From 1 July 2016 DIBP will introduce a simplified international student visa framework (SSVF). There will be two only student visa subclasses: Subclass 500 (Student) and Subclass 590 (Student Guardian).
Key changes under the SSVF are:
- a reduction in the number of student visa sub-classes from eight to two; and
- the introduction of a simplified single immigration risk framework for all international students.
These changes will simplify the student visa framework, significantly reduce red tape, create a level playing field for all education providers and deliver a more targeted approach to immigration integrity.
Subject to the legislative change process t he Department intends to implement the review recommendations by mid-2016.