How long will my student visa last?

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How long will my student visa last? How long do I need OSHC? 

These are amongst some of the most common questions the Study Online Australia team receives. Admittedly, it can all prove a little confusing and that’s why it’s always better to apply for your student visa through an experienced agency - such as ourselves!

Below, find out everything you need to know about student visa and OSHC lengths.

How long should my OSHC last?

As discussed in a previous blog post, OSHC is a mandatory condition of your student visa so must last for the duration of your course at minimum. If you do not maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia, your student visa will be cancelled.

Nib OSHC provides cover for the costs of medical and hospital care for international students in Australia. You have the option to purchase a single policy that covers you only or a family policy which provides health insurance for you, your partners and any dependent children under 18 if they live in Australia with you and are listed on your student visa.   

If you apply for your student visa through Study Online Australia, we will organise OSHC on your behalf through our partnership with nib. You can find further information on pricing and what Nib covers on our website.

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How long will my student visa last in Australia?

The student visa (Subclass 500) may allow you to remain in Australia for up to 5 years for the purpose of full-time study at an educational institution. Your student visa length is determined by your course length. 

You may be granted additional time at the end of your course depending upon this. When you apply for your student visa, the expiry date of your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) will also be considered.

In order to be granted extra time, students must have OSHC in place for the same period. As explained on the official Australian Government website, if your course is a year in length ending August 30 then you will be eligible for a student visa up until October 30, provided you have OSHC in place to that date.  

If you apply onshore, then your OSHC must cover you from the student visa lodgement date, for the duration of your studies and for the whole of your study period and additional time which may be granted at the end of your course - depending upon its length.

If you apply offshore, then your OSHC must cover you from your arrival date in Australia, for the duration of your studies and any additional time which may be granted at the end of your course - depending upon its length.

Length of course	Length of stay
10 months or longer which finishes at the end of the Australian academic year (November to December)  ​	Students are likely to be granted a visa stay period to March 15 of the following year
10 months or longer which finishes from January until October ​	Students are likely to be granted a visa stay period for two months longer than the course ​
Less than 10 months ​	Students are likely to be granted a visa stay period for one month longer than the course ​

It’s very important to consider the length of your student visa when deciding how much OSHC to purchase, as your visa end date cannot be changed once granted. 

You can find further information on the length of stay for student visas on the official Australian Government website.

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Why choose Study Online Australia?

Applying for a student visa for the first time can prove daunting with the possibility of making preventable mistakes. Our expert team led by director Pavla Hannan, who were all once international students themselves, will apply for OSHC on your behalf before lodging your student visa application. 

We are fully funded by the educational sector in Australia so you don't need to pay a penny for our services. 

If you need help applying for a student visa or have any questions about OSHC, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Study Online Australia team.