What Is a CRICOS Code? How to Check Your Course and Campus

You’ve found a course that fits your budget and your career plans. The college says it is “CRICOS registered”, and the offer letter has a code on it. But how do you know that’s true?

You’re about to spend your fees and a visa charge on that course, so the worry makes sense. The good news is you can check it yourself on the official register in a few minutes, for free.

A CRICOS code is the number that shows an Australian course or college is approved to teach international students. In most cases, you need an approved course to get a student visa.

This guide explains what the codes mean and how to check your course and campus. It also covers what happens if a course loses its place on the register.

If you’d like help choosing the right course for your plans, you can book a consultation with our team.

What is a CRICOS code?

A CRICOS code is the number given to a college or course on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Only colleges on the register can enrol you on a student visa.

The Department of Education runs the register. It is set up under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000.

What does CRICOS registration mean for you?

• The college has met the rules in the ESOS Act and the National Code that goes with it.
• The college must give you support, such as an orientation and help with welfare.
• Your fees are protected if the college can’t deliver your course.
• Being on the register is a legal minimum. It is not a ranking, and it doesn’t tell you how good a course is.

Different bodies check different colleges. The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) checks universities. The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) checks trade and skills colleges, and English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS). State bodies check schools.

What’s the difference between a provider code and a course code?

A provider code names the college, and a course code names one course at that college. You’ll see both on your offer letter, and both need to match the register.

Examples are from the official CRICOS data as at 1 September 2026. Some newer course codes are all digits, so don’t worry if yours has no letter.

One college can hold more than one code. Victoria University uses 00124K for its Melbourne campuses and 02475D for its Sydney and Brisbane campuses. That’s why the campus matters as much as the name.

Why does a CRICOS code matter for your student visa?

A CRICOS code matters because your college can only issue a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for a course on the register. Most people need a CoE to apply for a Student visa (subclass 500).

A small number of students don’t need a CoE, such as those sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs or Defence. For everyone else, no CRICOS course means no CoE, and no CoE means no valid student visa application.

The rules around the visa also changed on 2 October 2026. Most Student visa (subclass 500) applications must now be lodged and granted outside Australia. Our guide to the student visa changes from 2 October 2026 explains who is affected.

An approved course is the first check, not the only one. You also need to meet the Genuine Student requirement, financial capacity and English rules. First, though, here is how to confirm your course is on the register.

How do you check a CRICOS code on the register?

You check a CRICOS code by searching the official CRICOS register for the course, then confirming its status, duration and campus. It takes 5 steps.

1. Go to cricos.education.gov.au and choose to search by course or by institution.
2. Enter the course name, the provider name or the code from your offer letter.
3. Open the course and check that its status is registered and that the course level matches what you were offered.
4. Open the locations list and confirm the campus where you’ll study is listed for that course.
5. Compare the provider code, course code and course duration in weeks with your offer letter.

If any detail doesn’t match, ask the college in writing before you pay a deposit. A genuine college will explain the difference quickly.

What if your campus is listed as a partner arrangement?

• Some campuses appear as an “Arrangement with Non-Registered Provider”.
• This means a registered college is responsible for your course, but classes run at a partner’s site.
• For example, Victoria University’s Sydney and Brisbane campuses are listed this way under code 02475D.
• This is normal and allowed. Just make sure the campus on your offer letter is the one on the register.

What happens if your provider or course loses CRICOS registration?

If your college can’t deliver your course, the law protects your fees. The college must first try to place you in another course or refund the fees you haven’t used.

Hearing that your college has closed is frightening when your visa depends on study. The protection exists for exactly that situation.

• What if the college can’t place or refund you? The Tuition Protection Service (TPS) then helps you find a new course or get back unused fees.
• A new course usually means a new CoE, which your new college issues.
• Your visa has a condition to stay enrolled, so tell your college and check your visa early.

If your course has been cancelled or moved, a MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2518738) can check how it affects your visa. You can book a consultation in person or online.

Which CRICOS mistakes do students make most?

The most common mistake is trusting a “CRICOS registered” label without checking the course itself. A question we hear often from students is whether “CRICOS registered” on a flyer is enough. It isn’t, because registration is checked course by course.

• Checking the college but not the course itself.
• Checking the course but not the campus where you’ll study.
• Using a code from an old brochure for a course that has since changed.
• Assuming a cheaper course at a partner campus is the same course as the main campus.
• Choosing a course before checking the visa rules that changed on 2 October 2026.

How The Migration helps you choose a registered course

We help international students choose a course that’s on the register, suits their goals and fits their visa plans.

• Course shortlist: our education counsellors compare courses and colleges with you, and check each one on CRICOS.
• Offer letter check: we confirm that the codes, campus and duration on your offer letter match the register.
• Visa planning: we explain what the 2 October 2026 changes mean for your Student visa (subclass 500).
• A registered agent: visa advice comes from a MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2518738). You can check the number on the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) register.
• Experience and access: our team has 7+ years of experience with international students, with consultations at our Harris Park office or online.

You can also see the higher education courses we help students with.

What should you do before you accept a course offer?

Check the CRICOS code for the course and the campus on the official register before you pay anything. It takes a few minutes and protects your fees and your visa.

Make sure the provider code, course code and length of the course match your offer letter. If anything is unclear, ask the college in writing.

Frequently asked questions