How early can I travel to Australia after being granted a student visa 500

Congratulations if your Australian student visa has been granted.

Now that you have it, it’s good to be clear on “when to enter the country” for your studies.

Certainly, it will help you plan your trip, and ensure you arrive at the right time, to start your program.

The Australian student visa has flexible entrance conditions, and how early you can travel is down to your program start date and, your specific visa conditions.

How early can I travel to Australia after being granted a student visa 500?

You can travel to Australia as early as 90 days before your course starts after being granted a student visa (subclass 500). If your course begins in less than 90 days from the day your visa was granted, you can enter at any time before the course commences.

However, if your visa has a “must not enter before date” condition attached to it, then, you can only travel to Australia after the date specified on your visa condition.

The “must not enter before” or “must not arrive before” condition specifies the earliest date you can travel to Australia after being granted a student visa 500.

The condition is based on your program start date which will be stated on your Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE).

If you have this condition in your visa, you cannot enter Australia before the specified date (even if your visa is granted earlier).

Make sure to check your visa grant notice for specific details on entry conditions.

Your target is to enter Australia as early as possible – because, with enough time on your hands, you’ll have time to settle, find accommodation, and be prepared for your studies before your program starts.

If possible, arrange a suitable accommodation before you arrive in the country.

How late can I go to Australia after getting a student visa?

If you’re entering Australia late for your studies, check your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) to see the latest date you can arrive.

Generally, you’re expected to enter the country before your course start date.

However, if you need to arrive late, notify your institution in Australia to get approval and ensure they’ll accept your enrollment.

Give them a valid reason for the delay to avoid any issues during your enrollment (when you resume).

Acceptable reasons for late entry include:

Delays in processing your visa.
Medical emergencies or health issues.
Unforeseen personal or family circumstances.
Travel restrictions or disruptions like during natural disasters or political unrest.
Course-related reasons.

In some cases, arriving too late without proper arrangements will lead to issues with your visa.

For some institutions, you can go to Australia as late as 28 days after your course start date.

This timeframe is considered reasonable enough to join other students.

What to do after getting an Australian student visa?

After getting your Australian student visa, read the visa conditions thoroughly, next, decide on when to travel, book your flights to Australia, and then, prepare all the documents you need to travel with.

Secure temporary accommodation and confirm your enrollment with your institution before leaving for Australia.

To make your pre-travel preparations easier, contact your institution’s international students office for any pre-arrival instructions.

What does Australian immigration check at the airport for international students?

At the airport, Australian immigration checks your passport, visa, and arrival card to confirm your entry eligibility.

They can also ask for proof of enrollment, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and financial evidence.

Additionally, customs will inspect your luggage for prohibited items and confirm your enrollment in an approved course in an Australian institution.

They can also ask you about your accommodation plans, and any items you bring into the country.

What is the best time to enter Australia after getting a student visa 500?

The best time to enter Australia after getting a student visa 500 is 14 days before your course start date.

This will give you enough time to settle, attend orientation sessions and adjust to your surroundings before your studies start.

Things to do when you land in Australia as a student

When you land in Australia as a student, immediately:

Go through immigration checks and present your passport, visa, and other required documents for verification.
Retrieve your luggage from the baggage claim area.
Take a taxi from the airport to your temporary accommodation.
Later, preferably, the next day, get a mobile phone and open an account.
Get your Unique Student Identifier (USI).
Inform your institution about your residential address within seven (7) days of your arrival.
Lastly, move around and learn about places on campus.

What to expect in Australia as an international student?

As an international student in Australia, you can expect:

A culturally diverse country: Australia welcomes immigrants (students) from all over the world, and this has made the country a multicultural society.
High-quality education: This is one of the best countries in the world to study so, expect nothing but the best here.
Excellent student support: Australian institutions have support services for international students. Whatever you need, ask and you’ll get it.
Work opportunities: If you are a full-time student, you’re allowed to work while you study.
Your safety is guaranteed: Australia is a very safe country – they have strict laws that ensure the well-being of residents and visitors.

FAQs

How long does it take to get a confirmation of enrollment in Australia?

It takes one week (7 days) to receive your confirmation of enrollment in Australia after submitting your proof of admission and other required details.

Can CoE be rejected?

Of course, it can, a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) can be rejected if the institution that issued it finds out that you do not meet its admission requirements or if there are issues with the documents you submitted.

Your CoE can be rejected due to any of the following:

If you submit an incomplete application.
If you don’t have sufficient academic qualifications.
If there are any discrepancies in the information you submitted.

What is the next step after CoE in Australia?

After getting your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) in Australia, the next step is to apply for your student visa (subclass 500) through the Department of Home Affairs.

Does CoE guarantee a visa in Australia?

No, a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) in Australia does not guarantee a visa. While it is an important document for visa application, it does not mean you’ll get approval.

Visa approval depends on whether you meet the whole visa application requirements, not just CoE.

Why is my CoE taking so long?

Your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) can take so long if your institution needs more time to process it, especially during busy enrollment periods.

In some cases, it can be that they are verifying your documents or qualifications, which will add to the time.

Furthermore, some courses or programs do extra checks before issuing a CoE.

How long does it take to get an Australian visa subclass 500?

If you submit a complete application, it takes between 2 to 4 months to get an Australian visa subclass 500.

If you have received your confirmation of enrollment, you need to apply for a visa on time.

This way, it will be ready before the start date of your program.

I got my Australian student visa on March 27, but my classes are starting in August. Can I go 3 and a half months early to Australia?

You’re allowed to arrive in Australia on a student visa up to 90 days before your course start date.

If your classes are starting in August and you received your visa on March 27, going to Australia 3 and a half months early aligns with this timeframe.

You can go to Australia after getting your visa as long as it’s within the 90-day mark.

My classes are starting next week and I have not received my Australian student visa yet. If my semester starts and I don’t get my visa, does that mean my visa has been rejected?

If your classes are starting next week and you haven’t received your Australian student visa yet, it doesn’t in any way, mean your visa has been rejected.

You can still receive your visa after the semester starts, so continue monitoring your visa status or contact the Australian embassy to know the cause of the delay.

I applied for an Australian student visa and my classes are about to commence but I have not gotten a visa until now. What should I do?

If you’ve applied for an Australian student visa but haven’t received it yet and your classes are about to begin, you should immediately contact your school and let them know about the situation, then contact the Department of Home Affairs or the Australian embassy/consulate where you submitted your visa application to know the reasons for the delay and what to do.

What happens if the intake date has passed but the student visa application is still under processing in Australia?

If the intake date has passed but your student visa application is still under processing in Australia, you can defer your enrollment to the next available intake.

I was already granted an Australian student visa as my course will start in October. If the university changed the date and made it as early as August, should I apply again for a visa?

If your course start date has been changed to an earlier date after you’ve already been granted an Australian student visa, you do not need to apply for a new visa.

You can enter Australia with your visa before the new start date because it is still valid.

Can I visit Australia earlier with the student visa before school starts? Or should I apply for a visitor visa before a student visa?

If you already have a valid student visa, you can visit Australia with the student visa before school starts, you don’t necessarily need to apply for a visitor visa if the main purpose of the visit is to study.

If your student visa is ready, you can enter Australia with it up to 90 days before your course starts.

However, the best time to enter is 14 days before your program starts. It gives you enough time to settle in and prepare for the start of your course.

Sign Up

Sign In

Forgot Password

Avireed Latest Articles