Frederick Jace
It’s no longer necessary to be in your teens or early twenties to continue your education. In fact, an increasing number of adults are enrolling in adult education programs, making them students in their thirties, forties, and even fifties or sixties. In short, you’re never too old to become a student and learn new things.
With that in mind, you’re likely to be wondering if you can apply for a student visa that allows you to study somewhere else, such as Australia. It’s a great opportunity to broaden your horizons while studying to improve your qualifications and the options open to you.
Applying Over 40
The good news is that there is no maximum age for a student visa. You can apply at 40, 50, or even past 100 if you wish. But, the older you are the more sensible it is to speak to an immigration lawyer Sydney first. They can guide you through the process.
More specifically, they will ensure you are aware of the additional documents you will probably need to supply.
The Application Process
If you’re applying for a student visa you’ll need to demonstrate you have been offered a place on an approved course. This should be simple. But, you’ll also need to prove you have the funds to back up your visa application.
In short, the Australian government want to know you can pay your own way.
That means proving you have enough funds to cover the cost of getting to Australia and back to your home country. You also need to show access to funds to cover the cost of your course or the cost of the first year if the course lasts longer than a year.
Alongside this, you’ll need to have money to live on.
It’s important to note that, depending on the cost of your course, this can equate to fifty or sixty thousand Australian dollars.
If you don’t have the funds yourself, you’ll need to prove you have a solid relationship with the person providing the funds. They will need to show they have the available funds. If you prefer you can prove you earned over AUD 62,000 in the last twelve months.
Additional Requirements
Having enough funds isn’t enough when applying for a student visa over 40. You’ll also need to show why you are attending a specific course and why Australia is the right choice for you to study in. This can be difficult to prove unless the course you are intending to study is recognized as one of the best in the world.
In most cases, it will be necessary to provide a letter of motivation to back up your application.
Remember that it can take time to get your application approved. That means you should apply as early as possible to ensure you have the visa before the course begins. Of course, you will also need to stick to the terms of the student visa, failing to do so can carry a harsh punishment and you may be barred from returning to Australia.
