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Are you applying for an Australian student visa? Then, you must know about the age requirements. The Australian student visa (subclass 500) is a visa that is granted to international students. The visa permits you to study in the country for up to 5 years. You can only apply for this visa if you meet the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria of subclass 500 require you to be of a certain age. Therefore, in this blog, we have covered everything you need to know about the age limit to obtain a student visa in Australia.
This Blog Includes:
- Student Visa Australia Age Limit for a School Student
- Welfare & Custody Arrangements for Applicants Under the Age of 18
- Student Visa Australia Age Limit for Being a Genuine Student
- Gap Years & Student Visa Australia Age Limit
- Australia Work Visas & Age Limit
- Can a 40 year Old Apply for a Student Visa in Australia?
- How Can I Get an Australian Visa After 45?
- How to Apply for a Student Visa in Australia?
- English Language Requirements for Student Visa Australia
- Documents Required for Student Visa Australia
- Processing Time for Student Visa Australia Age Limit
- FAQs
Student Visa Australia Age Limit for a School Student
The Australian government has set an age limit for school students. The minimum age for school students to apply for a student visa (subclass 500) is 6 years. You need to be 6 years or older to be eligible for this visa. Moreover, you must be of the following age depending on your level of studies.
| Class | Maximum Age Limit |
| 12 | Less than 20 years of age |
| 11 | Less than 19 years of age |
| 10 | Less than 18 years of age |
| 9 | Less than 17 years of age |
Welfare & Custody Arrangements for Applicants Under the Age of 18
An Australian student visa is available to applicants below the age of 18. However, the visa requirements are a little bit different for such students. We have provided the details below:
| Age | Welfare & Custody Requirement |
| Below the age of 18 | Complete Form 1229 (parents or guardians consent to give you the visa) |
| Turn 18 before reaching Australia | Complete form 157N (nomination of a student guardian), and form 1229 |
Applicants under the age of 18 need to arrange a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW). The welfare arrangements must be made till you turn 18. Your education provider will assist you in getting the CAAW. You also need to complete the Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student (AASES) form (if you are an exchange student).
Student Visa Australia Age Limit for Being a Genuine Student
You must be a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) to obtain a student visa for Australia. A genuine person would mean an individual who:
- Is a genuine student
- Applying for the visa with the main intention of studying and not settling in the country.
Your intention becomes questionable if your age is above 40 years.
Gap Years & Student Visa Australia Age Limit
Australian Universities take gap years seriously. Therefore, you should not have a gap year of more than 1-2 years. That is, between your high school graduation and enrolling in a University in Australia.
However, the gap year requirement can vary depending on the level of study you are applying for:
| Level of Education | Acceptable Gap Years |
| Applying to Undergraduate Studies | 1-2 years |
| Applying to a postgraduate course | 5 years |
If you exceed the gap year provided, you will have to justify the same. That is, whether you were employed, or studying another course, etc.
For example, if you took a gap year because you were employed you can show the salary slip. Similarly, if you could not attend a university because of health reasons you can show your medical record as proof.
Australia Work Visas & Age Limit
It is important to consider the Australian work visa age limit even if you have met the student visa age limit. That is if you intend to work in Australia after completing your education. The reason is, that even if there is no particular maximum age limit set for a student visa, work visas have a limit.
We have some of the work visas and their age limit below:
| Visa | Age Limit |
| Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa (normal cases) | Must be under the age of 35 |
| Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa (exceptional cases) | Be under the age of 50 (if you have used an MA/PhD degree to meet the requirements for Post-Higher Education Work/ost-Study Work stream visa |
| Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)Points-tested stream | Be under the age of 45 |
| Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa | Be under the age of 45 |
| Subclass 407 Training visa | Must be 18 or older |
| Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa | Be under the age of 45 |
Can a 40 year Old Apply for a Student Visa in Australia?
A 40-year-old can become eligible for a student visa in Australia if he/she has obtained an offer letter from an Australian university. Moreover, such an individual must satisfy the Australian authorities that the reason for visiting Australia is solely education and not settlement.
Furthermore, the reason for the gap years must be justified.
How Can I Get an Australian Visa After 45?
You can get an Australian visa after 45 years of age. Some of the visas that you are eligible for are listed below:
- A parent visa: You can apply for this visa if you have a family member who is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident. Under this, there are 6 categories of visas that you are eligible for in terms of age.
- Partner visa: You can apply for this visa if you have a genuine relationship with a permanent resident or a citizen of Australia.
- Distinguished Talent (subclass 858) Visa: You can apply for this visa if you are internally recognised or have made exceptional achievements in your lifetime. For example, in sports, or academia.
- Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) Visa: If you are applying for a sector in which there is a skill shortage in Australia you can become eligible. However, the exception is there like the Permanent Employer Sponsored (subclass 186) visa that has an age limit of 45 years.
Also Read: How to Apply for Visa?
How to Apply for a Student Visa in Australia?
Applying for the student visa can be very easy if you follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Apply to a recognized university in Australia and have a confirmation of Enrolment
- Give English proficiency tests and clear the exam with the required marks in all the sections.
- Create an account with the Department of Home Affairs. Apply online and also track the progress of your application online through the dashboard.
- Pay the visa fee. The fee for international students is $575. After successfully paying the application fee, you will get a Transaction Reference Number (TRN).
- Get your health checkup done and appear for the interview.
English Language Requirements for Student Visa Australia
If the student belongs to a non-English country then he/she has to take the English Language Test (ELT). There are different types of ELT but the student must take the ELT as specified by the University of Australia the student is planning to study.
Check below the details about different types of ELT for student visas in Australia:
| English Language Test (ELT) | Overall Score (Minimum) |
| IELTS | 5.5 |
| TOEFL | 46 |
| Cambridge English Test | 162 |
| PTE | 42 |
| Occupational English Test | ‘B’ for each test component |
Also Read: Study in Australia: Government Fixes Student Visa Delays, Processing Time Reduced to 16 Days
Documents Required for Student Visa Australia
The Immigration and Citizenship Department of the Australian government will require certain documents to process the student visa application. The students should start with the preparation process 90 days before applying for the visa.
Check below the list of documents for a student visa to Australia:
- Long stay application form for more than 90 days
- Copy of valid passport
- Passport size photographs
- Letter of registration from the Australian University applied for
- Confirmation of Enrolment Form
- SOP or a cover letter explaining the project that the student intends to study and also a CV/resume
- Proof of funds that the student can manage the expenses of their tuition fees and other living expenses
- Copies of degrees, certificates, and other educational qualifications required for studying in Australia
- Receipt of payment of application fee
Students belonging to non-English speaking English countries will have to submit proof of English language tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, etc
Processing Time for Student Visa Australia Age Limit
The students must apply for the Australian student visa at least 8 weeks before the beginning of the course. The students should start preparing their documents at least 90 days before applying for the visa for a smooth visa application process.
The processing time of student visas for Australia depends upon the volume of applications, the country from which the student is applying, and the type of course he/she is applying for. The processing time for student visas in Australia may range from 10 days to 4 months.
The candidates can check the status of their student visa Australia application through their ImmiAccount.
Also Read: Statement of Purpose – SOP for Canada Student Visa
FAQs
Ans. The name of the student visa in Australia is Student Visa (Subclass 500).
Ans. There is no age limit for student visas in Australia. However, if you have taken a break from your studies, you need to justify the education gap with relevant documents.
Ans. There are several courses for which you can apply for a student visa in Australia like English courses, Vocational courses, and University courses ( Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs).
4 How much bank balance is required for Australia student visa 2025?
Your bank balance must be sufficient to cover your travel expenses, 1 year of tuition fees, and 1 year of school fees for your child if you have any. Apart from that, you must have funds to cover your living expenses for a year. For an individual, a you need AUD29,710. An additional amount of AUD 4449 for every child, and AUD 10,394 if you have a partner.
Now you will have to meet the Genuine Student (GS) requirement instead of the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement. You will be asked a targeted set of questions that you need to answer. Apart from that, the visa processing fee has been increased to AUD 1,600. Moreover, you need a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 for entry.
Most of the Australian residency visas come with an age limit of 44. Therefore, you will not be able to get a residency visa. However, you may be able to get a student visa if you have received an offer letter from an educational institution, have no intention to settle in Australia, and can explain your gap years.
The Australian student visa success rate stands at 85.1% and 86.7%. This means, as long as you meet the visa requirements, you will get the visa. Ensure that you submit relevant documents and you have sufficient funds.
If you are planning to study abroad in countries like the USA, UK, or Canada but are not sure where to start? Get in touch with Leverage Edu experts to kickstart your study abroad journey.
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