English language requirements – from 1 July 2016
The simplified student visa framework (SSVF) will come into effect on 1 July 2016.
The SSVF is designed to make the process of applying for a student visa simpler to navigate for genuine students, deliver a more targeted approach to immigration integrity and reduce red tape for business.
This factsheet summarises the key changes to English language requirements under the SSVF.
Student visa evidentiary requirements
Under the SSVF, students associated with the lowest immigration risk will generally have streamlined evidentiary requirements. This means these students will generally not be required to provide evidence of English language capacity with their visa application, other than a Confirmation of Enrolment which shows that they have met their education provider’s English language requirements. We will however retain the discretion to seek this evidence where appropriate.
Students associated with higher immigration risk, based on their country and education provider immigration risk outcomes, will generally have to provide documentary evidence of English language proficiency with their visa application.
Where documentary evidence is required, the student will need to provide one of the following with their visa application:
evidence of an acceptable English language test score
evidence that the student falls within an exempt category.
Students and agents will be able to obtain details about the documentation and evidence that will need to be included with their student visa application by accessing a working sample of the online tool on our website from mid May 2016.
The online tool will be fully functional from 1 July 2016 and accessible at any stage of the visa application process, including prior to the submission of a visa application.
Acceptable English language test score
Under the SSVF, where evidence of English language is required, the following minimum English language test scores from these providers will be accepted.