GTE Requirements Update to Study Abroad in Australia
If you're planning to study in abroad Australia, you probably know about the Subclass 500 visa. The Subclass 500 is the student visa international students need to study in Australia. This visa allows you to stay up to 5 years in Australia after you enroll in a course. The student visa also allows you to travel in and out of Australia and work during your stay.
One of the key requirements of your visa application, up until March 2024, was the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement. The GTE criteria intended to satisfy immigration authorities that you are an international student with the willingness and ability to return home after completing your studies in Australia. As of 23rd March 2024, this requirement changed from to the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. The GS requirement intends to encourage students who possess the skills Australia needs to pursue post-study permanent residency!
The Shift from GTE Requirements to GS Requirements
The GTE requirement included an assessment during the visa application process proving that you were a temporary resident of Australia as a student. The immigration officer would require you to write a 300-word personal statement with details about your motivations to study in Australia, your ties to your home country, your current or previous employment details, etc. You would need to submit evidence along with this statement to support the facts you mentioned.
The Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement was mandatory for the student visa up until March 2024. The previous policy focused on ensuring that applicants were genuine students planning to study abroad in Australia who intended to return home after graduation. The shift to the Genuine Student requirement indicates the Australian government’s acknowledgement and encouragement of skilled overseas graduates starting their careers in Australia. To encourage graduates to stay in Australia and contribute to the industry, the new Genuine Student requirement is now part of the Subclass 500 application process.
GS Assessment Criteria to Study Abroad in Australia
To meet the GS assessment criteria, you will need to answer a set of questions as a part of your online visa application form. These questions will cover information such as:
Your current circumstances:
Including your ties to your family and community, employment history and plans, and economic circumstances in your home country
Your motivations to study in Australia:
Here, you will write about why you chose to study abroad in Australia, including why you chose your program and university. Your answer must reflect your understanding of the study requirements of your program and your expectations of studying and living in Australia
The benefits of completing this program:
You will describe how the program will make a difference to you e.g., what career advantages, such as higher earning potential, can you unlock with this degree?
Others
You can also note down any other relevant information the immigration officer ought to know. If you are a former Australian visa holder, you will need to answer further questions detailing the same.
For all the answers you provide, you must also upload supporting documents to your visa application portal (ImmiAccount).
Differences Between GTE and GS Requirements
All Australian student visa applicants who applied on or after 23rd March 2024 will need to fulfil the Genuine Student requirement. For applicants who submitted their applications before 23rd March 2024, GTE requirements apply. Below, we break down the key changes to your Subclass 500 visa:
| Changes | Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) | Genuine Student (GS) |
| Eligibility | Must be temporary entrant and indicate willingness and ability to return home after graduation | Must be student enrolling in a course in Australia, with the potential of graduating in one of Australia’s in-demand skill sectors |
| Focal point | Proof of intention to leave Australia after study | Proof of genuine intention to study abroad in Australia |
| Post-study options | Must leave Australia unless extending stay for a different type of visa | Intends to integrate students with the skills Australia needs into the country’s workforce after graduation, through post-study opportunities like permanent residency pathways |
| Assessment process | 300-word statement written by applicant | 150-word answers to specific questions |
| English proficiency | IELTS score of 5.5 (or equivalent) | IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) |
Major Subclass 500 Visa Update: English Language Requirements
Alongside the Genuine Student requirement visa update, you will also need to meet a higher English language proficiency requirement. In fact, answering the GS requirement questions can also indicate to immigration officers the level of your English proficiency. This is an important component of your application to study in Australia.
The English language proficiency requirements for the Subclass 500 are higher as of 2024. Have a look at the major changes below:
| Requirement | Changes |
| Minimum IELTS score for visa | Increased from 5.5 to 6.0 (or equivalent) |
| Minimum IELTS score to enroll in packaged English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) | Increased from 4.5 to 5.0 (or equivalent) |
| Minimum IELTS score to learn English only from ELICOS | No change |
| Minimum IELTS score to enroll in university foundation programs or pathway programs offering English language training | Set to 5.5 (or equivalent) |
Nature of Questions to Meet Genuine Student Requirements
The Genuine Student assessment is part of your online application for the Subclass 500 visa. Unlike the GTE assessment, where you would have to write a statement, for the GS assessment, you must answer a set of questions during your visa application. Each question has a 150-word limit, must be in English, and must contain genuine information about yourself. Here are the questions you can expect as part of your visa application to study abroad in Australia:
Applicant’s Current Circumstances
This includes information about your family and community ties. It also includes details about the economic and employment circumstances of the applicant. Some of the factors to discuss here include:
Why study abroad in Australia?
Discuss, for example, how the program you are looking for is not available in your home country, or how the quality of programs in Australia is better and aligns with your future career goals.
Ties with home country
For example:
• the family you have at home
• details of current employment, if applicable. This can include information like:
o name and contact details of your employer
o how long you have been in employment
o details of your position/designation
o referee details of someone who can authenticate the information you provided about your employment
Economic circumstances at home
Declaring your annual income, potential employment opportunities after graduation, bank statements etc. These documents help you demonstrate that you have:
• the financial ability to support your studies in Australia
• incentive to complete your studies in Australia
Reason for Choosing Your Program
Here, you will demonstrate your intentions as a genuine student planning to study abroad in Australia by discussing:
● Your reason for choosing your course or program
● Why you want to study at this particular university or institute
● Why you chose Australia to study this program
● Your expectations of studying and living in Australia
● Requirements of your program completion
Confidently, honestly, and accurately discussing the above communicates that you did your research and are keen to complete your studies in Australia.
Benefits the Applicant Will Enjoy by Studying in Australia
For this question, you will discuss how this Australian degree is going to be advantageous to you and your future goals and plans. Immigration officers will consider things like whether your program choice is consistent with your current or past career and your prior education. If you are, for example, planning to upskill, reskill, or shift career trajectories altogether, you must demonstrate your goals and plans authentically and accurately.
Discuss:
● Why you think this degree/certificate is good for your career. This includes insights into your salary opportunities at home or elsewhere thanks to this qualification
● Explain what you plan to do once you finish the course. This may include your plans of employment in Australia or at home
● The relevance of your course of study to other aspects of your life
Other Relevant Information
Alongside the above, you can share in-depth other information relevant to your application, such as:
● Any past study experiences in Australia or abroad
● Your immigration history (including Australia)
● Any visa cancellations or rejections (and reasons for the same)
● Any prior certification from Australian institutions or authorities
Supporting Documentation
All information you provide for the Genuine Student assessment must be accurate, with supporting evidence. Supporting documentation for your answers can include:
• Proof of previous study – including academic transcripts, name of education provider, study length, etc.
• Proof of previous study in Australia, if applicable – including a complete record of your study history in the country
• Details of your current employment – e.g., company name and address, designation, period of employment
• Proof of economic circumstances at home – e.g., bank statements, salary slips, income tax returns, etc.
• Immigration history – e.g., photocopies of current and previous passports
Reasons Behind the GTE Requirements Update
The GTE requirement update is a part of the Australian government’s Migration Strategy release. Published on 11 December 2023, this release explains the change in the Australian government's policies towards international students. In a nutshell, the Australian government is keen to encourage qualified international students to seek a career in Australia. This is particularly the case for graduates in the areas where Australia is experiencing a skill shortage. Some of the key factors guiding this change are:
Addressing Skills Needs
The Australian government wishes to encourage qualified international workers to enter the Australian labor market. As a result, the GS requirement takes away the GTE conditions whereby students had to demonstrate their willingness and ability to return home after graduation.
Driving Long-Term Prosperity
Under the GS requirements, student visa applicants can apply for permanent residency in Australia in the future. This post-study residency option enables long-term career development and life enrichment opportunities.
Raise Applicant Standards
The higher English proficiency scores encourage applications from those with the highest likelihood of succeeding in an Australian university. The main language of communication in Australia, in the classroom and outside it, is English. Just as university admissions officers use English proficiency as an indicator of your success in their programs, so too do immigration officers of your success as an international student in Australia.
Strategic Skill Planning
The expression of intention to stay after graduation during visa application helps long-term planning. The Australian government is able to track skilled students who will graduate as valuable members of the workforce and society. Plus, incentivizing international students through attractive post-study opportunities in the areas where Australia experiences skills shortages is a strategic move to address these gaps.
Support Regional Australia
Regional visas now receive a higher priority in visa processing. This creates greater opportunities for sustainable growth across Australia through overseas education.
Other Subclass 500 Visa Requirements
Alongside the Genuine Student and English language proficiency requirements, other Subclass 500 requirements include:
• Proof of identity, e.g., passport
• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
• Proof of financial ability – covering tuition and living expenses
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
• Health examination report
• Police clearance certificate
• Other documents (e.g., forms authorizing third-party immigration agents to apply on your behalf)
Rounding Up
The updated Genuine Student requirement is great news for applicants planning to study abroad in Australia. The update encourages you to aim for a career in Australia after graduation. To complete the assessment, you must appropriately, honestly, and accurately answer the relevant questions in the online visa application. These questions include details about you, your family, your education and employment, your economic circumstances, etc. Immigration authorities use this information to gauge your genuine intent as a student planning to complete a degree in Australia.
