Which visa subclass do I need if I'm doing a short-term ELICOS English language course in Australia?

If you are enrolling in a short term ELICOS course, you will apply under the Subclass 500 student visa, the same broad category used for most study pathways in Australia today. ELICOS courses lead to Certificate I, II, III or IV and vary in length depending on your English level. Almost every study sector except the separate post study Subclass 485 route now falls under this single Subclass 500 umbrella.

Sectors Covered Under Subclass 500

Points Worth Knowing About ELICOS

• ELICOS courses are typically shorter and more intensive than standard academic programs
• Students sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Department of Defence fall under a separate unified category
• ELICOS applicants generally are not eligible for post study work visas, unlike graduates of longer higher education courses

Because ELICOS sits within the same Subclass 500 framework as vocational and higher education courses, the application process looks similar, even though the course length and outcomes differ considerably.

My Advice

Apply for your ELICOS course visa well ahead of your intended start date, since intensive English courses often have rolling intakes. If your longer term goal is a degree after your English course, check that your ELICOS provider has clear pathway arrangements into a higher education program.