Australia replaces Genuine Temporary Entrant with a Genuine Student requirement

The Australian Government has replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement with a Genuine Student (GS) requirement. The change was already announced in the Migration Strategy released on December 11, 2023. However, the applicants for a Student Guardian visa will continue to be assessed against the GTE requirement.

The GS requirement is an important step in the student visa application process. The new GS requirement replaces the previous 300-word statement with a list of targeted questions.

These questions give visa decision-makers information about the student and their reasons for wanting to study in Australia. This also provides context to the documentary evidence that students provide in support of their application.

Genuine Student Requirement – Start Date

The GS requirement applies to Student visa applications lodged on or after March 23, 2024. Student visa applications lodged before 23 March 2024 will continue to be assessed according to the previous GTE requirement.

Genuine Student Requirement Questions

Why you chose your course and why you chose Australia as your study destination?

How you will benefit from studying your chosen course.

If you are holding a visa other than a Student visa, you will need to give reasons for applying for a Student visa.

Genuine Student Visa Declaration

The Student visa declaration has also changed. It requires you to confirm that you:

Understand what it means to be a genuine student

Have read, understand and commit to comply with student visa conditions and to notify the Department of Home Affairs if your circumstances change.

Understand that while post-study pathways to permanent migration are available, only a limited number of graduates will be eligible.

Why has the GTE requirement changed?

The new GS requirement provides clarity on how visa applications are assessed, removes confusion about whether applicants can express a desire to migrate to Australia and supports the Department of Home Affairs to identify non-genuine students.

A sustainable, high-quality international education sector will benefit genuine students, quality providers and education agents as well as employers (in Australia and around the world) seeking to attract Australia’s talented international graduates.