Starting 1 January 2025, the Department of Home Affairs will implement significant changes to the onshore student visa application process. If you are in Australia and planning to apply for a student visa, you must now include a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) with your application. This change eliminates the previous acceptance of Letters of Offer and ensures greater consistency between onshore and offshore student visa requirements.
What’s Changing?
Under the new policy, onshore student visa applicants will no longer be able to use a Letter of Offer from an educational institution to lodge their application. Instead, they must submit a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)—a document that confirms a student’s official acceptance into a course.
For example, if you’re a student already in Australia and wish to extend your stay for further studies, you’ll need to secure a CoE from your new education provider before applying for your visa. Applications lodged without a CoE will be deemed invalid.
This change only impacts applications lodged on or after 1 January 2025. If your application is submitted before this date and includes a Letter of Offer, it will still be processed under the existing rules.
Why the Change?
The move aims to align onshore requirements with offshore student visa applications, where a CoE is already mandatory. This ensures consistency and demonstrates a stronger commitment by students to study at their chosen institution.
For example, an international student applying for a visa from their home country already needs a CoE to show their intent to study in Australia. By extending this requirement to onshore applications, the government seeks to provide greater certainty for the international education sector while reducing the risk of incomplete or speculative applications.
Implications for Applicants
1. Invalid Applications:
An application lodged without a CoE will be considered invalid, meaning visa decision-makers cannot assess it. Furthermore, an invalid application does not trigger the grant of a Bridging Visa, leaving the applicant without lawful status in Australia.
For instance, if your current visa is about to expire and you lodge a student visa application without a CoE, you won’t receive a Bridging Visa to remain in Australia while your application is processed. This could result in you having to leave the country or risk becoming unlawful.
2. Maintaining Lawful Status:
If you’re unable to obtain a CoE before your current visa expires, you’ll need to:
- Depart Australia before your visa expires, or
- Explore alternative visa options to remain lawful.
Who is Exempt?
The changes do not affect certain categories of students, including:
- Foreign Affairs or Defence students
- Secondary exchange students
Example Scenarios
- The changes do not affect certain categories of students, including:
Maria, a current student in Sydney, secures a CoE from her new university before lodging her visa application on 15 January 2025. Her application is valid, and she is granted a Bridging Visa while awaiting a decision.
- Scenario 2: Invalid Application Rahul, whose visa expires on 10 January 2025, submits a student visa application without a CoE. His application is deemed invalid, and he does not receive a Bridging Visa, leaving him in breach of visa conditions.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
To ensure a smooth application process, plan ahead. If you’re in Australia on a student visa and considering further studies, contact your education provider early to secure your CoE. Additionally, be mindful of recent restrictions on applying for student visas while holding certain other visa types.
The new requirement for a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is a critical update for onshore student visa applicants. By planning ahead and staying informed, you can avoid pitfalls like invalid applications or lapses in lawful status.
If you have questions or need professional assistance with your student visa, contact Auzworld Lawyers & Immigration today.
