The Australian Department of Immigration & Citizenship has upgraded Hong Kong students' assessment levels from Level 2 to Level 1 - meaning they have the lowest immigration risk - in the non-award sector, including pre-university studies.

It has also reduced the visa evidentiary requirements for Hong Kong students in the sector to the lowest level.

The change comes after local students showed improvement in immigration compliance. The Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Sydney welcomes the decision.

As Assessment Level 1 is already given to visa applications for studies leading to qualification awards such as university bachelor degrees, the change means visa requirements for Hong Kong students are at the lowest level across the board.

All prospective students from Hong Kong can lodge their initial student visa applications from outside Australia using the department's student eVisa facility, check the progress online at any time and be contacted via email as soon as their application is decided.

However, student visa applications lodged before September 1 and not finalised until after this date will be processed according to the previous assessment level. For more details, click here.