New CoE Requirement for Australia Student Visa – Mandatory in 2025

June 26, 2025

New CoE Requirement for Australia Student Visa – Mandatory in 2025

Australia has changed its international student visa policy, and it will affect how you prepare for your study abroad. From January 1, 2025, all applicants must submit a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) before applying for a student visa. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know, from the latest CoE Requirement for Australia Student Visa and how to get your CoE, to navigating the new system and avoiding costly delays or rejections.

The new process no longer allows students to apply with just a Letter of Offer, a practice many of us used to use to speed up the process. Without a CoE, your application will be invalid, and you won’t get a Bridging visa. If you’re studying in Australia, this is now the first and most crucial step in your student visa Australia application process. This changes how you start your journey and highlights the importance of planning and documentation.

Highlights of CoE Requirement for Australia Student Visa

The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that a (CoE) is now required for all student visa applications for Australia. This applies to onshore and offshore applicants and replaces the previous practice of using a Letter of Offer when lodging a visa.

Here are the key rules introduced under the new update:

• No student visa application will be considered valid without a CoE.
• Applicants without a CoE will not receive a Bridging visa.
• The change applies to all education sectors under Australia’s education visa framework.
• Applications lodged without this document will be rejected at the preliminary assessment stage.
• This update applies to new visa applications, not currently granted student visas

Read This – Top Reasons to Apply for an Australian Student Visa in 2025

What is Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)?

A CRICOS-registered Australian education provider issues a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), an official document that confirms your full-time enrolment in a registered course. In addition, it confirms that you have paid the tuition fee, outlines your course of study, programme duration, and other related costs.

The Department introduced this to strengthen the integrity of the international education system. As a result,  the process ensures that only students who are fully committed and financially prepared move on to the visa stage.

Some exemptions apply. For instance, Defence or Foreign Affairs sponsors, as well as students in secondary school exchange programs, may bypass this requirement. However, all other students must meet the new standard.

If your current visa is about to expire and you haven’t got a CoE yet, you’ll need to exit Australia or switch to an alternative visa stream. There will be no provision for extensions based on conditional offers or incomplete documentation under the new rules.

Step-by-Step Guide Through the Australia Student Visa Application

Getting your CoE is the first step in the new process, then it is step-by-step to the visa application:

Step 1: Choose a CRICOS registered course

Decide based on your eligibility, fees, reputation and regional quotas. Furthermore, make sure to submit accurate transcripts and language proof.

Step 2: Get approval and meet CoE requirements

Institutions will list conditions after acceptance. After that, complete these, pay the deposit or fees and provide financial documentation and OSHC. Your CoE will be issued.

Step 3: Get International Student Health Insurance

For the duration of your stay you must have OSHC from an approved provider. If needed, include extras for dental or optical care.

Step 4: Register for an ImmiAccount and create your HAP ID

Apply online and pay the AUD $1,600 visa fee. You can also track your progress.

Step 5: If required, submit medical examinations

Doctors log health checks using your HAP ID. Fill it out before submitting an application.

Step 6: Submit a visa application to the CoE

CoE, passport, OSHC proof, financial records, English test results, and your genuine student statement. Make sure all documents are uploaded accurately.

Step 7: Quickly comply with requests for more evidence.

Visa officers may request more documents. Always respond in a few days.

Step 8: Arrange your arrival and await the final certificate.

Once authorised, schedule orientation, student housing, and tickets. On the day of enrolment, have your CoE prepared.

Based on the date of issuance, the Department of Home Affairs processes 75% of Australian student visas for the higher education sector within 40 days and 90% within 54 days. For postgraduate research tiers, they process 75% of visas within 63 days and 90% within five months. They prioritise applications that meet all requirements upfront.

Essential CoE requirement for Australia student visa in 2025

Your CoE must meet the requirements in the academic, financial, and health areas; only then can you qualify for the CoE requirement for Australia student visa. Here is the breakdown:

Academic:

You must be enrolled in a CRICOS-approved course. Provide certified transcripts, degree certificates and English proficiency results (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE). Students awaiting their final results can obtain a CoE from many institutions. That document can be upgraded once transcripts arrive. Always request a CoE before lodgment.

Financial:

As of 2025, proof of funds must be at least AUD 29,710 for living costs, plus AUD 2,000 for travel expenses. Dependants cost AUD 10,394 and additional AUD 4,449 per dependant (not school going) for school-going kids, the annual school costs are AUD 13,502. You must show bank statements for 3 months or evidence of a student loan from Indian banks. All funds must be in your name or that of your immediate family. Evidence of tuition deposit is also required.

Health Insurance:

OSHC must be purchased and valid before you get your CoE. Standard policy covers medical, hospital, ambulance and limited pharmaceutical expenses. Dental, vision or physiotherapy needs extra cover. Your OSHC must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. A lapse will risk visa cancellation.

If you fail in any one of these areas, the institution will stall your CoE and visa application. Institutions will not issue your CoE until you meet all the criteria.

Learn About – How do you select your student visa for Australia?

Offshore Applicants vs Onshore Applicants: Who Needs What

Whether you are already in Australia or applying from another country, you will need a valid CoE in both cases.

Offshore (applying from India or other countries)

If you are outside Australia, you will follow a process that is simple yet strict. First, your education provider must issue your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) before you can lodge your visa application. However, since issuing the CoE can take several weeks, you should carefully plan your timing. To begin with, you need to secure admission, then finalise your finances, and finally arrange your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) at least 12 weeks before your intended study intake. Otherwise, you may miss the application deadline or your intake. As a result, the Department of Home Affairs processes visa applications with CoEs more efficiently because they recognise that you are ready to begin your studies.

Onshore (already in Australia)

In-country applicants on visitor, partner or previous student visas who want to apply for a Australia student visa must now lodge with a valid CoE. Submitting a Letter of Offer will invalidate your application and deny a Bridging visa. If your current visa expires before you get your CoE, you must either exit the country or switch to a different visa class. Providers may require evidence of ongoing enrolment, academic standing and finances to issue it.

Also, changing course or level may require a new CoE. Students transferring to a different provider or degree must apply well in advance of their current visa expiration and be fully financially and OSHC compliant.

What to Avoid to Reduce CoE Cancellation Risks

A Confirmation of Enrolment is not a guarantee. If you don’t attend, skip classes, perform poorly or let your OSHC lapse, your institution can cancel your CoE. The provider will automatically report the cancellation to the Department of Home Affairs, which may result in the cancellation of your visa and require you to leave Australia immediately.

Moreover, its cancellations may trigger a health check that could end your eligibility for future visas. Importantly, the consequences extend beyond Australia. For example, many students have reported difficulties obtaining visas to Canada or the UK after Australian authorities cancelled their CoE due to integrity safeguards. According to the source, once authorities cancel the CoE, you may face restrictions on reapplying or even become ineligible for re-entry.

To avoid this: Keep track of attendance, course progress, fee deadlines and OSHC renewal. If you change courses or institutions, always get a new CoE before you take the next step.

Why This Change Happened and What It Fixes

The CoE rule came from the need to address student visa abuse. In recent years, Australia has seen rising dropout rates, abandoned courses and visa holders working illegally.

A report from Economic Times mentioned that this is part of a broader immigration shift, including Australia student visa fee increases (from AUD 710 to 1,600) and the introduction of Ministerial Direction 111 to fast-track offshore processing. You must lodge the CoE at the time of application, not after the visa has been granted. That removes the buffer for incomplete applications and strengthens the Genuine Student (GS) test.

It also supports resource planning. Australia will cap student numbers at 270,000 to manage housing shortages and ensure infrastructure keeps up with demand.

Conclusion

The new regime puts the CoE Australia at the centre of your visa journey. It requires seriousness, preparation and a structured approach. Start early, document everything and keep OSHC active. Obtain conditional or full CoEs well in advance of lodgment. Then lodge your visa when your CoE is finalised.

If you plan today, you can avoid the midnight panic moments. You can study stress-free. You can have a genuine right to study. And you can be in control. That’s your path to success.

E‑Help Consultants specialises in guiding students like you through the CoE requirement for Australia student visa process with precision. We audit your documents, liaise with institutions, confirm your health cover and lodge your visa application correctly on the first attempt. You focus on on-campus goals. We tackle the paperwork.

Go to Ehelp consultants now to book your free consultation. Get your CoE. Get your future. Start your Australian journey with confidence.