Visa Compliance
ESOS Compliance for International Students
In 2020 the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) announced regulatory flexibility for the mode of delivery to overseas students of Australian qualifications. This announcement was made in recognition of the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including domestic lockdowns and international border closures. The flexibility allowed impacted overseas students to continue their studies fully online.
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With international borders re-opened and overseas students once again able to travel to Australia for study, TEQSA have announced that all education providers must return to compliance with the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code) by 30 June 2023.
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This means that after 30 June 2023, registered providers must not deliver more than one-third of the units in a course for overseas students by online or distance learning (Standard 8.19 of the National Code) and must ensure that students holding a student visa study at least one unit that is not by distance or online learning in each study period (Standard 8.20 of the National Code).
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TEQSA expects that study undertaken by overseas students complies with all requirements of the National Code. Overseas students are required to study on campus and ensure that you take no more than one third of units online.
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Domestic students can choose online or face-to-face.
Know your visa conditions
Overseas students must know and meet the requirements of their visa.
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This includes maintaining your enrolment in your course of study at HELI, satisfactory course progression, abiding by your work rights and maintaining adequate health insurance.
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Students are able to check their visa conditions via VEVO.
VEVO - Visa Entitlement Verification Online
​Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) allows visa holders, employers, education providers and other organisations to check visa details and conditions.
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VEVO tells you details relating to your current in-effect visa:
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which visa
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the expiry date
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the must not arrive after date
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the period of stay (how long you can stay)
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conditions (what you can and can't do).
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VEVO is not able to provide any details relating to visas that are not ‘in-effect’.
Work Rights
With the Return to ESOS Compliance work restrictions for students studying on a student visa overseas students were reinstated on 1 July 2023.
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Student visa holders can work no more than 48 hours a fortnight while studying. Student visa holders have no work restrictions when their course of study or training is not in session.
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For information on workplace rights and entitlements for visa holders, visit the Fair Work Ombudman's (FWO) webpage.