Vietnamese students: how can you show Australia you are a genuine student?

Tips · 2026-09-11 · 3 min read

Do you want to study in Australia? Many Vietnamese students do. It is good to know the facts before you apply. By mid-2026, Australia refused 24.2% of student visa applications. In mid-2016 the figure was 7.9%. This is the highest in ten years.

Do not be scared by this number. Many genuine students still get their visa. But you need a careful, honest application. Here is how to think about it.

What is the Genuine Student test?

Australia uses a rule called the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. Officers use it to decide if you really plan to study. They look at several things:

your life and circumstances at home
your plans in Australia
how the course fits your career
your immigration history
any other relevant factors

Officers also ask one important question. Why can you not do this course at home? Your answer must be clear and true.

Why more writing does not always help

Some students write a lot and still get refused. One applicant from Indonesia wrote a 27-page personal statement. She was refused within a day. An applicant from Nepal prepared for over a year. His study proposal was still not accepted.

Agents say some refusal letters use the same standard words. The Department of Home Affairs says standard wording keeps decisions consistent. For students, though, it can feel impersonal. So the best plan is a short, clear and honest story. Every part should match.

Prepare your papers

Qualifications. Vietnamese degrees and vocational certificates are often checked again abroad. Keep clean copies of your certificates and transcripts.
Translations. Where the visa rules ask for it, use certified English translations of your Vietnamese documents.
English test. If your visa or school asks for IELTS or PTE, start early.
Police clearance. If a police certificate is requested, Vietnamese citizens usually ask for the Judicial Record Certificate No. 2 (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp số 2).

Choose your course and school carefully

The government recently closed new enrolments in one Vocational Education and Training graduate diploma pathway. It believed some people used it to stay longer on a visa, not to study. Students linked to the wrong course or provider may be judged more strictly. Pick a course that truly fits your career.

Apply from Vietnam? Take extra care

Most students who apply from outside Australia cannot appeal a refusal. The application often costs a $2,500 lodgement fee, and many months of work go into it. So check everything before you send it. An experienced migration advisor can read your story and tell you if it is clear.

Stay safe

Deal only with licensed organisations and real schools. Never pay an unlicensed broker. Be careful with anyone who asks for money upfront to secure a visa or a place. If something feels wrong, stop and ask for help.

For the official list of visas, see the Australian visa listing. You can do this step by step. A clear plan and honest papers are your strongest tools.

#genuine student #student visa #australia #vietnamese students #study abroad #visa refusal