If you are an international student and your visa is going to expire soon, don’t need to worry about it. The good news is that you can renew student visa Australia to complete your studies. 

Students must have a valid study visa throughout their studies in Australia. Student visas of applicants can also expire before the completion of their course. Your Subclass 500 visa should encompass the duration required for the completion of your academic program. In this guide, we will inform you about how to renew a student visa Australia.

Reason To Renew Student Visa Australia

There are many reasons why international students studying at any Australian educational institution might need to renew their student visas. Some of the common reasons why international students may want to extend their visas are: 

• Not passing some courses in the last semester of study. 
• Taking a break or studying less than the normal course load. 
• Enrolling in a new course. 
• Continuing your graduate research scholarship. 
• If the Department of Home Affairs cancel your visa.

Step-By-Step Process To Renew Student Visa Australia

You can follow below-mentioned steps to renew your student visa:

Step 1: Obtain New Confirmation Of Enrollment 

You need a Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) for the current course you are studying and any additional courses you plan to take. Inform the government and immigration officials to know how long your visa is. 

Make sure your current CoE is still valid before you apply for renewal of your visa application. If you want to see the status of your current confirmation of enrollment, you can check your student email.

Step 2: Extension Of Overseas Students’ Health Cover (OSHC)

When you renew student visa Australia, you need provide your OSHC policy number.  Your OSHC coverage must start and end at the same time as your student visa’s stay period. OSHC does not automatically match the length of your visa. Therefore, you have to renew your OSHC policy by yourself. 

It is a requirement by the Department of Home Affairs(DHA) to have Overseas Student Health Cover while you study in Australia. Make sure your OSHC policy reflects the length of your new visa requirements when you apply for a new Student Visa in Australia.

Therefore, extend your Overseas Students’ Health Cover longer to show health insurance to DHA. Your health insurance provider can help you make your policy longer.

Step 3: Begin Gathering Documents

After you have your CoE and OSHC ready, you can prepare your paperwork for your application. The documents you need to submit also depend upon your reason for renewal and course provider. In general, You will need the following documents to renew student visa Australia :

• Birth certificate
• passport ID p with an Australian immigration stamp
• National ID card 
• Resume
•  your CoE, or a letter from the university if you are waiting for your post-graduate thesis to be marked. 
• Marriage certificate for married applicants
• Consent of parents for those applicants who are younger than 18 years old 
• OSHC policy number, making sure the policy dates match the visa 
• HAP ID
• Personal statement which defines the reason of your extension of visa
• You must also provide evidence that you can pay for your living and study costs for yourself and your family members who come with you. 

Step 4: Write a GTE statement 

A GTE (Genuine temporary entrant) statement is also necessary to renew student visa Australia. It should be a formal letter that includes the following information:

• Why did you select your course and how it will maximize your career or education opportunities 
• How long you will stay in Australia as a student and when do you expect to complete your course
• How much your family earn and how they will provide financial support 
• Your ties to your Home country 
• Your student loans: if you have any loans or debts related to your studies, how you will repay them

Step 5: Apply for your student visa online

When you are done with the above-mentioned steps, you can submit a visa renewal application online through your ImmiAccount. Furthermore, You will need to attach all the documents you prepared in the previous steps and pay a fee of AU$710. 

After submission of the application, students will receive  Bridging Visa A (BVA) who are already in Australia. The BVA lets applicants stay in Australia until their visa decision is made.

Step 6: Provide your biometrics

Australian authorities can call you to give your fingerprints and photo as part of your student visa application. In such a case, you will get a letter and a notification in your ImmiAccount. It is advisable to respond quickly because applicants can only have 14 days to provide their biometrics.

Step 7: Complete your health checks 

The Australian Department of Home Affairs can also request you to provide health checks if one year has passed since your last health check. You can follow the below-mentioned steps to see what health tests you need to take:

• In ImmiAccount, click on the health assessment’ tab. 
• You will see a HAP number and a letter that tells you which tests you need to do. 
• Take the HAP number and the letter to the clinic that does the health checks.

Step 8: Wait For An Outcome Of Application

After all the steps, you need to wait for the outcome of your renewal visa application. You should check your email regularly for any updates from the Department of Home Affairs. If your visa is rejected, don’t lose hope. Sometimes, the case officer may require more information from you. 

They will inform you by email with an IMMI S56 Request in case they require additional information. Reply to them as soon as possible with the required details. If they have denied your visa without asking for more information, you can also make an appeal of their decision.

What To Do Next?

Your student visa is very important for your studies in Australia. The renewal visa application process can be challenging. Applicants may face hurdles in the simplest step of the procedure. Our educational consultants with extensive experience at Studywise can help you in the renewal of student visas. If you want to renew student visa in Australia without facing difficulty, don’t hesitate to take our help. We will guide you wholeheartedly. Book a consultation to get in touch with us. 

FAQS

Q1: When do you apply to renew your student visa in Australia? 

The best time to apply for renewal of visa is up to 3 months before your current student visa expires.

Q2: What if the Department of Home Affairs rejects student visa renewal applications? 

You can reapply for a student visa after a rejection. However, be more diligent when preparing your next visa application.

Q3: What Is The Processing Time of the Student Visa Renewal in Australia? 

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the processing time for the renew student visa Australia is between 12 and 14 weeks.

Q4: Can you renew student visa Australia from abroad? 

Yes, you can also lodge an application to renew your visa from abroad. However, you can’t enter Australia until your renewal visa application is approved. 

Related Articles:

1- https://www.istudywise.com/blog/student-visa-checklist-tips-in-2023/

2-https://www.istudywise.com/blog/confirmation-of-enrollment-coe-2023/

3-https://www.istudywise.com/blog/how-to-get-pr-in-australia-with-student-visa/