TEQSA registers providers on CRICOS to deliver higher education to overseas students for a specific period, up to a maximum of 7 years. Your application to renew your CRICOS registration needs to be submitted at least 90 days before your current registration period expires.
If your registration expires while TEQSA is assessing your application, your registration on CRICOS will remain active. This means you will be able to continue delivering courses to overseas students and create confirmations of enrolment in PRISMS until TEQSA has made a decision on the application.
The time it takes for TEQSA to assess applications to renew CRICOS registration varies significantly based on a range of factors, including the quality of the application, concurrent assessments for course reaccreditation and renewal of provider registration under the TEQSA Act, whether the provider has been granted self-accrediting authority, and the time afforded to providers to respond to TEQSA's concerns. As your registration remains active during TEQSA's assessment, there is no need to change your operations. As part of the assessment, TEQSA may request additional or revised evidence to address any instances or risks of non-compliance. To assist providers with any planning required to respond to these requests, we will aim to notify you in advance of when we expect to make any findings.
Key steps
1. Prepare your application
Prior to applying, you should contact the CRICOS team at CRICOS@teqsa.gov.au to lodge your intention to apply for CRICOS registration. This is to ensure you have the current evidence requirements for the application and that you understand these requirements.
TEQSA highly recommends that you closely review the requirements of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) and National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code) to understand your obligations. Your application should demonstrate how you meet, or will meet, each of these obligations.
For providers without self-accrediting authority
Providers without self-accrediting authority are required to submit evidence to TEQSA to demonstrate compliance with all requirements under the ESOS Framework, in particular the Standards of the National Code. This should include all evidence listed in TEQSA's Confirmed Evidence Table (CET). The evidence requirements for applications for CRICOS Registration can be found in TEQSA’s Confirmed Evidence Table (CET).
- Download Confirmed Evidence Table for Renewal of CRICOS Registration (MS Word, 142 KB)
For providers with self-accrediting authority
Standard 11.4 of the National Code requires all providers with self-accrediting authority to undertake an independent external audit in the 18 months prior to their registration period expiry. TEQSA has prepared a guide for providers on what this should look like. SAA providers do not require a confirmed evidence table and should submit the following evidence when applying to renew CRICOS registration:
- the audit report
- the provider's response to the audit report and any completed or in progress actions to address issues identified in the audit report
- any other evidence or relevant context required to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of all applicable ESOS legislation.
2. Submit your application
Once all evidence has been prepared, you can submit your application through TEQSA's provider portal. TEQSA will initially determine whether the application is complete and includes all required evidence. If not, TEQSA will notify you of what evidence is missing and provide an opportunity to submit this evidence to complete the application.
3. TEQSA assesses the application
Once your application includes all required evidence, TEQSA will begin its assessment. TEQSA assesses the evidence to determine whether the provider will comply with all requirements of the ESOS Act, the National Code, and any other relevant legislation within the ESOS Framework.
If TEQSA identifies any areas where the application is not compliant with these legislative requirements, or at risk of non-compliance, TEQSA will outline its findings in a proposed decision. You will be afforded an opportunity to respond to these concerns and submit additional or revised evidence to demonstrate compliance, usually within 28 days.
4. TEQSA’s decision
TEQSA may approve or reject your application. In doing so, TEQSA will notify you of its decision and the reasons for the decision in writing.
If TEQSA approves the application, it may decide to approve a period of registration less than the maximum 7 years. TEQSA may also decide to impose conditions on your registration to manage any risks that have not been fully addressed in the application.
If TEQSA decides to reject the application, or if you are dissatisfied with TEQSA’s decision, you may seek a review of that decision. Information on your options for review are outlined on our Review of TEQSA Decisions page.
Further information
For more information or assistance applying to renew CRICOS registration, please contact the CRICOS team at cricos@teqsa.gov.au.
CRICOS and ELICOS