Preparing the GTE for Student Visa in Australia

Have you decided to pursue education in Australia? If you have already set your heart on studying "down under", applying for a student visa is your next step! We summed up everything you need to know about Australia's student visa here, and one important area is providing a Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement (GTE) in your application.

In light of the latest updates regarding the GTE (as of November 2022), we have compiled a guide to everything you need to know about this particular section of the application, and recent changes made by the Australian Government.

What is the GTE?

Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement (GTE) is exactly what it sounds like - All those applying for a student visa must convince the Australian Government that they are genuinely coming to Australia only temporarily to gain quality education. This implies that they intend to use the student visa program for its intended purpose only, and not as a channel to gain residency in Australia. To go about this, you need to provide a written statement, with documents attached that will support your statement.

What documents should be included in the GTE?

Here is a quick summary of the documents to be included in your GTE as evidence to support your statement:

• Certificates and transcripts that affirm your previous education and reason for gaps in education (if any).
• Particulars of your current job, and contact details of your employer.
• Evidence of significant incentives to return to your home country, including financial, social or family ties.
• Documents concerning your financial condition in your home country and the availability of sufficient funds to eventually return to your country on completion of the course. This can be supported by your bank statements and income tax return documents.
• Potential employment opportunities, with proposed salaries, in your home country or a third country after you complete your course.

The following is a run-through of the factors based on which the Australian Government decides if you are eligible to receive a GTE. (Check out Ministerial Direction 69 for more details)

• The reason you chose the course, the university, and of course, Australia.
• If your home country also offers the same course you have applied for, you need to explain why you are not studying in your home country.
• If you have enough incentive to eventually return to your country on completion of the course.
• If you are financially stable in your home country. This will be seen as an incentive to return.
• If you have personal ties with anyone in Australia, you need to explain that it will not be an incentive to settle in Australia.
• The amount of research you have done on the course and university where you have been accepted.
• Details of your proposed living arrangements during your studies and the expenses that will be incurred.
• If the course you have chosen for your higher education is consistent with your previous education and/or employment. 
• Your expected salary and other benefits in your home country or a third country after completion of the course.
• Your immigration history. If you have visited Australia or any other country previously, it needs to be mentioned, along with the reasons for those visits.
• Reasons for any visa refusals in the past.

What are the latest changes to the GTE requirement?

Additionally, with effect from November 2022, students have to write a shorter SOP (Statement of Purpose) limited to 300 words (2000 characters) in the question asked in VISA form itself. The SOP needs to address your personal circumstances for undertaking the proposed study in Australia.
Prior to this change, a longer SOP (with no word limit) was included in this question, but now, it has to be attached separately with other documents, capped at 300 words maximum.

With the new word limit, students should stick to the points mentioned above and keep answers short, precise and relevant. Copying information from online sources can prove to be detrimental to the application.

Tips to help you prepare for your GTE!

The biggest tip to remember while writing your GTE statement is to be precise and honest. Avoid unsupported claims, and ensure to prepare your own genuine statement as GTE is to reflect your own individual circumstances.

If you need help in writing up a solid GTE and preparing a strong application, don't hesitate to reach out to us! Our student advisors here at Educonnect provide assistance from selecting the right course & university in Australia, to the entire application process (including the GTE) for free!

And this wraps up everything you need to know about GTE - it will play a big role in completing your student visa application! Well, looks like you're all set to start your journey in the land of koalas, kangaroos and six of the world's top 100 universities!