Streamlined Visa Process
The University of New South Wales is pleased to announce its partnership with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) in the Streamlined Visa Process (SVP) introduced in March, 2012. The SVP will greatly benefit international students by streamlining the documentation required for a student visa application and greatly hasten the visa application process for the vast majority of all inbound international students to UNSW.
Application procedures to UNSW remain unchanged. However, when a qualified applicant receives an Offer letter of admission to UNSW, specific details regarding documentation required for Acceptance will be stated. It is then up to the University to determine if the applicant is a Genuine Temporary Entrant for visa purposes and if a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) should be issued. Applicants cannot apply for a visa without a valid CoE from the University. The University reserves the right to ask for further documentation from the applicant in order to issue the CoE.
Up to date Admissions procedures, relevant financial documentation and Applicant Checklists will be available for download from this page on the left hand column. Please note that there will be separate procedures depending on the type of program you are applying for (Full Degree, Study Abroad, or Research) or if you are receiving funding from an external sponsor (Government/Corporate Sponsor or US Loans). Please check carefully which specific Procedure and Checklist you should follow as well as the specific UNSW office the forms should be returned to. Failure to provide the necessary forms to the correct UNSW office will delay your Acceptance procedures and CoE process.
For further information on this process, please contact UNSW International at: unsw.international@unsw.edu.au
For updates on visa policy, please visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website at: www.immi.gov.au
Meeting your visa conditions
Your student visa is issued with conditions that you need to meet. If you fail to meet the conditions, your visa may be cancelled. You cannot remain in Australia if your visa is cancelled.
The kinds of conditions you may need to meet are:
- You need to notify the university of your current Australian residential address within seven days of arriving in Sydney
- If you later move house, you need to notify us within seven days of your change of address.
- You need to maintain a full-time enrolment load; unless you have approval from your Academic Adviser or you are enrolled in your final semester of your degree.
- You must now maintain overseas student health cover insurance for the length of your visa.
- If you do paid or unpaid work, you cannot work more than 40 hours each fortnight/pay cycle during semester.
- For full degree students, you need to maintain a satisfactory academic progression to ensure you complete your degree prior to your Student visa expiring.
- For full degree students, if you take leave of absence from your degree , you need to obtain approval from your Program Authority.
If we become aware that you have failed to meet your visa conditions, we may have to notify the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Bringing your children to Australia
You can bring your children with you while you study in Australia. If they are of school age, they must attend school and you must pay their fees. (If you are studying under a scholarship or are undertaking a doctoral program, you may be exempt from paying school fees for your children.)
Permanent residency
If you decide that you would like to live in Australia permanently, you need to complete your study before you can apply. However, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency on the basis of marriage or refugee status or if you are continuing your studies at a higher level. If you become a permanent resident, you will then be regarded as an Australian student, not an international student. For instance, you will compete with Australian students if there are limited places for your course of study. It is imperative that if your visa status changes whilst you are studying at UNSW, you must notify the UNSW Student Development International (SDI) Office immediately.
