When students ask what CRICOS is, I explain it very simply. It is the government’s permission slip for Australian institutions to teach international students. Every course listed on an offer letter must be registered on CRICOS, which stands for Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. If it isn’t, the course cannot issue a Confirmation of Enrolment, and without that document, your student visa application stops right there.
CRICOS exists to keep students safe. Any institution offering courses to international students in Australia must be registered on CRICOS, the official Australian Government register of approved education providers and courses. It makes sure whether institutions follow rules on fees, teaching standards, attendance, and support services. For you, that means your course is recognised, your visa remains secure, and your degree holds value when you move to work or post-study visas later.
CRICOS Requirements Before Studying in Australia
Before you even think about paying fees or accepting an offer, CRICOS requirements have to line up. The first check is basic but critical: the institutions and the exact course you’re choosing must be approved to take international students. Not “the university in general” - the specific programme, intake, and study duration. If it’s missing from CRICOS, the process ends there.
Once that’s clear, the institution issues a Confirmation of Enrolment. No CoE means no student visa application, regardless of how strong your profile is. Providers are also required to assess whether the course makes sense for you academically and financially. This is why documents like past education records and proof of funds matter so much.
There are ongoing conditions, too. Attendance, progress, and course length are tracked under Australian law. These rules affect transfers, deferrals, and even future visas. Getting this right at the start prevents problems that are very hard to fix later.
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Why You Must Choose a CRICOS-Registered Provider in Australia
Choosing a CRICOS-registered provider in Australia is not about branding or reputation. It is about whether the institution is legally allowed to teach international students. Australian immigration recognises only those institutions and universities that appear on the CRICOS register. If a provider is not listed, it cannot issue a Confirmation of Enrolment. Without that document, a student visa application simply does not exist.
CRICOS registration also affects what happens after enrolment. Registered providers are monitored for how they teach, how they track attendance, how they handle fees, and how they support students during the course. These rules are not optional. They are enforced. That oversight is what keeps a course valid for visa extensions, course changes, and post-study work eligibility.
Problems usually start when students ignore this and focus only on cost or fast admissions. Non-CRICOS providers may offer attractive promises, but those promises carry no legal weight. The result is often visa refusal, forced transfers, or loss of time and money. A CRICOS-registered provider ensures the course is recognised, the visa remains secure, and the qualification holds value beyond the classroom.
CRICOS for Student Visa and 485 Visa
CRICOS is tied directly to how student and post-study visas work in Australia. For a Student Visa (Subclass 500), enrolment must be in a CRICOS-approved course. The Confirmation of Enrolment issued for that course sets the visa length and study conditions. If the course is not CRICOS-registered, the visa application does not proceed. There is no exception to this.
CRICOS continues to matter after graduation. For the 485 Temporary Graduate Visa, immigration looks at where and what was studied. The qualification must be completed through a CRICOS-registered course, and the total study period must meet Australian Study Requirement rules. Authorities check compliance throughout the course, not just at the end. Changes in providers, early exits, or non-approved enrolments can affect eligibility. CRICOS links education history directly to visa outcomes, which is why mistakes here are difficult to fix later.
Overseas education consultants such as Edroots International can help students identify the right CRICOS-registered programme, along with clear guidance on course duration, tuition fees, visa-compliant study options, and suitable Australian institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
An international student must first select a course that is approved for overseas students, accept the offer, receive a Confirmation of Enrolment, and then apply for a Student Visa (Subclass 500) with the required documents.
The CRICOS code is an official government identification number that confirms a course and institution are authorised to enroll international students in Australia.
Australia has more than a thousand CRICOS-registered providers, including universities, TAFEs, and private institutions, and this number changes as providers are reviewed.
Information about ESOS compliance and transition requirements is published by Australian regulators such as TEQSA on their official websites.
Only registered education providers are permitted to submit CRICOS applications through the TEQSA Provider Portal.
A CRICOS-registered course is one that has been approved by the Australian government for delivery to international students under the ESOS framework.
No. institutions have to pay for it. There is a fee to get approved and more fees to stay approved. That cost is part of operating legally in Australia.
There is no set timeline. It usually takes a few months. If the institution is missing paperwork or fails a check, it drags on longer.
If it lapses, the institutions cannot take international students anymore. Students who are already enrolled may need to transfer to other approved institutions to prevent any impact on their visa status.
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