November 2022

by admin

New word limit for student visa GTE

The Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs has changed the GTE statement word limit to 300 words (with a 2000-character limit) from November 2022.

The statement needs to address your personal circumstances for undertaking your proposed study in Australia.

In addition to the written statement in the application form, you will also be required to attach supporting documents to Immi Account.

Evidence to include in GTE:

Previous Study

Gap in previous study

Current employment

Ties to home country or country of residence

Employment in a third country

For more information, please visit: Genuine temporary entrant requirement (homeaffairs.gov.au)

by admin

QLD – Fee waivers for dependent students of Temporary Visa holders

This column will look at the tuition fee exemptions for eligible dependent students of temporary visa holders.

Among the many reasons for coming to Australia, the biggest reason is children’s education. And If you are a temporary visa holder with children, many people are curious about the tuition exemption for their children.

This is critical information because if your child does not receive a tuition waiver or discount, the tuition for primary school students is $14,192 (Tuition Fee for 2023), which can be a big burden. While not all temporary visas get exempt, most public schools offer tuition exemptions or reduced tuition for private schools.

However, it is essential to look at each State’s education website as there are differences in tuition fees and visas.

Tuition exemption visas for under-age children of the main application are as follows:

Other visa exemptions include:

• New Zealand citizens settling in Australia
• The child of the main application who is doing the doctoral program
• Child of a Masters by Research main application at a University in Regional Queensland

More information can be found at the site below.

DE International schedule of visa subclasses and enrolment conditions (qed.qld.gov.au)

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Eligibility to access Medicare

In this column, we will look at the temporary visas that can apply for the Australian medical system, Medicare.

Medicare is a health care service for Australians that provides free treatment and hospitalization in public hospitals, low-cost medicines and free or low-cost care from doctors and other health professionals.

It is operated by the Australian Government, and Australian citizens and permanent residents can use free medical services.

There are many people who would like to receive the Medicare benefits. This is because those who hold a student visa or other temporary visas in Australia are required to purchase a medical insurance so that it meets the visa conditions. Medical insurances are quite expensive, ranging from about $100 to more than $300 per month for individuals, depending on the insurance benefits.

​The following temporary visas are eligible for Australia’s Medicare services from the date of application.

• Temporary Partner Visa (subclass 820, 309)
• Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa (subclass 491)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional visa (subclass 494)
• Witness Protection (Trafficking) Temporary visa (subclass 787)
• Support for Victims of People Trafficking Program
• Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786)
• Temporary or Permanent Parent Contributor Visa (subclasses 173, 143, 884, 864)
• Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785)
• Removal Pending Bridging visa (subclass 070)
• Unauthorised maritime arrivals holding a Bridging E (Class WE) visa
• Humanitarian Stay (temporary) visa (subclass 449), Ukraine nationals can read about Ukraine visa support on the Department of Home Affairs website
• Secondary Movement Offshore Entry visa XB (subclass 447)
• Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790)

All you need to prepare for Medicare enrolment is the Medicare enrolment form (MS004), a copy of your passport, and your current visa approval letter (or bridging visa approval letter)

For more information please visit:

Enrolling in Medicare if you’re a temporary resident covered by a Ministerial Order – Medicare – Services Australia