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9 min read4 February 2026

Australia's Genuine Student (GS) Criteria — Explained for 2026

What DHA actually grades in the Genuine Student declaration, with examples of strong vs weak answers for each of the four GS questions.

The Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test on 23 March 2024 and has been refined again for 2026. It is a four-part declaration, and every applicant for a Subclass 500 visa must answer all four.

1. Your current circumstances. Officers want ties: family, property, employment, community. Vague statements ("I am close to my family") fail. Specific statements ("My father runs a textile business in Surat where I am the designated successor") pass.

2. Why this course and provider. Name the CRICOS code, the unit modules, and the specific faculty member or research group. Generic praise ("Melbourne is a top destination") is a red flag.

3. Course benefit. Show the skill gap in your home country. Cite a labour-market source (e.g. India's NSDC, Nepal's CTEVT, Bangladesh BBS).

4. Other information. Disclose gaps, prior refusals, or dependents proactively. Hiding them is the #1 cause of refusal in 2026.

A strong GS statement is 800–1200 words, first-person, and reads like a job interview answer — not a personal essay.

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