Student visa number decline:
in the 2019-2020 financial year Australian offshore student visa application numbers dropped compared to the previous year. according to data with an 88% drop in applications in May alone from the country’s Department of Home Affairs.on the education sector COVID-19 has a significant impact. when travel restrictions were put in place on 1 February 2020, for travellers from mainland China, then on 20 March 2020, it expanded to all foreign travellers. The inability for students has an adverse impact on the education sector to travel into Australia. It is estimated that there will be an increase in the unemployment rate in the industry and $16 billion in revenue will be lost in the next three years.
Attest to the decline in the number of students attending school in Australia Data provided by the Department of Home Affairs. The statistics reveal in 2019 as compared to 2020 number of Subclass 500 Student Visa applications that were lodged. The Government has announced a range of visa measures to support students as Australia remains a high quality and welcoming destination for international students
As long as the travel restrictions remain in place with the international education sector The greater the losses associated .Since the outbreak ,The number of subclass 500 visa applications lodged by onshore applicants has declined.However, the decline is not drastic as the border closure would have a lesser impact than offshore applicants and as applicants are already onshore. Some onshore applicants who cannot travel back home may also re-apply for a student visa to extend their stay in Australia. Overall, the reduction in subclass 500 applications for onshore applicants compared to offshore applicants is relatively minimal.
Onshore Student Visa Numbers Decline:
2019 | 2020 | Difference | % Decrease | |
April | 12,008 | 11,493 | 515 | 4% |
May | 13,110 | 11,674 | 1,436 | 11% |
June | 12,399 | 12,020 | 379 | 3% |
July | 16,114 | 15,169 | 945 | 6% |
August | 26,227 | 23,756 | 2,471 | 9% |
September | 19,298 | 16,628 | 2,670 | 14% |
Offshore Student Visa Numbers- Rapid Decline:
The rapid decline of subclass 500 visa applications lodged by offshore applicants as per Statistics from the Department of Home Affairs. The closure of borders has a significant impact on the applicant’s ability to travel to Australia is understandable. The decline in the number of applications lodged has been more than 50% compared to the previous year,In most months since April 2020.
2019 | 2020 | Difference | % Decrease | |
April | 17,311 | 2,552 | 14,759 | 85% |
May | 28,460 | 3,354 | 25,106 | 88% |
June | 34,015 | 4,062 | 29,953 | 88% |
July | 25,152 | 4,446 | 20,706 | 82% |
August | 16,456 | 5,873 | 10,583 | 64% |
September | 15,961 | 6,596 | 9,365 | 59% |
The impact of COVID-19 on the education sector will last over some time,Although some students may decide to enrol to study online. many students will be impacted,Until travel restrictions are removed.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on 13 November 2020, Australia will not allow foreign students to return yet as Canberra is prioritizing the return of locals stuck overseas
Canberra had hoped to slowly allow overseas students to return in 2021,With foreign students worth about AUD$35 billion a year to the Australian economy. To allow you to lodge a further student visa application to complete your study Government will waive the visa application fee.This will be available to students, due to the impacts of COVID-19 who couldn’t complete their course within their original visa validity and students who held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020. For more information about student visas take help from experienced immigration agents like IME Advisor - Migration agent in Sydney.