At some point you'll be asked for a document you last saw on the day you arrived. A new job, a lease, a course change, a visa application or a bank account can all start with "please send a copy of...". Students who keep their papers together save days of stress.
This is a practical list, not migration advice. For advice on your own visa, speak with a registered migration agent.
Identity and visa
- Passport. Scan the photo page, and note the expiry date. If your passport will expire during your studies, plan the renewal early.
- Visa grant notice. It shows your visa subclass, grant date, expiry date and conditions. Keep the email and a PDF copy.
- Visa conditions. Your grant notice lists the conditions that apply to you, such as work limits or study requirements. Read them, and keep them with the grant notice.
Study
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for every course, including any new CoE if you change courses.
- Offer letter and written agreement with your education provider.
- Fee receipts and payment plans.
- Academic transcripts and completion letters, including results from earlier study.
- English test results, with the test date.
Health and insurance
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) certificate, with the policy number and end date. Your cover should run for the whole time you're on your student visa.
- Medical and immunisation records you may need for work placements.
Money and work
- Tax File Number (TFN) letter or confirmation.
- Bank account details and the documents you used to open the account.
- Pay slips and employment contracts, if you work while studying.
- Superannuation account details, if your employer pays super for you.
Housing
- Lease or room agreement, bond receipt and the condition report from move-in.
After your studies
- Course completion letter and final transcript. You'll need these for many graduate and skilled visa pathways.
- Skills assessment, work references and English results if you plan to stay and work.
Keep them safe and ready
- One place, not ten. Keep scans of everything in one private place, and the originals in one folder at home.
- Name files clearly, for example "Passport - photo page - exp 2030-05-14.pdf".
- Record every expiry date: passport, visa, OSHC, lease, English test. Set reminders well before each one.
- Never send your documents to someone you don't trust, and be careful with anyone who asks for money to "fix" a visa problem. Visa advice in Australia must come from a registered migration agent or a lawyer.
The free Diaspora Solutions Portal
The Diaspora Solutions Portal is free for international students in Australia. You can:
- keep your documents in a private vault, with every file checked for malware
- record your visa expiry and get reminders from 90 days before
- ask a general question through ChatDS, with replies from the AgentDS team within 6 to 8 hours
- see a PR points estimate and the stages ahead
- connect with a registered migration agent, with your consent, when you need advice
Frequently asked questions
What documents should an international student keep in Australia?
Your passport, visa grant notice, Confirmation of Enrolment, OSHC certificate, academic results, fee receipts, TFN details, and any work and housing agreements. Keep scans in one private place and record every expiry date.
Where can I see my student visa conditions?
On your visa grant notice. Keep it with your passport scan and read the conditions that apply to you.
Do I need to keep my CoE after I start my course?
Yes. Keep every CoE you're issued, including new ones if you change courses. You may be asked for them later.
Who can give me visa advice?
A registered migration agent or an Australian lawyer. General information, like this page, is not advice on your own situation.
This page is general information, not migration advice.