Information about Student Visa Requirements
Once you have accepted your offer of a place at National Academy of Further Education & Training, you can apply for a student visa from an Australian Diplomatic Mission in your home country. To apply for a visa, you will require:
- a Letter of Offer from NAFET;
- an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) from NAFET;
- a medical check-up, as required by legislation; and
- proof of financial support, as required by legislation.
After your visa has been granted, you are required to provide NAFET with certified copies of the relevant documents.
Student Visa
Applications are assessed by DIAC according to the Assessment Level of individual applications. The passport you hold and the education sector of your principal academic program determine your Assessment Level. Current information about the student visa application process can be found at the DIAC website:
www.immigov.au/students
Student Visa Conditions
When you receive your student visa, DIAC will provide you with an explanation of the conditions attached to your visa. Please read your grant letter and/or visa label carefully for details of the visa conditions. A student visa permits multiple entries to Australia for the duration of the visa. Below are some of the key student visa conditions. You can find more detailed information at: www.immi.gov.au/students
- All student visa holders and their dependants must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their student visa;
- Students are expected to maintain full-time enrolment;
- Students are expected to meet their program requirements, including attendance and progress requirements;
- All initial student visas are granted without work rights. Once you have started your program of study (and can provide evidence of this) you can apply to DIAC for permission to work. Students granted work rights may work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week. During official vacation periods, students can work unrestricted hours;
- Dependants of students may work up to 20 hours per week after the principal student visa holder has commenced their studies in Australia.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
The Australian government requires overseas students and their dependants to obtain health insurance for the duration of their visas. You will need evidence that you have OSHC before you can obtain your Australian student visa. Membership of a health insurance scheme in your home country does not exempt you from paying OSHC. Only Swedish students covered by CSN International (the Swedish National Board of Student Aid) and Norwegian students covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme are exempt from paying the Australian Overseas Health Cover as a result of special intergovernmental arrangements.
OSHC covers up to 100% of the scheduled fee for most medical services and 100% of the scheduled fees in hospitals. Scheduled fees are those recommended by the Australian Government, but doctors and private hospitals often charge more than the recommended schedule fee, great a ‘gap’ amount which must be paid by the patient. Whenever possible, inquire with the doctor or hospital providing the treatment. If a gap payment is required, then you may claim this to your medical insurer. Always check your benefit entitlement with the insurer before going to a private hospital. OSHC also covers up to 85% of the government scheduled fees for private doctors, pathology and x-rays. Students must make up the remainder of those costs. Please note that OSHC will not cover pre-existing conditions (treatment for medical conditions or disabilities in existence before you came to Australia).
There are several providers of OSHC in Australia. Medibank Private is the preferred private health fund for almost three million Australians. It is also the number one choice for international students, and so, it is NAFET’s provider of choice. When you insure with Medibank Private OSHC through NAFET, the College will disclose your relevant personal details to Medibank Private.
Visit http://www.medibank.com.au/Overseas-Students/About-OSHC.aspx for more information about OSHC.
