Edu News

Australia Implements New System for Offshore Student Visa Prioritisation

The Australian Government has introduced a new framework to prioritise offshore student visa applications, aiming to create equitable access for international students across educational institutions.

This initiative follows the decision to withdraw a proposed law that would have restricted the number of international students allowed in the country. Instead of enforcing caps, the prioritisation system offers a balanced approach to visa processing.

The withdrawal of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) amendment bill, which sought to impose limits on international student enrolments, enabled this development.

Under the new guidelines, student visa applications are processed until an institution reaches 80% of its allocated cap for new overseas student commencements.

Once this threshold is met, applications from the institution in question are deprioritised in favour of others that have not yet reached their limit. This system specifically applies to offshore students residing outside Australia.

The rejection of the ESOS amendment bill by the Australian Parliament also eliminates the imposition of student caps, offering greater flexibility for both students and educational providers. This decision removes previous enrolment restrictions, granting institutions and international applicants more freedom in admissions.

The system categorises applications into two tiers of priority. Institutions below 80% of their student cap are prioritised, including those offering postgraduate research programmes, aviation pilot training, TAFE education, and sponsorships by the Commonwealth. Institutions exceeding this threshold receive secondary priority until others reach similar levels.

Applicants are advised to submit complete visa applications early to avoid delays or potential refusals. Cases already submitted will be assessed under the new Ministerial Direction 111.

This updated approach promotes fair distribution of visa processing among institutions, ensuring no single institution dominates allocations. With the removal of student caps, international students enjoy greater flexibility when selecting academic programmes.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has published indicative allocations for higher education and vocational training providers to ensure transparency for all stakeholders.

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