Australia has announced its decision to alter the Genuine Student and English Language requirements for student visas, part of the country’s migration strategy

The new changes will impact applications submitted on or after March 23, 2024, as the government replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement.

“All applicants for a student visa must be a genuine applicant for entry. They must stay as a student and be able to show an understanding that studying in Australia is the primary reason of their student visa. The GS requirement is intended to include students who, after studying in Australia, develop skills Australia needs and who then go on to apply for permanent residence,” said the website.

The GTE required students to show they intended to stay in Australia temporarily. To be granted a student visa, all applicants must demonstrate they satisfy the “genuine student criterion or the genuine student dependent criterion.”

Moreover, the country has updated the English language requirements for student and temporary graduate visas.

The minimum IELTS test score needed for a temporary graduate visa (TGV) has increased from 6.0 to 6.5 (or equivalent). Each section of the test (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) must have a minimum score of 5.5.

The window for using an English test for a TGV has been decreased from three years to 1 year.

According to Visa Guide, further updates are as follows:

• The minimum IELTS score for a student visa rose from 5.5 to 6 (or equivalent).
• The minimum IELTS score required to undertake a packaged ELICOS rose from 4.5 to 5.0.
• There will be no changes for students who are studying English only through ELICOS.
• IELTS score remains at 5.5 (or equivalent) for students in reputable university foundation or pathway programs offering English language training.