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CONSENT AND WELFARE ARRANGEMENTS FOR STUDENTS UNDER 18

PARENTAL CONSENT FOR APPLICANTS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 TO TRAVEL

For applicants under 18 years of age wishing to travel to Australia, an original travel consent letter signed by any parents not travelling with the child is required.  The consent must have signatures of non-travelling parents verified by the local Vietnamese authorities.

For those applicants, whose parents have divorced, submit:

• Original travel consent letter signed by each parent who is not travelling with the child, which may include both the parent the child resides with and the parent the child does not reside with.  All letters must have the signature of the parent verified by the local authorities; 

• Certified copy of each non-travelling parents' Vietnamese Identity Card; and

• Certified copy of all pages of each parents' Household Registration Book.

For those applicants, whose parents have gone missing (or been declared as missing), submit original Court Order proving missing status.

For those applicants, who have only one parent living, submit certified copy of the Death Certificate of the other parent.

For further information on consent, see: Public Interest Criterion 4017-Consent for an applicant under the age of 18 

WELFARE ARRANGEMENTS

In order for applicants under the age of 18 to be granted a student visa they must demonstrate that they have adequate welfare arrangements in place for the length of the student visa or until they turn 18.

Public Interest Criteria (PIC) 4012A requires that the student reside with one of the following:

• a parent/legal custodian;

• a suitable "relative" who is over 21 years of age and who is of good character; or

• have their welfare arrangements approved by their education provider.

Education providers who approve welfare for students under the age of 18 are required to nominate the specific dates for which they are willing to do so on the Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) letter.

Students under the age of 18 who are undertaking a package of courses with different providers will need to obtain separate CAAW letters from each provider.

In some circumstances we envisage that students will need to liaise closely with their providers to encourage them to bridge any gaps between courses where welfare is not provided.  Unless continous welfare arrangements are in place (i.e. Provider X's arrangements cease on 15/06/08 and provider Y's begin on 16/06/08) the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will only grant the visa end date based on the date that the first welfare arrangements cease.

Last updated 15 December 2010