If you intend to study abroad in a university program in Australia, you will need to satisfy the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Criterion as part of your visa application. To do this, you need to provide a written statement of no more than 500 words, which convinces the immigration officer that you are worthy of a student visa.
What is the GTE Criterion?
Basically, the Genuine Temporary Entrant Criterion exists to determine whether to issue GTE visas to applicants. The Department of Immigration and Border Patrol (DIBP) officers want to see the following in your application:
- Acceptance from an educational institution in Australia
- Your GTE statement
- Proof or English language proficiency
- Proof that you meet the health requirements
- Proof of adequate health insurance
- Evidence of sufficient financial means
As stated on the official website of Australia’s Department of Home Affairs, “All applicants for a Student visa must show they are coming to Australia temporarily to gain a quality education.” They essentially want to ensure that you are eligible to study in Australia, that you are coming to Australia temporarily, and that this will significantly add value to you in your future career after you leave Australia.
You should carefully look over the document requirements of the Department of Home Affairs’ website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500/genuine-temporary-entrant
The Department of Home Affairs has also produced a pdf document explaining in detail what they expect to see in the GTE application:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/Visa-subsite/files/direction-no-69.pdf
You will need to go over each item carefully and take the time necessary to ensure that you meet the requirements. Of these requirements, the GTE statement may prove the most daunting and the most time-consuming.
What should I include in my GTE statement?
Your GTE statement is an important part of the GTE visa application because it will give you a chance to explain your reasons for going to Australia and how this will help you in your future, as well as alleviating any potential worries the immigration official may have about your application.
The GTE essay is similar to a statement of purpose, but you need to make sure that you address all of the following points in your essay:
- Why have you decided to study in Australia? (Why not remain in your home country? Why not go to a different country, such as the US or UK?)
- Why have you chosen this university/program in particular? (What are its unique strengths or benefits, and how do these relate to your career goals? What are some courses or research projects that interest you? Be specific!)
- What connections do you have in Australia? (Do you have family/friends there? Are you supporting yourself financially? What are your plans for housing and other accomodations?)
- What are your ties to your home country? (In other words: How do we know you will leave Australia? Are you married? Do you have a job waiting for you in your home country?)
- What is your travel history? (Have you travelled to Australia before? Why? Have you applied for visas in other countries? Explain any of these situations as clearly as possible.)
- What are your future goals, and how will studying in Australia help you achieve them? (Be as specific as possible!)
Is the GTE Statement the same as a Statement of Purpose / Personal Statement?
No! For the GTE statement, there are a few key points that differentiate it from an SOP:
- Answer specific questions
- Focus less (though perhaps a little) on academic/work/extracurriculars
- You can write the GTE statement in a foreign language! You simply need to submit a translated English version with your application.
The government does not set a word limit for this statement, but you should try to keep it relatively concise, at about one page. Some schools advice a limit of 500 words; others suggest an even shorter 2,000-character limit. It can be difficult to address all of the above points such a relatively short essay, so be prepared to write, rewrite, and edit several times.
Still Need Help?
We have several free sample GTE statements that you can use as a guideline to write your own statement.
If you need still help crafting your essay, contact our essay writing service. We’ve written several GTE statements over the years, and we’d be glad to help with yours!