Onshore Student Visas Must Include COE

Changes to Student Visa Applications in Australia from 1 January 2025

Starting 1 January 2025, the Department of Home Affairs will no longer accept Letters of Offer for Student visa applications submitted within Australia. Instead, onshore applicants must provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when lodging their application. This requirement applies only to applications submitted on or after this date—those lodged before 1 January 2025 with a Letter of Offer will not be affected.

Applications submitted without a CoE will be considered invalid, meaning visa decision-makers cannot process them. Additionally, a Bridging visa cannot be granted if the substantive visa application is invalid.

This change ensures that both onshore and offshore Student visa applicants meet the same requirement for proving their intended course of study. By requiring a CoE at the time of application, students demonstrate a stronger commitment to their education provider, increasing certainty within Australia’s international education sector.

There will be no changes for Foreign Affairs, Defence, or secondary exchange students, who may still provide alternative forms of evidence for their intended course of study.

Current visa holders in Australia must ensure they maintain lawful status. If you intend to study but cannot secure a CoE before your existing visa expires, you must either leave Australia or consider other visa options. Additionally, recent restrictions limit eligibility for applying for a Student visa while holding certain other visas. For further details, refer to Ending ‘visa hopping’ in the migration system.