International students applying for student visas in 2025 must comply with the new immigration rules. From 1 January 2025, the Department of Home Affairs will no longer accept Letters of Offers from individuals applying in Australia for a Student visa.
A Letter of Offer is an official acceptance letter from an Australian university, outlining admission details, tuition fees, commencement date, and conditions for student visa application.
The Letter of Offer has been replaced with a Confirmation of Enrollment for issuance of student visa from 2025.
A Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) must be submitted with the application by onshore applicants. Only applications submitted on or after January 1, 2025, will be affected by the change. Applications for visas submitted before that date with just a Letter of Offer from an educational institution are unaffected.
A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is a document international students receive after accepting an admission offer and paying tuition fees. It confirms acceptance of a place at a university and is required for a student visa application in Australia. The CoE includes information about the student, program, cost, and duration.
An application will be deemed invalid if a CoE is not submitted at the time of application. Also, in cases where the visa application is invalid, a related Bridging visa cannot be issued.
Visa holders in Australia are responsible for confirming their legal status. If you wish to study and are unable to secure a CoE before your current visa expires, you will need to leave Australia or look into other visa possibilities. However, there are now restrictions on applying for a student visa while in Australia with certain visas.