The Australian Department of Home Affairs has announced that, from 1 January 2025 onwards, Letters of Offer will not be accepted when processing student visa applications. Meanwhile, when lodging a visa application, applicants will have to enclose a Confirmation of Enrolment.
Onshore applicants are required to submit a CoE at the time of application, according to the official statement. For students interested in secondary exchange, foreign affairs, or defence studies, the policy upholds the current alternative paperwork requirements.
The Department emphasises that visa decision-makers will not examine applications without a CoE and that they will be deemed illegitimate. Furthermore, if the substantive visa application is found to be invalid, no bridging visa will be granted. According to the official announcement, a CoE shows a student’s greater dedication to their university of choice.
Indian students who intend to study in Australia have responded to this change in a variety of ways. The requirement, according to an unnamed student, is restricted since it requires early enrolment at a specific university, which may limit the possibilities of investigating better options or scholarships that become available later.
Rahul S, a prospective student from India, wants to study data science for a master’s degree in Australia. He said, “I think requiring a confirmation of enrolment is a good step. It shows that Australia is serious about admitting genuine students, and it increases my confidence that my visa application won’t be rejected or delayed because of insufficient supporting evidence. It does, however, put pressure on us to commit early, and for students like me who require time to organise their money, paying tuition fees upfront might be difficult.”
“I’ve been torn between Australia and New Zealand, and this new CoE rule makes the decision harder,” said Priya Patel, a candidate for a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, regarding the policy’s impact on her decision. Due to the increased financial load and pressure to be admitted as soon as possible, New Zealand seems to be a simpler and less challenging option for overseas students, despite the fact that Australia has strong universities.
This modification comes after Australia’s previous decision, agreed by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in the Rajya Sabha, to raise the price of international student visas from AUD 710 to AUD 1,600, beginning July 1, 2024.
