Student Visa Extension Australia

While there is no automatic renewal of your student visa in Australia, you can apply for extension of your student visa, if you have not yet finished your studies in Australia.

Extend Student Visa

If you are an extend visa student, then you will need to lodge a student visa application, if your current student visa is expiring and your studies have not yet finished. The reason of delay of your studies could be delay from the institution, you reduced your workload for a term, you have failed some units and redo them again. To extend your visa, you will need to lodge a new application. The complexity in student visa extension comes from your academic progress and progression. Therefore, the application process needs to be carefully handled.

How to Apply for student visa extension

The application for student visa extension is lodged in the same way as application for a new student visa is lodged. However the supporting documentation required for the application will depend upon your current circumstances; such as units of study left, academic performance and progression.

You must apply for student visa before your current student visa expires. When you apply for student visa application, you will be granted a bridging visa that will keep you lawful in Australia, for as long as your student visa application is under processing. If you fail to apply for the student visa before your current student visa expires, then you will become unlawful in Australia.

An unlawful person is a person who is not an Australian citizen or Permanent resident, and remains in Australia without a valid visa. Unlawful non citizens are subject to detention and deportation, the costs of which are recoverable from the non citizen.

Student Visa Extension Fees Australia

The application fees for student visa extension are A$650 for primary applicant, A$485 for secondary applicant who is above 18 years of age, A$160 for secondary applicant who is less than 18 years of age. If this is your first application for a temporary visa while being in Australia then you wont be charged 'Subsequent Temporary Application Charge', otherwise A$700 of additional application charge for each of the applicant will be applicable. Learn more about Student visa extension fees: Australia Student Visa Fees

Document Checklist for Student Visa Extension

• Identity documents such as passport, birth certificate, proof of name change such as marriage or divorce certificate.
• If you are or have been married, widowed, divorced or permanently separated, provide proof such as marriage certificates, divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents or statutory declarations.
• Passport size photographs.
• All applicants must provide Overseas Student Health Cover.
• For an applicant is under 18, copies of birth certificates or the family book showing the names of both parents; or adoption papers (if applicable).
• All academic certificates and transcripts.
• Employment reference letters.
• English test results such as IELTS or PTE Academic or TOEFL or OET; or evidence of completion of substantial component of an Australian qualification at certificate IV level or higher.
• Any professional registration or license certificate.
• Your curriculum vitae or resume that includes your full employment and educational history, including dates and positions held within last ten years.
• Current COE that reflects extended study time period.
• Letter from the Institution reflecting units completed and units currently enrolled.

Free Student Visa Extension Australia

The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) will waive the visa application charge to allow you to submit a further student visa application if you held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 and couldn’t complete your course within the original visa validity because of the impacts of COVID-19. The delay in your studies could be because you:

• Have deferred your studies as you were unable to enter Australia due to travel restrictions.
• Were forced to reduce your study load to part time study.
• Were unable to complete your course related work-based training or placements.

This provision is not intended for students who are applying for a student visa because of reasons such as you have failed a course or a unit of study, deferred the course for personal reasons, or voluntarily reduced your study load.

You must apply for a student visa to have your application for a fee waiver considered and attach a completed ‘Form 1545 COVID-19 Impacted Student’ from your institution of study. If you are applying for a fee waiver in Australia, a Bridging visa will not be issued automatically as the fee exemption must be checked first, and the waiver is only applicable to the Visa Application Charge (VAC).

Education providers must be satisfied that you held a student visa on or after 1 February2020 and could not complete your course in their original visa validity because of COVID-19. You can submit further evidence of the COVID-19 related impacts with your completed form.

Student Visa Extension Australia COVID

The Government is providing an incentive for Student visa holders to return to Australia as soon as possible to help address current workforce shortages caused by COVID-19. Any Student visa holder who is currently outside Australia and arrives between 19 January 2022 and 19 March 2022, may be eligible for a refund of their Visa Application Charges (VAC).

There is no need to rush to make your claim. As long as you hold a Student visa, paid the visa application charge and have not already claimed a waiver or a refund, and travelled to Australia on that visa within the specified time frames, you will be eligible for a refund. You can make a claim any time up to 31 December 2022. You will be able to apply for a refund up until 31 December 2022.

Student Visa Extension Frequently Asked Questions

Can a student visa be extended?

Yes, you can extend your student visa, if you have not yet finished your studies for any reason.

Do I need IELTS for student visa extension?

Generally you will not require IELTS for student visa extension.

How much is the student visa extension fee?

If you are lodging your first temporary visa application while being onshore inside Australia, then standard Visa Application charge will be applicable. If this is your second or more temporary visa application being lodged while you were inside Australia, then an additional subsequent temporary application charge of A$700 will be applicable for each applicant who is lodging his/her second or more visa application while being onshore.

How to extend student visa in Australia?

There are no provisions of an extension or renewal of student visa. You will be lodging a new student visa application, although with less supporting documentation.

‍

Disclaimer: ‘Atlantis International Pty Ltd’ and its associates are independent consulting entities which are not associated in anyway with the Australian ‘Department of Home Affairs’ (DOHA). Information on this website does not constitute personal migration advice. For a customized migration advice based on your personal circumstances, please call and talk to one of our Immigration Consultants or register your interest with our Associates.