How to prove you are a bona fide student for immigration purposes

When applying for a student visa to Australia, one of the main criteria is evidence of being a bona fide student. To be a bona fide student, an applicant must meet the requirements set forth in Exhibit 5A for the Immigration Regulation (Cth). These requirements may vary depending on the visa subclass applied for and the screening level the applicant is at. Separate provisions apply to prove they are bona fide students covering English language proficiency, financial ability and other requirements.

If an applicant cannot meet all of the requirements, they cannot be considered a bona fide student visa applicant and must be denied a visa on the grounds that they do not meet the requirements. The specific requirements that must be met vary depending on the visa subclass and the applicant’s screening levels. In general, to demonstrate that an applicant has met the necessary requirements in relation to English language proficiency, IELTS is the most commonly relied on qualification. However, other evidence that is recognized as valid for entry into Australia will be published from time to time in its gazette by the Immigration Department. It is generally not possible to use the results of an English language test completed after the application has been accommodated. In some circumstances, the immigration department will also accept evidence of completion of a state school certification exam or completion of a community college course as evidence of meeting English language proficiency requirements.

In relation to financial capacity requirements, an applicant must be able to pay their tuition and education costs, living costs for the duration of the stay in Australia, school costs for school-age dependents, and travel costs. Education fees are determined by electronic confirmation with the education provider or place offer letter. A student’s living costs are calculated at the base rate of $12,000.00 per year for an individual student and then adjusted at a pro-rated rate. If school-age dependents are also accompanying the student, they must also allow $8,000.00 per year for each school-age child. The cost of travel to and from Australia must also be anticipated. When a student visa applicant is dependent on a source of funding, it may be acceptable to rely on sponsorship from a private company, financial support from the proposed education provider, loans from financial institutions, or sponsorship from a government. Applicants may also be supported by ‘eligible individuals’ which include most close relatives and family members.