Student Visa Waiver
The Government has announced a range of visa measures to support students. The measures will be temporary and will continue for as long as necessary. See Minister's media release and the homeaffairs webpage for more information.
Student visa fee waiver
The Australian Government is temporarily waiving the visa application fee to allow students to lodge a further student visa application to complete their study. This is available to certain 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. This includes students who:
- Deferred their study as they were unable to enter Australia due to travel restrictions.
- Were forced to reduce to a part-time study load. This means that you cannot receive the form if the reduced study load or leave was voluntary. The form only applies when a course that is normally offered was not offered by ANU because of COVID-19 meaning that you could not study full-time in that semester and were forced to reduce your load.
- Were unable to complete their work-based training and/or placements.
This measure is not intended for students who are applying for a new student visa due to ordinary reasons (including if you have failed a course or a unit of study, deferred for personal reasons or voluntarily reduced your study load.)
To be eligible, you must apply for a Student visa online and you must attach a completed Form 1545 COVID-19 Impacted Student (PDF - 228 KB) with a valid Student visa application. At ANU the 1545 form is completed by the Academic Standards and Quality Office.
Where to send your Form 1545 COVID-19 Impacted Student:
Refunds will not be available for students who have already applied for a Student visa. Only new applications will be eligible to have the application fee waived.
Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa eligibility
The Australian Government has temporarily changed the requirements for a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa for certain students who have been impacted by COVID-19. Specifically, online study undertaken outside Australia as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions will count towards the Australian Study Requirement for existing and new student visa holders.
Offshore student visa grants
The Australian Government has indicated that they have recommenced granting visas for students who lodged a student visa application outside Australia where all the requirements are met.
While travel restrictions remain in place, you cannot travel to Australia.
Additional information
For up-to-date information regarding visas, including information about staying, leaving or coming to Australia, visit:
Australian Government, Department of Home Affairs - COVID-19 and the Border
Study Australia, COVID-19 International Student Support and Welfare
For information about your work rights during the coronavirus outbreak, visit:
Government and other support services
Australian and ACT Government resources that international students can access for support:
- For information for temporary visa holders, visit the Access help page.
- Canberra is an inclusive city and discrimination is not tolerated. If you are experiencing any discrimination as an international student, visit the An Inclusive Canberra page for information.
- For Australian Government support and information, visit the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.
- Contact the Australian Government International Student Hotline for support.
- Phone: 1300 981 621 (8am to 8pm AEDST Monday to Friday within Australia only)
- Email: international.students@dese.gov.au
- Visit Study in Australia for information on health, visas, travel, and education.
- Visit the Department of Home Affairs Student Visa website for the latest student visa updates, including meeting conditions.
- Visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website or JobWatch website for information on your work rights.
- Visit the Insider Guides website for a COVID-19 Student Resource Hub
- Visit the SBS Radio website for COVID-19 updates in 63 languages
- For help from your home country, please contact your country's embassy or consulate in Australia.
Source: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/students-education-childcare#International-students
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