If you areapplying for an Australian student visa from Nepal right now, you have probablyheard this phrase more times than you wanted.

GS. GenuineStudent.

And yes, itmatters. A lot.

From23 March 2024, Australia moved from the old GTE conceptto the GS requirement, and it basically means one thing. Youneed to prove, with words and documents, that you are genuinely going toAustralia to study. Not to “try your luck”, not to “see what happens”, not tokeep options open. Study first. Everything else later.

And thetricky part is, you do not prove it with one magical document. A strong GS fileis more like a full story, supported by evidence. Your academics, yourfinances, your family background, your career plan, your ties to Nepal. All ofit.

So let’sbreak it down properly, in a practical way, from a Nepal context.

What “GS” ActuallyMeans? (in real life)

GSis assessed during your student visa decision. You fill out the online student visa application in ImmiAccount andanswer GS related questions. There is usually a 150 word limit per response.

That wordlimit is where many students mess up.

They writeemotional stuff. Or generic lines. Or they add claims without proof. The caseofficer is looking for answers that sound normal, realistic, and supported.

Alsoimportant. Under GS, they focus on your genuine intention to study. Theyconsider your personal circumstances. And your statements supported bydocuments get more weight.

So your jobis simple, but not easy.

1. Write clear GS answers and SOP.
2. Attach the right documents to     support those answers.
3. Make the whole file consistent.     No gaps. No contradictions.

Step 1: Start bylisting your full “GS story”

Before youcollect documents, take 30 minutes and write rough notes about:

• Your full education history (years, institutions, gaps)
• Your English test (IELTS/PTE etc)
• Your work or internships (if any)
• Why Australia? (not just “quality     education”)
• Why this course and this     university?
• Why now? (timing makes a     difference)
• Who is sponsoring you
• Your family income sources     (salary, business, rent, agriculture, foreign income)
• Your property or assets (if you     are showing)
• Your plan after graduation and     why returning to Nepal makes sense for you

This becomesthe backbone. Your documents will support this backbone.

Step 2: Prepare thecore academic documents

These are thedocuments that show you are a real student with a real study path.

Academicdocuments typically include:

• All academic transcripts and certificates (SEE to latest level)
• Equivalency certificate (if     applicable, especially if your qualification needs it)
• Any award letters or training     certificates (optional but helpful)
• Backlogs explanation if relevant     (keep it short, honest)

If there aregaps in study, do not hide them. If you were working, show it with evidence. Ifyou were preparing for exams, say so and keep it believable.

Step 3: Passportand identity documents

Keep theseclean and updated because small mistakes here become big delays.

• Valid passport (clear scan)
• Citizenship (if needed for     supporting purposes)
• Relationship certificate (more on     this below)
• PAN cards (often included for     sponsor and applicant)

Andif any document is in Nepali, you will need English translated documents.Use proper translation, ideally with stamping and certification.

Step 4: Englishproficiency test score

Include:

• IELTS / PTE / TOEFL score report

If your scoreis just borderline, your GS explanation should show why you can still handlethe course. If your score is strong, it supports your study intent naturally.

Step 5: Workexperience, internship, and CV

This part isunderrated. A good work history supports your course value and future plan.

Include:

• Work experience letter (job title, dates, salary if possible,     duties)
• Internship letter (same idea)
• Resume or CV (clean format,     consistent dates)

Your CV mustmatch what you write in GS answers and SOP. Even one mismatch can looksuspicious.

Step 6: Financialdocuments (this is where most GS files become weak)

Your financesare not just “show money”. The main question is.

Isyour funding genuine, stable, and explainable?

From Nepal,students usually show a mix of savings, loan, fixed deposits, property, andsponsor income.

Here is acommon checklist of financial documents that people use:

Savings and bank funds

• Bank balance certificate (savings)
• Bank statement (usually 1 year)
• Fixed deposit certificates (if     you are showing FD)

Try to avoidsudden huge deposits with no explanation. If there is a big deposit, documentthe source. Otherwise it looks like arranged money.

Education loan (if you are using loan)

• Education loan approval letter and loan documents
• Disbursement plan or terms if     available

Loandocuments can actually strengthen your file if they are clean, because it showsstructured funding.

Income source documents

This dependson your sponsor’s situation.

You mightneed:

• Salary income documents (salary letter, payslips)
• TDS of salary (last 3 years) if     applicable
• Business income documents     (registration, PAN/VAT, income proof)
• Rental income verification (rent     agreement, rent receipts if available)
• Dividends or shares income     documents (if used)
• Agriculture income proof (only if     you can show it realistically)
• Foreign income proof (if sponsor     works abroad, show legal income and remittance trail)

Tax documents

• Tax clearance certificate (last 3 years)

Tax historymakes your sponsor income look real. In Nepal context, it’s one of the mostcredibility boosting documents when done right.

Property valuation

• Property valuation report (if used)
• Ownership documents, land revenue     receipts if available

Property ismore of a “tie to home country” support, and a financial stability indicator.But do not use property to replace liquid funds if your tuition and livingcosts are not covered properly.

Affidavit of support

• Affidavit of support from sponsor
• Relationship proof between     sponsor and applicant (very important)

Step 7:Relationship and sponsor proof (don’t make it vague)

If yourfather or mother is sponsoring you, prove the relationship clearly.

Documents caninclude:

• Relationship certificate
• Birth certificate (if available)
• Family verification documents

And for thesponsor:

• Sponsor PAN card
• Sponsor income documents (as     discussed)

If a relativeother than parents is sponsoring you, you need even stronger explanation andrelationship proof, and it must still look logical.

Step 8: Your SOP(Statement of Purpose) and the GS answers are not the same

Many studentsconfuse this.

SOP (often around 300 words, depending on institution/agentguidance)

Your SOP isusually a short written statement you attach. Some universities ask for it.Some students attach it for visa too, but remember, the actual GS assessment isfrom the visa form plus evidence.

A solid 300word SOP should include:

• Your background in 2 to 3 lines
• Why this course (linked to     previous study or career)
• Why Australia and why that     institution (1 to 2 specific reasons, not generic)
• Funding summary (briefly)
• Future plan and how it fits Nepal     context

Keep itsimple. Avoid dramatic language. Avoid immigration talk.

GS questions in the visa application (150 words perresponse)

Here, youanswer specific prompts about:

• Previous study (in or outside Australia)
• Current employment and home     country circumstances
• Economic circumstances in Nepal
• Reasons for choosing Australia,     course value to your future
• Potential situation in Australia
• Immigration history
• Any other relevant matters     (political unrest, military service commitments, etc if applicable)

Do not try towrite like a motivational speaker. Write like a real person explaining a realplan.

And everyclaim you make, support it.

Example: Ifyou say you will return and work in Nepal in a specific field, show:

• Your family business documents, or
• A job letter, or
• Industry context, or
• Your work experience in Nepal     that connects to the plan

Step 9: NOC processfrom Nepal (education permission)

InNepal, you also deal with NOC (No ObjectionCertificate). This is separate from visa, but required for financial andofficial processing.

Commonprocess:

• Apply online through the Ministry of Education     website
• Or proceed via Sanothimi office     (after verification and payment), depending on your case and requirements     at the time

Have yourdocuments ready before you start NOC, because missing or inconsistent documentsslow everything down.

Step 10: Documentsfor visa lodgement (Australia side)

When youlodge online, you will attach key visa documents in ImmiAccount.

Common visalodgement documents include:

• Online visa application form (submitted in ImmiAccount)
• COE from university
• Overseas Student Health Cover     insurance certificate (OSHC)
• Tuition payment proof or SWIFT receipt     (if applicable)
• Medical report (after you     complete medicals)
• Biometrics (if requested)
• Form 956A (only if you appoint an agent/authorized     person)

Your GSsupporting documents are uploaded here too. So file naming, category selection,and clarity matters.

Step 11: If you aretaking dependents (spouse, child), plan documentation early

If yourspouse is applying as a dependent, the documentation load increases a lot, andthe GS dependent criterion applies.

You may need:

• Spouse academic documents
• Spouse work experience documents     and CV
• Marriage certificate
• Relationship proof (photos, chat     history sometimes, but keep it decent)
• Spouse income documents (if any)
• Spouse property valuation and     ties evidence
• Spouse SOP (depending on the     case)
• Medical examination documents
• Form 956A if relevant

Do not add adependent casually. The case has to make sense financially and socially.

Common mistakesNepali students make (and how to avoid them)

1. Generic SOP and GS answers
2. If your statements could belong     to anyone, they are weak.
3. Unexplained bank deposits
4. If money appears suddenly,     explain and prove.
5. Mismatch in dates
6. CV says one thing, work letter     says another, SOP says another. Fix this first.
7. Over explaining immigration outcomes
8. Focus on study. Don’t write “I     will settle” type lines.
9. Not translating Nepali documents properly
10. Poor translations create     confusion and slow decisions.

A simple way tocheck if your GS file is strong

Ask yourselfthese three questions:

• If a stranger reads my application, do they understand my study plan     in 2 minutes?
• Does every major claim have at     least one supporting document?
• Is my profile consistent across     academics, finance, family background, and future plan?

If the answeris yes, you are already ahead of most applicants.

Final note (whereGlobal Select Nepal fits)

Alot of students can collect documents, but the real challenge is making thefull GS file consistent and “decision ready”. This is where consultancies like Global Select Nepal usually help, by structuring thedocumentation, reviewing SOP and GS answers, and making sure your supportingevidence matches what you claim.

Not becausethe visa officer wants a fancy file. They don’t.

They want abelievable student.

A cleanstory. Backed by documents. That’s it.

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