Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
Established: Under ESOS Act 2000 | Administered By: Department of Education
CRICOS is the official register of Australian education providers and courses approved to enrol international students on student visas.
What is CRICOS?
The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) is formed under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000. It lists all Australian education providers that have been granted permission by states, territories and the Commonwealth to provide education and training to students in Australia on student visas.
⚠️ CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: Institutions can ONLY enrol international students on student visas if they and their courses are registered on CRICOS.
What's on CRICOS?
Registered Providers
- Provider name and CRICOS code
- Contact details and locations
- Registration status and expiry
- Provider category
Registered Courses
- Course name and CRICOS code
- Delivery locations
- Duration and mode of study
- Indicative fees
Education Sectors Covered
Schools
VET (RTOs)
Higher Education
ELICOS
Foundation Programs
Registration Requirements
To be registered on CRICOS, providers must:
- Apply through ESOS Agency: Register with the appropriate regulatory body (TEQSA, ASQA, state/territory authority)
- Meet ESOS Requirements: Comply with ESOS Act and National Code 2018
- Quality Standards: Meet sector-specific quality standards (HES Framework, Standards for RTOs)
- Financial Capacity: Demonstrate financial stability and viability
- Suitable Premises: Have appropriate facilities and resources
- Qualified Staff: Employ suitably qualified and experienced staff
- Education Purpose: Primary purpose must be education provision
CRICOS Codes
Every registered provider and course receives a unique CRICOS code:
- Provider Code: Identifies the registered institution (e.g., 00025B)
- Course Code: Identifies specific approved courses (e.g., 012345G)
- Codes ensure courses meet standards and are properly tracked
- Used by Department of Home Affairs for student visa processing
Registration Period & Renewal
- Maximum Period: 5 years registration before re-application required
- Ongoing Compliance: Must maintain standards throughout registration period
- Monitoring: Regular compliance checks by ESOS agencies
- Renewal: Must re-demonstrate capacity to meet requirements
Registration Costs
Providers must pay:
- Entry to Market Fee: For new providers (first 3 years)
- Annual Registration Charge: Set by Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Act 1997
- TPS Levies: To fund Tuition Protection Service
- ESOS Agency Fees: Sector-specific regulator fees (TEQSA, ASQA, etc.)
Benefits of CRICOS Registration
- Legal Authority: Only way to legally enrol international students on student visas
- Market Access: Access to growing international education market (650,000+ students annually)
- Quality Assurance: Demonstrates meeting national quality standards
- Student Confidence: Provides assurance to international students
- Visa Processing: Enables student visa applications
Changes & Notifications
Providers must notify their ESOS agency at least 30 days before changes to:
- Course details (duration, fees, delivery mode)
- Delivery locations
- Third-party arrangements
- Student capacity
- Provider contact details
How to Search CRICOS
Students can search by:
- Course name or keywords
- Provider name or code
- Location
- Education sector
Search at: cricos.education.gov.au
Historical Context
- 1990: CRICOS formed following increase in international students
- 2000: ESOS Act formalised CRICOS requirements
- 2001: National Code implemented with detailed guidelines
- 2010: Major amendments strengthening provider requirements
- 2011: ELICOS became CRICOS-regulated
- 2015: Amendments removed red tape, streamlined with TEQSA/ASQA