. Institution application form (signed and dated).

4. High school transcripts (original and English translation).

5. High school diploma (original and English translation).

6. University transcripts (original and English translation).

7. Evidence of English language proficiency (if applicable).

8. CV and cover letter (applicable only for Postgraduate courses).

9. Professional references/work certificate (original and English translation).

10. Evidence of payment to the school directly.

2.IMMIGRATION VISA PROCESS

1. Provide all documentation required by the embassy.
1.1 Make sure all documentation is completed.
1.2 All photocopied documentation must be certified

1.3 If you are applying within Australia, all documents must be in English. If you are applying from your country, documentation must be in your own language.

2. Arrange an appointment with the consulate in your country or area.

3. Arrange an appointment with a panel of doctors (depending your country)

4. Wait for the notification from The Australian Embassy (depending on your assessment level, it can take 20–60 days to arrive).

3. DOCUMENTATION FOR A VISA IN AUSTRALIA

1. Letter asking for a visa in Australia

2.  Provide a brief statement setting out your reasons for undertaking your intended course(s) of study in Australia.
The statement should include:

2.1 Your reasons for choosing to undertake the course of study specified in your application.

2.2 Your reasons for choosing your education provider.

2.3 Your reasons for choosing to study in Australia rather than in your home country.

2.4 The relevance of your course of studies to your academic and/or employment background.

2.5 The relevance of the course to your future career/educational plans.

3. Application form 157A.

4. Visa fees + additional costs.  

5. Four (4) photographs.

6. Photocopy of passport with all pages certified by a notary.  

7. Photocopy of Identity card, certified by a notary.  

8. Details of Relatives form.

9. Evidence when applying as a family group (wife, partner, children)

9.1. Birth Certificate
9.2. Marriage Certificate
9.3. Bills in the same name and /or with the same address (water, phone, electricity)

9.4. Evidence of travelling as a couple
9.5. Correspondence to the same addresses
9.6. Property contract
9.7. Joint bank account
9.8. Photos in different situations at different times

9.9. Engagement ring invoice or guarantee
9.10. Bill with the same address or name
9.11. Personal statement from friends or family
9.12. Personal statement from both partners describing the relationship and other commitments

10. School enrolment for children aged 5–18.

11. Evidence of military service (if applicable).

12. Evidence of the payment made by the student to the school.

13. Certificates from previous studies (original and English translation).

14. Professional references/work certificate (original and English translation).

15. Police check.

16. Yellow fever vaccination certificate.

17. Medical examination—only acceptable when performed by doctors authorised by the Australian government.

18. OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover)—must be valid for the length of the course.

4. FINANCIAL SUPPORT (PLEASE CHECK ASSESSMENT LEVEL)*

1. Proof of funds
This should be on behalf of the applicant or person that provides financial support, and includes:

1.1 Deposits: 3 latest bank account statements and letter from the bank indicating current balance (in an acceptable financial institution in your country)
1.2 Lines of credit from the bank account (no credit card)
1.3 Loan details from an acceptable financial institution in your country
1.4 Evidence of government credit—grants by the Government or State entity
1.5 Financial support from the educational institution where you will study
1.6 Evidence of Scholarships and other financial support

• In the case of Colombia, only accept funds from financial institutions registered in FOGAFIN on the section "safe deposit" (www.fogafin.gov.co). Trust funds or the Exchange Commission are not acceptable.

2. Evidence of where the funding comes from

2.1 If the bank statement shows a deposit of a significant amount due to the sale of an asset (e.g. vehicle, property), the applicant must enclose evidence corresponding to the sale, registered with the relevant body. Simple notarial certification of commitment to sale or other such documentation is not enough.
2.2 If you have transferred funds from another financial institution, you must attach appropriate evidence.
2.3 If it is a pre-approved loan, you must attach appropriate evidence.

3. Evidence of income
It is important to determine from where presented funds come, so you should enclose evidence of the income of the person who is resolving the student’s expenses, which shall include:

3.1 Letter from the employer indicating monthly salary, position and seniority in the enterprise.
3.2 Annual tax return for the last two years (‘Notice of Tax Assessment’, in case your sponsor is an Australian citizen)
3.3 Recent liquidations of salary or income tax return.

It is also important to note that if you have applied for a loan, you must include evidence of income and a statement from the party who will be repaying the loan while the applicant is in Australia.

4. Financial support from a third party
If the person who meets the student’s costs is not the applicant, the following must be supplied:

4.1 A Letter of commitment certified by a notary from the party who is covering the expenses or part thereof. All parties’ contact information must be included in the letter of commitment (phone and email).
4.2 Colour certified copy of the third party’s identity card or passport.
4.3 Evidence of kinship (if applicable).

If the third party is a company, all partners must sign a statement before a notary indicating that they do not object to the use of funds for the studies of the applicant. You must also attach a certified colour copy of the identity card of each partner.

5. DOCUMENTATION FOR UNDER 18 YEAR OLDS

In order to ensure the wellbeing of the minor, applicants under 18 years of age must supply one of the following:

4.1 To provide a written statement from the educational institution indicating that all the arrangements relevant to the wellbeing of the child during their stay in Australia have been made. This statement is made through a document called "Confirmation of Appropriate Arrangement of Welfare" (CAAW).
This letter will have a start date established by the educational institution. Students under 18 years of age may not enter Australia before this date.
In the event that a minor would like to go to Australia prior to the date set in the CAAW, they will have to do so in the company of a family member or acceptable guardian that ensures the wellbeing of the child until they begin the relevant arrangements made by the educational institution.

4.2 Declare that during their stay in Australia are going to live with:
a. one of their parents or legal guardian, or
b. an ‘acceptable family member’, nominated by the parents of the minor, who is older than 21 and has no police history. Under this category, an acceptable family member can be only a relative. If the student will be staying with an ‘acceptable family member’, the application must include the form 157N stating that this family member:
* is an Australian citizen or has a permanent visa;
* has another temporary visa that allows them to take care of the minor until they have turned 18 years old or up to the end of the course, as appropriate. That is the Guardian Visa 580. In this case (b), they shall attach to the application a certification in writing, passport, evidence of citizenship or visa, and a certificate of criminal records from the Australian Federal Police (AFP). A certificate issued by "National Police" is not acceptable for this purpose.

Those applicants between 5 and 18 years of age travelling to Australia as dependants of their parents shall attach to his/her request:

4.3 Evidence of being enrolled at any school in Australia.

For information about the requirements of a Student Guardian visa application, please refer to DIBP website, www.immi.gov.au

4.4 Homestay confirmation. You must provide payment evidence.