The eligibility requirements to access a subsidised Commonwealth supported place (CSP) and Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loans are set out in legislation.
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Overview of eligible Non-Australian Citizens and Visa Holders
The table below is a summary of non-Australian citizens and visa holders who may be eligible to access a CSP and/or HELP loan.
| Citizenship or Visa Status | CSP | HELP Loan |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Citizen | Yes | No |
| New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holder | Yes | Yes |
| Eligible former New Zealand SCV holder | Yes | Yes |
| Pacific engagement visa holder | Yes | Yes |
| Permanent humanitarian visa holder (current and eligible former) | Yes | Yes |
| Permanent Resident | Yes | Only for bridging study |
| Temporary visa holders | No | No |
| Other citizens and / or visa holders | No | No |
An eligible former New Zealand SCV holder is a former New Zealand SCV holder who is on the pathway to Australian citizenship and is currently a permanent resident.
Know your visa
The Department of Home Affairs manages all immigration matters, including the approval, status and timing of visas. If you have any questions about your visa or other immigration matters, contact the Department of Home Affairs.
Check your visa conditions online and find out whether your visa is temporary or permanent by using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO).
Residency requirements while studying to be eligible for a CSP and / or HELP loan.
In addition to citizenship and visa status, there are residency requirements that a student will need to meet before they start studying or for the duration of their study.
You must be resident in Australia for the duration of your study to meet the CSP and HELP residency requirements. However, any period of residence outside Australia will be disregarded if:
- it cannot be reasonably regarded as indicating an intention to reside outside Australia for the duration of the unit, or
- it is required for the purpose of completing a requirement of that unit.
For New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holders, there are additional long-term residency requirements to meet in order to be eligible for a HELP loan.
Eligibility by Citizenship and Visa Status
New Zealand citizens may be eligible for a CSP, but are not eligible for a HELP loan.
This means you will have to pay the student contribution amount upfront to your provider each study period.
As a New Zealand citizen, you must be living in Australia for the duration of your study to be eligible for a CSP.
New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holders may be eligible for a CSP.
New Zealand SCV holders may also be eligible for a HELP loan if they meet the long-term residency requirements.
The long-term residency requirements are that you:
- first began to be usually resident in Australia at least 10 years ago, and
- were a child under the age of 18 with no spouse or de facto partner when you first began to be usually resident in Australia, and
- have been in Australia for at least:
- a total of 8 out of the past 10 years (from when you apply for the loan), and
- a total of 18 months out of the last 2 years (from when you apply for the loan).
As a New Zealand SCV holder, you must be living in Australia for the duration of your study to be eligible for a CSP and / or HELP loan.
Permanent residents may be eligible for a CSP, but are not usually eligible for a HELP loan.
This means you will have to pay the student contribution amount upfront each semester.
As a permanent resident, you must be living in Australia for the duration of your study to be eligible for a CSP.
Current and former permanent humanitarian visa holders may be eligible for both a CSP and HELP loan.
An eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder means a person who is:
- not a permanent humanitarian visa holder
- was previously a permanent humanitarian visa holder, and
- is the holder of a visa of the subclasses 155 and 157 (Resident Return).
As a current or eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder, you must be living in Australia for the duration of your study to be eligible for a CSP and/or HELP loan.
Pacific engagement visa holders may be eligible for a CSP and HELP loan.
A pacific engagement visa holder is someone who holds a Subclass 192 (Pacific Engagement) visa under the Migration Regulations 1994.
This is a permanent resident visa for eligible individuals from participating countries across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
As a pacific engagement visa holder, you must be living in Australia for the duration of your study to be eligible for a CSP and/or HELP loan.
Temporary visa holders and other international students are not eligible for either a CSP or HELP loan and will be enrolled in a full fee-paying place.
There may be other financial assistance available such as scholarship opportunities that you may be eligible for. You should contact your provider directly to discuss these options.
Information for international students who want to study in Australia can be found on the Study Australia website.
Former New Zealand SCV holders transitioning to Australian citizenship
From 29 June 2023, New Zealand citizens who formerly held a Special Category Visa and have transitioned to a permanent resident visa on the pathway to citizenship will have continued access to HELP loans.
When can permanent residents access a HELP loan?
Permanent residents can access a HELP loan to complete bridging study. Bridging study is for individuals who have gained professional qualifications overseas and are seeking to meet Australian standards for professional practice. For further information on bridging study visit the FEE-HELP page.
Other eligibility requirements
In addition to the citizenship, visa and residency criteria, there are other requirements you need to meet in order to be eligible for a particular HELP loan.
Make sure you read and understand the eligibility requirements for the individual HELP loan you wish to access. Information on each of the HELP loans is available on the how student loans work page.
Do you have questions about your eligibility?
If you have questions about your potential eligibility for a HELP loan, you should contact the enrolment or admissions area at your higher education provider.
Your provider will assess your eligibility and is best placed to answer questions about your individual circumstances.