6Primary Criteria

6 Primary Criteria

For the purpose of subclause 500.213(1) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations, the following requirements are specified:

the applicant must undertake one of the English language tests specified in Column 1 of Schedule 1;
the applicant must achieve the English language test score specified for that English language test in Column 3 of Schedule 1; and
the applicant must have completed the test within the following period:

  if evidence of the test is provided at the time the applicant makes an application for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa - 2 years immediately before the date of the visa application; or
  if evidence of the test is not provided at the time the visa application is made - 2 years immediately before a decision to grant or refuse the visa application is made.

For the purpose of subclause 500.213(2) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations, subclause 500.213(1) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations does not apply to the following classes of applicants:

an applicant who is a citizen of, and who holds a valid passport issued by:

the United Kingdom; the United States of America; Canada; New Zealand; or the Republic of Ireland; or

an applicant who is enrolled in a principal course of study that is:

registered to be delivered in a language other than English; a registered ELICOS course, as defined in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations; a registered school course; or a registered post-graduate research course; or

an applicant who is a:

Foreign Affairs student; Defence Student; or Secondary exchange student; or

an applicant, who, in the 2 years before applying for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa, has successfully completed:

the requirements for a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, in a course that was conducted in Australia and in English; or a substantial component of a course leading to a qualification from the Australian Qualifications Framework at the Certificate IV level or higher that was conducted in Australia and in English, while the applicant was holding a student visa; or

an applicant who has successfully completed a minimum of 5 years of study in English undertaken in one or more of the following countries;

Australia; Canada; New Zealand; South Africa; the Republic of Ireland; the United Kingdom; the United States of America.

Part 3 – Application