On 20 July 2020, the Australian Government announced changes to student visa arrangements.

Five visa changes have been announced to limit the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international students who are currently in Australia or outside the country.

The changes include:

• The Government will recommence granting student visas in all locations lodged outside Australia.
• International students will be able to lodge a further student visa application free of charge, if they are unable to complete their studies within their original visa validity due to COVID-19.
• Student visa holders studying online outside Australia due to COVID-19 will be able to use that study to count towards the Australian study requirement for a post-study work visa.
• Graduates who held a student visa will be eligible to apply for a post-study work visa outside Australia if they are unable to return due to COVID-19.
• Additional time will be given for applicants to provide English language results where COVID-19 has disrupted access to these services.

Australia prides itself on being a welcoming nation with a world-class education system and some of the lowest rates of COVID-19 in the world. These changes will help give international students confidence in their visa arrangements so that they can make plans to study in Australia when it is safe to do so.