The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) is the Australian Government's official list of providers and courses approved to teach international students. It plays a major role in how Australia keeps the quality of international education in check.

Many international students around the world apply to study in Australia each year, and with a constant flow of students comes a responsibility to make sure they receive quality education and care.

In this article, we'll cover the essentials of CRICOS and everything you need to know, whether you're an international student or an RTO.

What is CRICOS?

CRICOS is the official register that lists approved education providers and the courses they can offer to international students. To get a student visa, an international student needs to enrol in a CRICOS approved course and provider. The register is run by the Australian Government and can be searched online at cricos.education.gov.au.

This helps students find the right courses and providers, so they don't waste time or money and avoid complications later on.

It also helps to be clear on CRICOS is a register, not a regulator. The checking is done by regulators known as ESOS agencies:

• ASQA for VET providers and standalone ELICOS (English language) providers
• TEQSA for higher education providers
• State and territory education authorities for schools

These regulators assess providers against the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018. A provider is only eligible for CRICOS after passing that assessment, and has to keep meeting the rules to stay on it.

What is a CRICOS code?

A CRICOS code is the ID number used on the register. There are two types:

• CRICOS provider code: identifies the institution
• CRICOS course code: identifies a specific course at a specific campus or location

Both codes appear on a student's Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), and both are used in the student visa process.

CRICOS for Students

Why does CRICOS matter?

A CoE can only be issued by a CRICOS-registered provider for a CRICOS-registered course, and a CoE is needed to apply for a student visa (subclass 500). If the course isn't on the register, you will have to change your course.

CRICOS also comes with protection. Providers on the register work under the ESOS framework, which covers things like clear information on fees and a complaints process.

There's also the Tuition Protection Service (TPS), which helps if a provider closes or can't deliver a course. Students are either placed in a similar course with another provider or refunded their unspent prepaid tuition fees. It can be decided by the provider and student.

How to do a CRICOS check

The official register has three ways to search:

• Course search: find providers by the course name or code
• Institution search: find a provider by name or provider code
• Geographical search: use the map to find providers in a particular state or territory

A simple way to check a provider is to:

1. Search for the provider and confirm it is on the register
2. Search for the specific course under that provider and note the CRICOS course code
3. Match the provider code, course code and course duration against the offer letter or CoE

What to check before paying

• Check the course, not just the provider. A provider can be on CRICOS while a particular course isn't. Some courses are offered to domestic students only.
• Check the course duration. The duration on the register should match what the provider has promised.
• Check the CoE has both codes. If either the provider code or course code is missing, it's worth asking the provider.
• Confirm before paying a large deposit. A quick search on the register first can save a lot of trouble.

Recent changes students should know about

A few changes have taken effect recently (as of October 2026):

• From 2 October 2026, most people on a temporary visa in Australia can no longer apply for a student visa without leaving the country. Students already on a student visa can generally only apply for another one in Australia if an exemption applies, such as moving up to a higher AQF level.
• Until 30 June 2027, most non-school students generally need to complete 12 months of their principal course before transferring to another provider, instead of the usual 6 months.
• The BSB80120 Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) had its CRICOS registration suspended and cancelled from 5 October 2026. New overseas students can't enrol, but existing students can finish their studies.

These rules have exemptions, so the Department of Home Affairs website is the best place to confirm what applies before lodging an application.

Updated Annual Cost Recovery (ACR) 2026 and Its Implications

CRICOS for RTOs

Does an RTO need CRICOS registration?

Only if it wants to enrol international students on student visas. An RTO that delivers to domestic students only doesn't need it.

Without CRICOS registration, an RTO can't deliver courses to students on student visas, even if the student already holds a CoE from another provider. Registration also applies to each course and each delivery location, so an RTO can only deliver a course to international students at the locations it's approved for.

What does CRICOS registration involve?

The usual path looks like this:

1. Be an established RTO. Since 5 December 2025, RTOs (other than registered TAFEs) need at least two years of delivering VET to domestic students in Australia before applying for CRICOS registration.
2. Prepare the application. This includes a financial viability risk assessment, fit and proper person declarations for owners and key people, and self-assessments showing the RTO can deliver training, assessment and student support to international students.
3. Have the courses ready. Training package qualifications don't need separate accreditation, but they do need to be added to the RTO's CRICOS scope.
4. Go through the assessment. For most VET providers, ASQA assesses the application against the ESOS framework.
5. Receive CRICOS codes. Once approved, the RTO is listed on the register with its provider code and course codes. Registration runs for a set period, and renewal applications generally need to go in at least 90 days before it expires.

The 2026 pause on new applications

There's an important catch with the steps above right now. From 19 May 2026 to 19 May 2027, the Australian Government has paused new CRICOS applications to ASQA from private VET and ELICOS providers. This covers:

• New applications for CRICOS provider registration
• Applications to add new courses to an existing CRICOS registration

Some applications can still go ahead, including those from public providers such as state and territory owned VET providers, applications to add a new delivery location for a course the RTO is already approved to deliver, and updates to replace superseded courses already on scope. Applications lodged before 19 May 2026 are still being assessed.

You can read more on ASQA's website and the Department of Education's page.

Staying compliant once registered

Getting onto the register is only the start. CRICOS RTOs need to keep meeting their obligations, including:

• Following the ESOS Act 2000, the National Code 2018 and, for VET providers, the Standards for RTOs 2025
• Keeping accurate records of enrolments, attendance and course progress, and reporting through PRISMS where required
• Providing student support such as orientation, counselling and welfare services
• Reporting on education agent performance, including recruitment and commissions, under newer ESOS requirements
• Following the updated transfer rules under Standard 7 of the National Code
• Delivering to international students, since registration can be cancelled automatically if a provider delivers to no overseas students for 12 consecutive months

ESOS agencies can also audit providers from time to time. Where breaches are found, the outcome can range from conditions on registration through to suspension or cancellation.

Where placement fits in

Many VET courses offered to international students include a work placement. For a CRICOS RTO, placement records then sit alongside attendance and progress records, and all of it needs to be tracked properly. This is where a placement management platform like SkilTrak can help, by managing placements from start to finish and keeping progress, evidence and host feedback in one place.

International students who have the skills and ability to work or prior working experience in their country, they don’t need to do the full course. They can apply for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) complete the assessment and provide the necessary evidence and be eligible for the qualification. 

SkilTrak can help you with your RPL Certificate. Contact us

Final Thoughts

CRICOS is the starting point for anyone studying or delivering education to international students in Australia. For students, it's a quick way to confirm that a provider and course are genuine before committing time and money. For RTOs, it comes with real responsibility, and the rules around registration are changing quickly.

You can also contact SkilTrak for placement or international providers, we have both CRISCOS and domestic providers.