Visa and eligibility requirements

International students are required to hold a student visa (subclass 500) before they can enter Australia and begin their studies. A student visa allows students to study in Australia for a minimum of 2 school terms (1 semester). Students must accept an offer of enrolment at a school before they can apply for a student visa.

How to apply

Student visa applications are submitted to the Australian High Commission, or the Embassy in your country. Applications can be made online.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a student visa (subclass 500), students must:

be enrolled to study a course in Australia
hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) or be exempt
be 6 years or older
prove a welfare arrangement is in place if under 18 years
hold an eligible substantive visa if applying from within Australia.

English language requirements

The success of your child's study depends on having strong English skills.

On application to study, we will consider your child's English testing results and academic reports to determine their English needs. Australian Education Assessment Services (AEAS), Society for Testing English Proficiency (STEP) Eiken, International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) test scores will form part of the overall assessment.

On arrival, the school will further test your child's English skills, and this may alter the assessment made at application. This will determine the language support required. Find out about the available English language support.

Students with disability

Students with disability may need specialist disability provision or support to participate in education. The Department of Education assesses the need for specialist disability provision or support on a case-by-case basis prior to placement. Additional fees may apply.

Accommodation

Living arrangements will need to be finalised before the student’s Confirmation of Enrolment is issued. International students who are under 18 years old need to live with a local carer in Australia. Primary school students must live with a parent while they study in Perth. Secondary school students from 13 years of age can live:

with a parent
with a blood relative over 21 years of age, who is nominated by a parent or legal guardian and approved by the Department of Home Affairs
in a homestay with an Australian family – you must apply through our homestay provider Australian Homestay Network.

There are more living arrangement options, depending on the student's individual requirements. For details, refer to available living arrangements.

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We acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which our students live and are educated throughout Western Australia.

We acknowledge and understand that Elders, parents, families and communities are the first educators of their children and we recognise and value the cultures and strengths that Aboriginal children bring to the classroom. Aboriginal people have a long tradition of teaching and learning through sharing their connections with country, community, language and culture, and through their oral histories, stories and lived experiences that are passed from generation to generation. We recognise and value the learning that Aboriginal children bring with them from their homes and communities into the classroom.

CRICOS Provider code: 01723A

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this site may contain images of people who are deceased.
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