Visas, Spouses and Children

Student Visas

All international students must obtain a valid student visa from the Australian Government for the duration of their degree program. If you are offered a place at University College, upon receipt of your payment and authorised Pre-Visa Assessment form (if required), a Confirmation of Enrolment for Overseas Students (CEOS) form will be issued. You will need to take your copy of the CEOS form to the Australian Diplomatic Mission in your country to obtain a Student Visa.

Work rights

Student Visas issued by the Australia Government carry visa condition 8101. This means that students are not permitted to work. If students wish to work they can apply for the right to work in Australia by lodging an application form and paying a fee (currently $50) after commencing their studies. Once a student obtains permission to work he or she can work up to 20 hours per week during session and full time during the university vacations.

Entry of Spouse and Dependants

Students who wish to bring their spouse and family must prove they have sufficient funds to support them while they are in Australia. While a dependent spouse may be permitted to work, obtaining employment is not easy. It is not advisable to plan your income on the basis of a spouse obtaining work. A student with dependants will probably need a minimum of $A4,000 a year for a spouse and $A3,000 a year for each child.

Schooling for dependent children

The current policy of the ACT Department of School Education provides schooling in ACT schools for dependent children of international students. Dependent children of international students, with the exception of those on full Australian Government funded scholarships, are required to pay the "Temporary Visa Holders Education Fee". In 2002 these fees range from AUS$6,900 per year for kindergarten to AUS$10,000 per year in Year 12. An application fee also applies.

Such dependent children will require Confirmation of Enrolment forms to enter the Country and therefore their applications for schools and visas will need to be planned well in advance of leaving their home country. Further information is available from the web at: ACT: http://www.decs.act.gov.au/applic/applic.htm

Childcare

If you plan to come to Australia with babies or small children, it is important to consider the availability and cost of child care. Attitudes, facilities and costs of child minding are probably different compared to those at home. Full-time care is difficult to find, especially for children under three years of age, and costs approximately $25-$45 a day.