INFORMATION FOR
STUDENT & GUARDIAN VISAS
An overview of the key financial requirements.
When applying for a Student Visa or Student Guardian Visa, there are additional requirements to ensure that every visa holder has sufficient financial and insurance coverage while living in Australia.
HEALTH INSURANCE
As a holder of a Student Visa or Student Guardian Visa, you do not have access to Australia’s public health system (Medicare). For this reason, the Australian Government requires the purchase of an approved overseas health insurance policy to ensure that your level of cover meets Australian standards. A standard travel insurance policy is not acceptable for this purpose.
Important: Your health insurance must be arranged before you lodge the visa application, as proof of insurance is required with your application. In most cases, the full insurance premium for the entire coverage period must usually be paid in full upfront.
- Students: OSHC
Applicants for a Student Visa must obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
This insurance can either be arranged by the education provider or organised independently.
Currently approved OSHC providers in Australia include:
- ahm OSHC
- BUPA Australia
- Medibank Private
- Allianz Global Assistance
- nib OSHC
- Guardians: OVHC
Applicants for a Student Guardian Visa must hold Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) for the entire visa period. A full list of approved Australian OVHC insurers is available on the website of the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
How long must your health insurance cover you?
Your health insurance must cover the entire period of your visa, meaning it must be valid from the day you first enter Australia on this visa until the visa expires. The key factors for determining this period are, on the one hand, the intended date of entry and, on the other hand, the course end date stated on the official Confirmation of Enrolment issued by the education provider. This determines the visa validity period. For students under 18, the visa is generally valid for one to two weeks beyond the end of the school year. For adult applicants, the visa validity period is usually determined as follows:
| Course duration | Visa validity period |
|---|---|
| Less than 10 months | Visa generally valid until one month after the official course end date |
| 10 months or longer and course finishes between January and October | Visa generally valid until two months after the official course end date |
| 10 months or longer and course finishes in November or December | Visa generally valid until 15 March of the next year |
What should families and couples consider?
If you are travelling to Australia as a family, you also have the option of taking out the appropriate family policies offered by approved insurers. It is important to ensure that each family member meets the insurance requirements for their respective visa — meaning OSHC for anyone included in a Student Visa, and OVHC for anyone included in a Student Guardian Visa. You should also review the insurer’s policy conditions carefully and check what requirements apply when booking a single policy versus a family policy, as these can vary between providers.
FINANCING
Both the Student Visa and the Student Guardian Visa require that applicants demonstrate they have sufficient funds to cover the first 12 months of their stay. This is because holding either visa does not entitle applicants to any government benefits or financial assistance from the Australian state.
A secure financial capacity must cover living expenses, travel costs, and tuition fees for the first 12 months of the stay for all applicants included in the visa.
- Students
For a Student Visa, it is often sufficient at the time of application to provide a clear explanation of how the stay will be funded and the amount of financial resources available. Providing actual evidence may not always be required upfront.
However, please note that the Department may request financial evidence at any time during processing, and applicants must then be able to provide documentation that supports the statements made in the application.
- Guardians
The Student Guardian Visa does not include work rights. For this reason, the Australian authorities require mandatory financial evidence to be submitted with the application.
How much money is required?
A secure financial capacity must cover living expenses, travel costs and tuition fees for the first 12 months of the stay for all applicants included in the visa. The following requirements apply:
|
Person
|
Living expenses
|
School fees
|
Travel costs
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Student
|
A$29,710
|
School fees for the first 12 months (as per CoE) |
approx. A$2,000 (or return flight ticket) |
|
Student Guardian
|
A$29,710
|
-
|
approx. A$2,000 (or return flight ticket) |
|
Partner (secondary applicant) |
A$10,394
|
-
|
approx. A$2,000 (or return flight ticket) |
|
Children < 18 (secondary applicants) |
A$4,449 per child
|
A$13,502 per school-age child |
approx. A$2,000 (or return flight ticket) |
For stays of less than 12 months, the amounts for living expenses and school fees may be calculated proportionally.
Alternative forms of financial evidence
As an alternative, financial capacity may be demonstrated through the gross annual income of the applicant’s parents or spouse/partner.
Only official tax documents, no older than 12 months, will be accepted for this purpose.
The following minimum income thresholds apply:
- Primary applicant only: gross annual income of at least A$87,856
- With secondary applicants: gross annual income of at least A$102,500
Once again, please note:
- For a Student Visa, financial evidence is usually required only when specifically requested by the Department.
- For a Student Guardian Visa, financial evidence must always be submitted with the application.
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