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Attendance Condition 8202 on Student visa

Condition 8202 in brief

Condition 8202 is attached to every student visa (subclass 500). It means you must stay enrolled in a registered course, keep satisfactory attendance and course progress, and not move to a lower AQF level course. Breaching it can lead to your visa being cancelled. New student visa rules also apply from 2 October 2026: see student visa changes from 2 October 2026.

As a Student visa holder you must:

  • remain enrolled in a registered course (if you are a Foreign Affairs or Defence sponsored student or a secondary exchange student you must maintain full-time enrolment in your course of study or training)
  • maintain enrolment in a registered course that is the same Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level or higher for which we granted your student visa, unless changing from AQF level 10 to level 9.
  • maintain satisfactory attendance in your course and course progress for each study period as required by your education provider.

Note: A registered course is one that is on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Gap between courses

Generally course gaps should not be more than 2 months. A course gap can be more than 2 months if:

  • it is the end of the academic year study break
  • you are affected by education provider default
  • you have completed your course and you are applying for a new visa

What condition 8202 requires

Requirement What it means in practice
Stay enrolled You must hold a current Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for a CRICOS registered course for the whole time you are in Australia on the visa, apart from approved breaks.
Satisfactory attendance School and English language (ELICOS) providers monitor attendance, and students generally need to attend at least 80% of scheduled contact hours. Other providers may also have attendance rules.
Satisfactory course progress You must pass enough of your subjects. Your provider must warn you and offer support if you are at risk, and can report you to Home Affairs if your progress is unsatisfactory after that process.
Same or higher AQF level You cannot change to a lower level course, for example from a bachelor degree to a diploma, on the same visa. The only exception is moving from a doctorate (AQF 10) to a masters by research (AQF 9).

What to do if you are at risk of breaching 8202

  1. Talk to your education provider early. Providers have intervention strategies, such as study support, a reduced study load or a change of subjects.
  2. If you are sick or have a serious family problem, ask about a deferral or suspension of study on compassionate or compelling grounds, and keep medical or other evidence.
  3. If your provider notifies you that it intends to report you, use its internal appeal process within the time it gives you.
  4. If you receive a notice of intention to consider cancellation from Home Affairs, respond within the deadline and get advice. See our guide to visa cancellations.
  5. Keep working within your work limits (48 hours per fortnight during study periods), as a breach of work conditions is a separate problem. See work rights on a student visa.

Condition 8202 FAQs

Home Affairs may cancel your student visa. If your visa is cancelled while you are in Australia you may be restricted from applying for most other visas, and a cancellation can affect future visa applications. You are usually given a chance to respond before a decision is made.

Yes, in some cases. Your provider can approve a deferral or temporary suspension of your enrolment for compassionate or compelling reasons, such as illness. Speak to your provider before you stop attending. A break that is not approved can lead to a breach.

Not on your current visa. Moving to a lower AQF level course, such as from a masters to a bachelor degree, generally requires a new student visa. Changing to another course at the same or a higher level is allowed, but you must keep a valid CoE.

Generally no more than 2 months, unless the gap is the normal end-of-year break, your provider has defaulted, or you have finished your course and are applying for a new visa.

Condition 8202 applies to the student. Family members on your visa have their own conditions, for example on work and on school enrolment for school aged children.

Related guides

Attendance (Condition 8202) Work Rights (8105 Condition) No Further Stay (Condition 8534)

Recent News

Australian Migration News: October 2026 Update

Student visa changes from 2 October 2026

After Graduation in Australia: Key PR Pathways for International Students in 2026

What the New Migration Reforms Mean for You

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