Prepare your ESOS application

If you apply for registration, you must be prepared to meet the ESOS legislative framework which includes:

• Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act)
• Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Regulations 2019
• National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code)
• Other legislative instruments supporting the implementation of the ESOS Act
• ELICOS Standards 2018 (if you will offer ELICOS courses).

Learn more about the responsibilities of ESOS providers.

Evidence requirements 

Evidence you need to submit to become an ESOS provider includes:

• a completed self-assessment of how you meet the requirements of the relevant standards and legislation
• information and documents to demonstrate your financial viability
• fit and proper person declarations for key people associated with your organisation
• supporting evidence of your legal entity and any business names.

You may be asked for additional evidence during your registration assessment. 

Self-assessment

Use the self-assessment tools to:

• identify where you need to provide supporting evidence with your application
• determine if your organisation’s processes and systems meet the requirements of:
  • the National Code
  • the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act)
  • the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 if you plan to offer VET courses
  • the ELICOS Standards 2018 if you plan to offer ELICOS courses.

The self-assessment form(s) you need to complete depend on whether you plan to offer VET or ELICOS courses: 

If you are already an RTO, you still need to complete the Self-assessment for RTO registration form to demonstrate your current practice, processes and systems meet the requirements of the Standards.

Financial viability

You need to demonstrate that you will operate a business that is likely to remain in operation and can achieve quality education outcomes. You also need to have clearly demonstrated capacity to provide education of a quality standard.   

This is required by the ESOS Act.

You need to provide a completed financial viability risk assessment tool with your application, together with supporting evidence. This needs to be signed by a registered accountant.

Fit and proper person declaration

All owners and certain executive officers of your organisation must submit a Fit and Proper Person declaration.

A fit and proper person is a term used to demonstrate a person’s honesty, integrity and reputation. It is used to confirm if a person is fit and proper for their role.

These declarations ensure people associated with your organisation have the characteristics and principles to deliver high-quality services and outcomes for all students. 

Find out who we consider to be an owner, and which executive officers need to complete a Fit and Proper Person declaration in the application guide.

A separate declaration form needs to be completed by each person.

Legal entity and business names

The evidence you need to submit depends on your type of legal entity. 

For companies, you need to provide a Certificate of Incorporation from ASIC and a current and historical company extract.

You need to provide a record of registration for each business name. 

Evidence requirements for other types of legal entities are explained in the application guide.