An independent review of the Australian student visa program was completed in 2011. Several of the recommendations from the review have been implemented by the Australian government, including the introduction of streamlined visa processing for applicants enrolled at an Australian university and increased flexibility in working conditions for student visa holders. The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship assigns assessment levels to reflect the risk posed by applicants from a particular country studying in a particular education sector, with Assessment Level 5 being the highest risk and Assessment Level 1 the lowest. The assessment level will determine the level of proof required by the applicant to qualify for a student visa. The purpose of this Note is to provide a summary of the student visa process including the recent changes.