International Student Arrivals

1. Ensure your passport and student visa are valid
   • Australian Department of Home Affairs | Preparing to travel to Australia from overseas checklist
2. Ensure your COVID-19 vaccination certificate meets Australia's requirements 
   • Australian Passports Office | Guidance on foreign vaccination certificates
   • Therapeutic Goods Administration | International COVID-19 vaccines recognised by Australia
3. Submit your Digital Passenger Declaration
   • Department of Home Affairs | Digital Passenger Declaratio
4. Check what you can bring into Australia in your luggage
   • Australian Border Force | Can you bring it
   • Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment| Studying in Australia 
5. Check your internet and mobile phone access
   • You will need access to wifi or phone data to receive your COVID-19 test results in Victoria
   • Activate global roaming on your mobile phone for at least four days or set up an Australian mobile phone number
   • Pack a universal travel plug or adaptor
6. Arrange your accommodation 
   • Coronavirus Victoria | Information for overseas travellers
   • Study Melbourne | Living and accommodation
   • You can order food and supplies online to be delivered to your accommodation. Ask your education provider for a list of local suppliers.

1. Verify your vaccination certificate at airport
   • Australian Passports Office | Guidance on foreign vaccination certificates
2. Transport from the airport
   • Melbourne Airport | Ground transport options
   • Ask your education provider if you need assistance with transport from the airport.
3. Get a COVID-19 PCR test, or a rapid antigen test, within 24 hours after arrival and isolate until you receive a negative result  
   • Coronavirus Victoria | Information for overseas travellers
   • Coronavirus Victoria | Information for returned travellers
   • Coronavirus Victoria | Where to get tested
4. Download the Service Victoria app
   • Download the Service Victoria app at the App store or Google Play store.
5. Add proof of your COVID-19 vaccination to the Service Victoria app
   • Coronavirus Victoria | How to get your COVID-19 digital certificate
   • Coronavirus Victoria | How to get your COVID-19 digital certificate – International Travellers
6. Enjoy student life in Melbourne and Victoria!
   • Stay in touch with Study Melbourne through social media and our monthly student newsletter for helpful information and ideas.

Fully vaccinated student visa holders can arrive in Victoria from Wednesday 15 December 2021 without a travel exemption.

Please refer to the Victorian Government’s Information for overseas travellers page for more information on what you need to do before and after you arrive in Australia if you are fully vaccinated or have a valid medical exemption.

Please refer to the Australian Department of Home Affairs website for information on current travel restrictions to Australia.

Find detailed information about what you need to do before and after you arrive in Victoria on the Information for overseas travellers page.

Yes, students must be fully vaccinated to arrive in Australia.

Australia considers you to be fully vaccinated if you have completed a course of a COVID-19 vaccine that is registered or recognised by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

For information on what you need to obtain before you arrive in Australia to prove you are fully vaccinated, please refer to the Information for overseas travellers page.

The Australian Passport Office provides guidance on foreign vaccination certificate requirements for international arrivals.

Once in Victoria, you will need to show proof of vaccination to gain entry to most university campuses, businesses and venues across Victoria.

Find out more about accepted proof of vaccination and how you can get proof of vaccination once in Victoria at coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaxproof.

Arriving students must follow the same testing requirements as all other international arrivals.

These include getting a rapid antigen test, or a PCR test if you don’t have access to a rapid antigen test, within 24 hours of arriving in Australia and continue to quarantine until you get a negative result.

For more information about what you need to do after entering Victoria, including how to find your nearest free COVID-19 testing centre and information about rapid antigen tests, please refer to the Information for overseas travellers page.

Fully vaccinated eligible student visa holders are required to:

• Immediately quarantine at home or other private accommodation upon arrival.
• Get a rapid antigen test or a PCR test if you don’t have access to a rapid antigen test, within 24 hours of arriving in Australia and continue to quarantine until you get a negative result.

Please refer to the Information for overseas travellers page for more information.

Yes. Victoria’s universities, TAFEs and other training and adult education organisations must ensure that students who are attending on-site are fully vaccinated, unless they have evidence of a valid medical exemption.

Find out more about accepted proof and how you can get proof of vaccination at coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaxproof.

We invite you to join our free online Study Melbourne events to build your employability and leadership skills, and to connect with others while you study online:

• Study Melbourne Hubs – offering in person and virtual opportunities to connect with the student community and Victorian education institutions in key locations around the globe
• Career Catalyst.– sign up for these free and exclusive webinars, workshops, and initiatives to help you develop your professional skills, build industry connections, and launch your career.
• Future Founders Program.– join this free, year-long entrepreneurship program to introduce students to Victoria’s start-up ecosystem, increase their skills and networks and inspire budding entrepreneurs,
• Leadership Labs – our highly successful international student leadership program, focussing on social entrepreneurship and with mentors from the social enterprise sector.

Please contact your OSHC provider directly to discuss options to manage your overseas student health cover.

Contact your education provider with any questions about your start dates, attendance, fee matters, Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and other issues relating to your study.

Study Melbourne's International Student Accommodation Legal Service offers free and confidential help for international students experiencing accommodation issues in Victoria. This service is also available for students who are currently overseas and have accommodation in Victoria.

To make an appointment contact info@studymelbourne.vic.gov.au or call 1800 056 449 (from within Australia).

Please contact your education provider for more information about your studies and ongoing course delivery.

Please contact your education provider for information about flexible course delivery options.

We understand that it has been a challenging time for you studying online instead of on-campus.

Read our tips on adjusting to studying online

We also invite you to join our free online Study Melbourne events to build your employability and leadership skills, and to connect with others who are also studying online.