Convert Your Visitor Visa to Student Visa : Unlock Your Australian Dream

7 min readAug 25, 2023

Australia is a popular destination for visitors and students from all over the world.

According to the latest statistics, there were 9.5 million visitor arrivals and 758,000 student enrolments in Australia in 2022. Visitors and students have different types of visas that allow them to enter and stay in Australia for different purposes and durations.

Visitor visas are temporary visas that allow you to visit Australia for tourism, business, or other short-term purposes. A visitor visa usually has a validity of 3, 6, or 12 months and has certain conditions, such as no work rights, no study rights, or limited study rights.

Temporarily, you can study in Australia for a registered course with a student visa. A student visa usually has a validity of the duration of your course plus some extra time. It has certain conditions, such as work rights, attendance requirements, academic progress requirements, etc.

The Reasons and Benefits

Many visitors who come to Australia for tourism or business may decide to change their visa status and study in Australia for various reasons and benefits.

Personal: You may have personal reasons for wanting to study in Australia, such as fulfilling your dreams, pursuing your passions, exploring your interests, developing your hobbies, etc. Studying in Australia can help you achieve your goals and enrich your life experience.
Professional: You may have professional reasons for wanting to study in Australia, such as enhancing your skills, advancing your career, increasing your income, expanding your network, etc. Studying in Australia can help you improve your professional qualifications and opportunities.
Academic: You may have reasons for wanting to study in Australia, such as obtaining a degree, diploma, certificate, or credential, gaining knowledge, research, or innovation, accessing quality education or facilities, etc. Studying in Australia can help you attain your academic achievements and excellence.
Cultural: You may have cultural reasons for wanting to study in Australia, such as learning English or another language, experiencing diversity or multiculturalism, understanding Australian culture or society, etc. Studying in Australia can help you enhance your cultural awareness and appreciation.

However, changing from a visitor to a student visa takes work and effort. You must meet certain eligibility criteria and requirements to apply for a student visa.

Eligibility Criteria and requirements

Confirmation of enrolment: You need confirmation of enrolment (CoE) from an Australian education provider registered on the CRICOS. The CoE is an official document that confirms that you have been accepted into a registered course of study.
English proficiency: You must demonstrate sufficient English language skills to study in Australia. You can do this by providing evidence of your English test results (such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.) or meeting other criteria (such as previous studies in English, country of passport, etc.).
Financial capacity: You must show that you have enough money to pay for your tuition fees, living expenses, travel costs, and health insurance while studying in Australia. You can do this by providing evidence of your funds (such as bank statements, scholarships, sponsorships, etc.) or meeting other criteria (such as annual income, country of passport, etc.).
Health insurance: You need adequate health insurance coverage for your stay in Australia. You can obtain an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) from an approved provider.

The Process and Challenges:

Suppose you hold a visitor visa and want to change to a student visa. In that case, you must follow the process and overcome the challenges of applying for a student visa in Australia.

The process and challenges may vary depending on your circumstances, such as your current visa type, conditions, validity, etc. However, the general process and challenges are:

Step 1: Check your current visitor visa

You need to check the details and conditions of your current visitor visa, such as the expiry date, the number of entries, the stay period, etc. You can do this using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service.
You also need to check if your current visitor visa has a ‘No Further Stay’ condition (such as 8503, 8534, or 8535), meaning you cannot apply for another visa while in Australia. If you have this condition, you must request a waiver from the Department of Home Affairs before applying for a student visa.

Step 2: Choose your course and provider

You must choose a course and provider that suits your interests, goals, and budget. The Course Seeker website allows you to search for and compare courses and providers in Australia.
You also need to ensure that your course and provider are registered on CRICOS, which means they meet the quality standards for overseas students. You can do this by using the CRICOS website, which allows you to search and verify courses and providers in Australia.

Step 3: Apply for your course and obtain your CoE

You must apply for your chosen course and provider according to their admission requirements and procedures. You can do this by contacting them directly or through an education agent.
You also need to obtain your CoE from your provider after you have been accepted into your course. The CoE is an essential document to apply for a student visa.

Step 4: Apply for your student visa

You need to apply for your student visa online through ImmiAccount, a secure online system that allows you to create, submit, pay for, and manage your visa application.
You must also provide the required documents and information for your student visa application, such as your CoE, English proficiency, financial capacity, health insurance, etc.

Step 5: Complete your health assessment and biometrics

You may need to complete a health assessment as part of your student visa application, depending on your country of passport, course of study, and length of stay in Australia. You can arrange an appointment with an approved panel physician or clinic.
Depending on your passport country, visa type, and location in Australia, you may also need to provide your biometrics (such as fingerprints and photos) as part of your student visa application. You can do this by booking an appointment with an Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC) or an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC).

Step 6: Wait for your student visa decision

You need to wait for the decision on your student visa application, which may take a few days to several months, depending on various factors, such as your passport country, visa type, application date, etc.
You also need to comply with the conditions of both your visitor visa and student visa while waiting for your decision, such as not working, not studying, or not overstaying.

Practical tips:

Plan and apply early: You should apply for your course and student visa, which may take some time to process. You should also have enough time left on your visitor visa before it expires or before you start your course.
Check your eligibility and requirements: You should check your eligibility and requirements for changing from a visitor visa to a student visa, as they may vary depending on your circumstances. You should also check if you need any additional documents or evidence for your application.
Seek professional advice and support: You should seek professional advice and support from qualified and registered migration agents, education agents, or lawyers who can help you with your course and student visa application. They can also help you with any issues or complications arising during the process.
Use reliable and updated sources: Consult the Department of Home Affairs website, the Study in Australia website, the Australian Education International website, etc., for information and guidance about changing from a visitor visa to a student visa.

The Future Outlook and Recommendations

Changing from a visitor visa to a student visa can have significant impacts and implications for your future in Australia. Depending on your circumstances, you may have different options and opportunities after completing your studies in Australia.

Study experience: Changing to a student visa can enhance your study experience in Australia by allowing you to access quality education, facilities, and services, as well as participate in various academic, social, and cultural activities. You can also benefit from the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), a national system that recognises and regulates the qualifications issued by Australian education providers.
Career prospects: Studying in Australia can improve your career prospects by enabling you to gain skills, knowledge, and experience that are relevant and in demand. You can also benefit from the Post-Study Work stream, a temporary graduate visa that allows you to work in Australia for 2 to 4 years after completing your studies.
Migration options: Changing to a student visa can increase your migration options in Australia by allowing you to apply for various permanent or provisional visas based on your skills, qualifications, or occupation. You can also benefit from the points system, which selects skilled migrants based on various factors, such as age, English proficiency, work experience, etc.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you understand the importance and benefits of changing from a visitor to a student visa.

Contact Western Global if you want to learn more about changing your visitor visa to a student visa or need assistance with your course or student visa application.

Western Global Would be happy to help you achieve your study and migration goals.

Thank you for reading, and good luck with your study and visa application.