On this page:
To get a VET Student Loan, you must be able to show proof that you’re:
- an Australian citizen, or
- a qualifying New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets the long-term residency requirements, or
- a permanent Humanitarian visa holder who is usually resident in Australia, or
- a Pacific Engagement visa holder who is usually resident in Australia.
5.1 - Australian citizens
You can prove that you’re an Australian citizen by providing your Australian passport, or Australian birth certificate.
If you don’t have either of these, the proof you’ll need to show will depend on whether you were:
- born overseas, or
- born in Australia before 20 August 1986, or
- born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986.
First Nations applicants not registered at birth by the relevant state or territory authority and without a current Australian passport may submit a Statutory Declaration Form - citizenship - First Nations student - birth not registered.
Ask your course provider what documentation you’ll need to provide to prove your citizenship.
You can get a citizenship certificate by lodging a Form 119 Application for Evidence of Australian Citizenship with the Department of Home Affairs.
5.2 - Qualifying New Zealand citizens
A qualifying New Zealand citizen is a New Zealand citizen who:
- holds a Special Category Visa, and
- has been usually resident in Australia for at least 10 years, and
- was a dependent child when first usually resident in Australia, and
- has been in Australia for periods totalling 8 years during the previous 10 years and
- has been in Australia for periods totalling 18 months during the previous 2 years.
If you hold a Special Category Visa you will need to show your course provider proof that you have been living in Australia for the qualifying period. If necessary, you can obtain copies of your own international movement records from the Department of Home Affairs by lodging a Request for international movement records (homeaffairs.gov.au).
5.3 - Permanent humanitarian and Pacific Engagement visa holders
If you are a permanent humanitarian visa holder or a Pacific Engagement visa holder, you’ll need to show your course provider proof of your visa status.
Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) is a free online service for checking the details and conditions of your visa. With your permission and your passport details, course providers registered with VEVO can check your visa status. Alternatively, you can send your details directly to your course provider using VEVO’s ‘send email’ function.
To access VEVO, please visit Check visa details and conditions.