Extending your stay (student visas)

While you can’t extend or renew a visa, you can apply for another visa to extend your stay.

Students in Australia

• You’ll need to apply for a new student visa if you’re unable to complete your course before your current visa expires (you’ll find the end date in the CoE attached to your current student visa).You’ll be able to stay in Australia for as long as it takes to process your new visa application – but it’s a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to prepare and apply.If you need any help with a visa application, you can contact a registered migration agent.After you applyOnce you’ve applied, you’ll receive an acknowledgement email from the Department of Home Affairs.Log into your ImmiAccount and check the health assessment tab to see if there are any health assessment requirements. If there are health assessment requirements, you can book an appointment online with Bupa Medical Visa Services or call them on 1300 794 919.Processing timesProcessing times for visa applications can vary. Your application may take longer to process if you’re required to provide more information or documentation. To keep things moving, make sure you check your ImmiAccount and email regularly for updates and requests.If you’re in Australia and your current student visa expires before your new one has been approved, you’ll automatically be granted a Bridging visa A (subclass 010).For more information about processing times, see subclass 500 Student visa (Department of Home Affairs).
• If you want to stay in Australia after you’ve completed your studies, you’ll need to apply for a new visa before your student visa expires.To work in Australia after you’ve graduated, you'll need a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).If you want to stay for other reasons, you’ll need to apply for another class of visa that suits your circumstances.
• If your student visa has expired within the last 28 days, you can still apply for a new student visa.
• If your visa expired more than 28 days ago, you need to apply for a subclass 050 Bridging visa E (BVE) immediately. A BVE is a short-term visa that lets you remain in the country while you make arrangements to leave Australia.
• If you’re transferring to a different type of course (e.g. diploma to bachelor degree), you’ll need to apply for a new student visa once you’ve accepted your course offer and received a Confirmation of Enrolment.For more information, see our changes affecting your visa page.

Students outside Australia

If your visa is about to expire

If you’re not in Australia and your student visa is set to expire before you can complete your studies, you’ll need to apply for a new visa as soon as possible.

Processing times for student visas can vary, so it’s a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to prepare (we recommend applying at least 8 weeks before your visa expires).

1. Use the visa processing times guide (Department of Home Affairs) to see how long your visa application may take to process.
2. Apply for a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) to attach to your application – it can take up to seven University working days for us to come back with an outcome.
3. Renew your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) to cover the duration of your new visa and update your OSHC start and end dates in the Web Enrolment System (WES).
4. Use the document checklist tool (Department of Home Affairs) to find out which documents you need to attach to your application.
5. Apply for your Student visa (subclass 500) at least eight weeks before your current visa expires.

If you need any help with a visa application, you can contact a registered migration agent.

After you apply

Once you’ve applied, you’ll receive an acknowledgement email from the Department of Home Affairs.

Log into your ImmiAccount and check the health assessment tab to see if there are any health assessment requirements. If you’re required to have a health assessment, you’ll need to book an appointment online with Bupa Medical Visa Services or call them on 1300 794 919.

Processing times

Your application may take longer to process if you’re required to provide more information or documentation. To keep things moving, make sure you check your ImmiAccount and email regularly for updates and requests.

For more information about processing times, see subclass 500 Student visa (Department of Home Affairs).

If you’re under 18

If you’re under 18 years old, contact our International Student Engagement (ISE) team at iss@monash.edu or call +61 3 9905 6267.

Research degree students

If you’re unable to submit your thesis by the end of your course, you’ll need to apply for a candidature extension as well as a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

If you’ve submitted your thesis for marking but you’re required to stay in Australia for your thesis correction, you’ll need a new visa. To apply, you need a letter from your supervisor (you won’t need a new CoE).

Staying to graduate

If your student visa is about to expire and you want to stay in Australia to attend a graduation ceremony, you can apply for a visitor visa (subclass 600). Just use the graduation confirmation email to support your application (you'll receive this about seven weeks before your ceremony). If your family would also like to attend, they can also apply for a visitor visa using a copy of your graduation confirmation email.

Student visa application fee waiver

If you can’t complete your course before your visa expires due to the impact of COVID-19, you may be eligible to have the application fee waived for your new visa.

To apply for the fee waiver

1. Read the information on subclass 500 Student visa (Department of Home Affairs).
2. Submit an enquiry through MoVA explaining how COVID-19 impacted your ability to complete your course before your visa expires.
3. If you’re eligible for the fee waiver, we’ll supply you with a completed COVID-19 Impacted Students Form (it’ll take about four University working days for us to respond with an outcome).
4. Submit the completed COVID-19 Impacted Students Form during your new visa application.

Eligibility

We’ll give you a completed fee waiver form if

all of the following

apply:

• You held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020.
• You haven’t already applied for a new student visa (your application fee won't be refunded if you've already applied).
• Your student visa expires within the next three months.
• You can’t complete your course before your visa expires due to the impacts of COVID-19. This includes if you:

• had to defer or take study leave because you couldn't enter Australia due to travel restrictions
• had to reduce your study load to part-time due to units not being offered by the faculty
• couldn't complete your work-based training or placements.