The VET Student Loans program is only available to Australian citizens, qualifying New Zealand citizens, or permanent humanitarian visa holders who are residing in Australia. To meet the citizenship and residency requirements you need to provide evidence that you meet one of the following categories:
- an Australian citizen
- a qualifying New Zealand citizen, or hold a special visa category such as the New Zealand Special Category Visa, and meet the long-term residency requirements
- a permanent humanitarian visa holder.
The following documents are accepted as evidence of citizenship/residency requirements, depending on your citizenship status.
Australian Citizen
- Current Australian passport (expired passports are not accepted)
- Australian full birth certificate*
- Australian citizenship certificate.
*Please note that if you were born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986 and both your parents are listed on your birth certificate as been born overseas then you will be required to provide one of the following additional documents to prove your citizenship:
- one of your parents Australian Citizenship Certificates (granted prior to your date of birth)
- your own Australian Citizenship Certificate; this includes if you are listed as a dependent child on one of your parents Australian Citizenship Certificates (if both your parents were permanent residents at the time of your birth).
For more information on how to prove your citizenship and other documentation that can be accepted to confirm your Australian citizenship, please refer to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
New Zealand citizen
If you're an eligible NZ citizen with an NZ Special Category Visa you'll need to provide evidence that you have been living in Australia and you meet all the following long-term residency requirements:
- first began to be usually resident in Australia at least 10 years ago
- 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
- have been in Australia for at least a total of eight out of the past 10 years (from when you apply for the loan), and a total of 18 months out of the last two years (from when you apply for the loan).
Victoria University accepts an international movement record as prove that you meet the above criteria. You can apply for a movement record via the Department of Home Affairs. Processing time can vary and we encourage you to apply for a movement record 3-4 weeks before commencing your course.
Once you receive your movement record you need to submit this document along with your VSL application via AskVU.
See 'How to apply & submit VSL application'.
Permanent humanitarian visa holder