Under 18 – Guardianship

Under 18 Students must provide evidence that they have welfare arrangements in place before they apply for a student visa. They can do this by either nominating a guardian on Form 157N Nomination of a student guardian to your application or having a CAAW approved by the principal registered education provider.

If students apply for a student visa and are under 18 years of age, they must have adequate welfare arrangements in place and arrange a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW). Unless you are a secondary exchange student or a Foreign Affairs or Defence student, you need to organise for the education provider to approve welfare arrangements. Your education provider will issue a CAAW and inform us about your welfare arrangement’s start and end date.

Alternatively, students can choose to nominate a student guardian. Nominate a parent, legal custodian or relative over 21 years of age as your student guardian. This person must have a visa to stay in Australia for the duration of her student visa or until you turn 18.

Students must have welfare arrangements in place for the duration of the period until they turn 18, even if they turn 18 before the course starts. Students must not enter Australia before their welfare arrangements start, which is a condition of the visa. They must not change any arrangements without the written approval of their education provider. If the visa conditions are breached the visa might get cancelled.