Key Points
- Starting 1 January 2025, onshore student visa applicants will be required to provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when submitting their student visa applications, unless exempt.
- The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that as of 23 December 2024, there were 532,378 student visa holders in Australia.
- A Melbourne-based international student shared her frustration, noting that while obtaining a CoE from her university is not challenging, the constant stream of new changes feels overwhelming.
For 21-year-old Disha Joshina, currently completing a bachelor's degree in computer science in Melbourne, organising the paperwork for her student visa has always been a challenging and burdensome task.
"I still have one last unit to finish, but my student visa expires at the end of this month. That means I must reapply for a new visa and submit all the paperwork, including the CoE. It's a daunting task with all the changes," she said.
Disha Joshina, 21, is an international student in Melbourne. Credit: Supplied by Disha Joshina
"While securing a CoE from my university isn't difficult, I'm just frustrated with the constant new changes being announced.
"The CoE specifies the duration of your course, and in the past, my visa was granted for that same period. So if I fail to complete my final unit for any reason this time, I would have to reapply for a new visa, which now costs a
."
Joshina is one of thousands of student visa holders currently studying in Australia who may need to reapply for a visa to complete their studies.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that as of 23 December 2024, there were 532,378 student visa holders in Australia.
Mandatory requirement for onshore students
A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson told SBS Hindi: "From 1 January 2025 onwards, unless exempt, onshore student visa applicants must provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) at the time of lodging their (student visa) application."
"A letter of offer issued by the education provider will no longer be accepted as evidence of intended course of study," the spokesperson said.
Onshore Australian student visa applicants are now required to include a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) at the time of application. Credit: teekid/Getty Images
The latest change will only impact applications lodged on or after 1 January, 2025.
Failure to provide a CoE at the time of application will render the application invalid, and visa decision-makers will be unable to assess an invalid application, according to the department.
An associated bridging visa cannot be granted where the substantive visa application is not valid.
The Department of Home Affairs is tightening prerequisites for student visa applications. Credit: JAMES ROSS/AAPIMAGE
"Providing a CoE at the time of visa application demonstrates a stronger commitment by the student to study at that institution. This will increase certainty for Australia’s international education sector," it says.
However, there is no change to the alternative forms of evidence of the intended course of study for Foreign Affairs, Defence, or secondary exchange students.
If you are intending to study and not able to obtain a CoE before your current visa expires, you will need to either depart Australia or explore other visa options.
The Department of Home AffairsThe spokesperson said: "The change aligns (with) the requirements to provide evidence of intended course of study for both onshore and offshore student visa applications."
"The Department of Home Affairs grants any student visa in line with, amongst other things, the enrolment timeframes detailed in the CoE with an appropriate additional period to allow for a person to depart Australia or seek a further visa," the spokesperson added.
What is a 'Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)'?
A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is an electronic document that verifies an applicant has been offered a place in a course, paid tuition fees, and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), or is enrolled in a course with a registered provider.
The CoE contains details about the student, the program, its cost, and its duration.
Migration agent Neha Singh explained that, in the past, onshore students were allowed to extend or apply for student visas with a 'Letter of Offer' from education providers.
In the past, these students could obtain a letter of offer from several universities, but the CoE will now verify that they are genuinely in Australia to study. Unlike the letter of offer, which did not confirm their intent to study the course, the CoE ensures their commitment to their enrolment.
"So starting this year, onshore students must maintain an active CoE to secure a visa renewal or extension as well as meet their lawful status," she said.
[Disclaimer: This content is for general information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisers.]
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