Australian student visas will only be granted if the Australian Government is satisfied the applicant is of "good character".
To determine your eligibility, there are various visa character requirements you must meet.
Character Requirements for Australian Student Visas
You will likely meet the Australian visa character requirements if none of the statements below applies to you:
- Been charged with any offence that is currently awaiting legal action.
- Been convicted of a crime or offence in any country including any conviction which is now removed from official records.
- Committed, or been involved in the commission of war crimes or crimes against humanity or human rights, or been involved in any activities that would represent a risk to Australian national security.
- Served in a military force or militia, undergone any military/paramilitary training, or been trained in weapons/explosives use however described.
- Left any country to avoid being removed or deported, or been excluded from or asked to leave any country (including Australia).
- Had any outstanding debts to the Australian Government or public authorities.
If any of the statements above do apply to you, you will not necessarily be refused an Australian student visa.
You must provide full information on each statement. The Australian Department of Immigration will use this information to make a decision on whether or not you meet the Australian visa character requirements.
You must be truthful at all times as submitting incorrect information concerning visa character requirements may lead to the cancellation of your visa. Rarely, even if none of the statements apply to you, you may be asked to prove that this is the case.
Additional Character Requirements
A person will automatically fail to meet the visa character requirements where they have a substantial criminal record.
For a criminal record to be considered substantial the person must have been either:
- Given a life imprisonment or death sentence.
- Given a prison sentence of twelve months or more.
- Sentenced to two or more prison terms. (On either one or several occasions.)*
* Where the total of those terms is in excess of two years or been acquitted of a crime by using the defence of insanity or diminished responsibility due to unsoundness of mind, and been detained in a secure hospital or institution.
You will also fail the visa character requirement if you are currently, or ever have been associated with any individual or group that are suspected of being involved with criminal activity, or if they suspect that you may engage in criminal conduct in Australia.
Finally, you will automatically fail the character requirement if they suspect that you will incite discord in any segment of the Australian community or that you are not of general good character.
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