From January 1, 2025, applicants for Australian student visas are required to include a “Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)” in order to verify their enrollment in a registered course at an educational institution in Australia.
The new changes in the student visa application process come as part of efforts to strengthen the integrity of the visa system and ensure that only legitimate students can benefit from the student visas, VisaGuide.Word reports.
The decision has also been confirmed by a Department of Home Affairs spokesperson to SBS Hindi.
From January 1, 2025, onwards, unless exempt, onshore student visa applicants must provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) at the time of lodging their (student visa) application.
The spokesperson also told SBS Hindi that a letter of offer issued by the education provider will not be accepted anymore as proof of the intended course of study.
According to the Department, if a CoE is not provided at the time of application, the application will not be considered valid, and the visa officials will not be eligible to renew it.
The Department has also emphasized that a bridging visa cannot be granted if the main visa application is invalid.
Providing a CoE at the time of visa application demonstrates a stronger commitment by the student to study at that institution. This will increase certainty for Australia’s international education sector.
No Changes to the Alternative Forms of Evidence
The Department of Home Affairs of Australia also said that there are no changes to the alternative forms of evidence for the intended course of study.
The Department emphasized that if persons intending to study in Australia are not eligible to obtain a CoE before their current visa expires, they will be required to either depart from Australia or find other visa options.
In addition, the spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs told SBS Hindi that the new changes are in line with the requirements to provide evidence of the intended course of study for both onshore and offshore student visa applications.
The Department of Home Affairs grants any student visa in line with, amongst other things, the enrolment timeframes detailed in the CoE with an appropriate additional period to allow for a person to depart Australia or seek a further visa.
A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is an electronic document that helps to confirm that an applicant has been accepted into a course, has paid tuition fees and Overseas Student Health Cover, or registered with a provider.