{"id":"F2024L01728","name":"Migration (Evidence of Intended Course of Study for Student Visa Applications) Specification 2024","slug":"migration-evidence-of-intended-course-of-study-for-student-visa-applications-specification-2024","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":442695,"registerId":"F2024L01728-fast-fetch-1775957645556","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Migration (Evidence of Intended Course of Study for Student Visa Applications) Specification 2024","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nLIN 24/109\n\n \n\nMigration (Evidence of Intended Course of Study for Student Visa Applications) Specification 2024\n\nI, Karin Maier, delegate of the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, make the following instrument.\n\nDated   19 December 2024\n\nKarin Maier\n\nActing SES Band 2 / First Assistant Secretary\n\nImmigration Programs Division\n\nDepartment of Home Affairs\n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n1  Name\n\n2  Commencement\n\n3  Authority\n\nPart 2—Evidence of intended course of study\n\n4  Specification of evidence of intended course of study\n\nPart 3—Application provisions\n\n5  Application of this instrument\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nEvidence of Intended Course of Study 2017/013 (IMMI 17/013)\n\n \n\n \n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Migration (Evidence of Intended Course of Study for Student Visa Applications) Specification 2024.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on 1 January 2025.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under paragraph 1222(5)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations 1994.\n\nPart 2—Evidence of intended course of study\n\n4  Specification of evidence of intended course of study\n\n (1) For the purposes of paragraph 1222(3)(c) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations 1994, for an applicant seeking to satisfy the primary criteria for the grant of a Subclass 500 (Student) visa, the application must be accompanied by evidence of the applicant’s intended courses of study in Australia, or activities related to study in Australia, that satisfies one or more of the requirements specified in subsection (2).\n\n (2) The specified requirements are that the evidence is:\n\n (a) a confirmation of enrolment number (that has not been cancelled or revoked) for each of the applicant’s intended courses of study, included in the relevant field in the application form; or\n\n (b) in the case of a:\n\n (i) Foreign Affairs student—a letter of support from the Foreign Minister, attached to the application;\n\n (ii) Defence student—a letter of support from the Defence Minister, attached to the application;\n\n (iii) secondary exchange student—an AASES form relating to the applicant, attached to the application; or\n\n (c) a letter, attached to the application, from the applicant’s relevant education provider that states that the provider requires the applicant to remain in Australia during the marking of the applicant’s postgraduate thesis.\n\nPart 3—Application provisions\n\n5  Application of this instrument\n\n  This instrument applies in relation to an application for a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa made on or after the commencement of the instrument, where the applicant seeks to satisfy the primary criteria for the grant of a Subclass 500 (Student) visa.  \n\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nEvidence of Intended Course of Study 2017/013 (IMMI 17/013)\n\n1  The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument.\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument repeals the Evidence of Intended Course of Study 2017/013 and replaces it with a narrowly specified list of acceptable documents (confirmation of enrolment, ministerial support letters or AASES form for certain students, or a provider thesis-marking letter) to satisfy the primary criteria for a Subclass 500 visa (s4; Schedule 1). It applies to applications made on or after 1 January 2025 (s2, s5)."},"complexity_factors":["Prescriptive list of acceptable evidence rather than open-ended criteria (s4(2))","Different evidence routes for specified student categories (Foreign Affairs, Defence, secondary exchange) (s4(2)(b))","Requirement that a confirmation of enrolment must not be cancelled or revoked (s4(2)(a))","Specific provider-letter exception limited to postgraduate thesis marking (s4(2)(c))","Instrument applies only to applications made on or after commencement (1 Jan 2025) (s2, s5)","Full repeal of the prior instrument (Schedule 1), requiring administrative transition","Cross-reference to paragraph 1222(3)(c) of the Migration Regulations 1994, creating dependency on that primary criteria (s4(1))","Verification and procedural details (how the Department should check authenticity or handle borderline evidence) are not set out in the instrument (s4)"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets out the specific documents that Subclass 500 (Student) visa applicants must lodge to show their intended course of study. It requires a current confirmation of enrolment, specified ministerial or exchange paperwork for certain sponsored students, or a provider letter about remaining in Australia to mark a postgraduate thesis (s4). Applicants must obtain and attach the documents; the Department checks them against the primary criteria. The instrument takes effect 1 January 2025 and repeals the 2017 specification."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument maintains the exact same scope as its 2017 predecessor. It performs a simple legislative update — repealing the old instrument and replacing it with substantively identical requirements. The three categories of acceptable evidence (CoE numbers, ministerial letters for sponsored students, and thesis marking letters) remain unchanged. No expansion of coverage to new visa subclasses or additional evidentiary requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (only 5 substantive sections plus a repeal schedule)","Only 3 defined scenarios in section 4(2) with clear alternatives (a, b, or c)","Single cross-reference to Migration Regulations 1994 (paragraph 1222(5)(b) for authority and 1222(3)(c) for operative effect)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic — requirements are straightforward 'or' alternatives","Plain language definitions embedded in text (e.g., 'Foreign Affairs student', 'Defence student') rather than a separate definitions section","Application provision (section 5) is a simple temporal trigger (applications made on or after commencement date)"],"plain_english_summary":"This rule lists the exact documents international students must provide to prove genuine study intent for an Australian Subclass 500 visa from 1 January 2025: a Confirmation of Enrolment number, specific ministerial or exchange letters for certain student types, or a university letter if you must stay while a postgraduate thesis is marked. It’s administrative — it replaces the 2017 instrument and clarifies required paperwork so applications aren’t refused for lacking evidence."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/migration-evidence-of-intended-course-of-study-for-student-visa-applications-specification-2024","history":"/api/acts/migration-evidence-of-intended-course-of-study-for-student-visa-applications-specification-2024/history","analysis":"/api/acts/migration-evidence-of-intended-course-of-study-for-student-visa-applications-specification-2024/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/migration-evidence-of-intended-course-of-study-for-student-visa-applications-specification-2024/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/migration-evidence-of-intended-course-of-study-for-student-visa-applications-specification-2024/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/migration-evidence-of-intended-course-of-study-for-student-visa-applications-specification-2024/documents"}}