The Department of Home Affairs is implementing a range of visa changes to support International students as announced by Minister Tudge on 20 July.
The department is pleased to advise that the ability to apply for nil-fee student visa will be available from midnight 5 August 2020.
How do students apply?
Students who held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 and who couldn’t complete their course within their original visa validity due to the impacts of COVID-19, can apply online through ImmiAccount for their new student visa application. A help sheet to support students though this process. To view the help sheet, click here.
To submit a valid Student visa application eligible for a nil fee, students must provide a completed Form 1545 COVID-19 Impacted Student signed by their Education Provider with their Student visa application.
Failure to provide a completed for 1545 will result in the application being invalid.
Can students apply for a nil-VAC student visa from overseas?
Students can be in or outside Australia when they apply.
Can students who have already applied for a Student visa apply for a refund?
Refunds will not be available for Students who have already applied for a Student visa. Only new applications will be eligible for a visa fee-waiver.
More details on the visa changes can be found on the Department’s website: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/student-visa