Increase in funding to secure an Australian visa
Australia Takes Action Against "Dodgy" Education Providers and Tightens Visa Requirements
Australia has taken action to close a loophole that allowed international students to switch to cheaper providers shortly after arriving in the country. In an effort to crackdown on "dodgy" providers, students will now need to show that they have more money in their bank accounts in order to secure an Australian visa.
The amount of money international students must prove they have in order to secure a visa is set to increase by 17% to AUS $24,505.
This requirement has not been indexed since 2019 and needs to increase to reflect higher living expenses. From October 1 2023, international students will need to show evidence of $24,505 in savings, which is a 17% increase on current levels. This increase accounts for indexation since 2019.
Furthermore, institutions are no longer allowed to create concurrent confirmation of enrolment (CoE), which was previously used to allow students to take additional courses alongside their primary study program. This policy has been misused by unscrupulous education providers to encourage students to switch institutions. Previously, students had to wait at least six months to change providers, but the loophole allowed them to do so much sooner.
The Government is considering further measures to strengthen integrity in the international education system as part of the Migration Strategy, which is due to be released later this year.
Read more here or in the Joint media release with the Hon Jason Clare MP and the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP.
