CRICOS (the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) check: is my Australian college registered?
Search the provider and the exact course on the official CRICOS website. Make sure the course and campus on your offer match the listing. A listing does not prove your offer or your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), and the live CRICOS website is the latest version.
What CRICOS is
CRICOS is the official list of Australian education providers that offer courses to people studying in Australia on student visas, and the courses they offer. It is run by the Australian Government Department of Education.
The register is organised as providers (institutions), courses, locations and which courses run at which locations. That is why you should check all of them, not only the name of the college.
How to check, step by step
You can start with the Institution check in this app, then confirm on the official website.
- Open the official CRICOS website by typing the address from the Sources list yourself.
- Search for the provider's name and read its listing.
- Search for the exact course named in your offer and check the course code, level and campus.
- Check that the campus on your offer is a location where that course is listed.
- Save a dated screenshot. If anything does not match, ask the provider in writing before you pay.
What a CRICOS listing does not prove
A listing means the provider is registered to offer courses to overseas students. It does not prove that you were offered a place, that your documents are real, or that you will get a visa.
TaleemParakh keeps a copy of the CRICOS provider list. It is a monthly snapshot, and the date shown is when the export was uploaded. The live CRICOS website is the latest version, so use it for any decision.
Where the CoE and the deposit fit in
Study Australia says the CoE is sent to you after you have accepted your Letter of Offer and paid your deposit. So a deposit before a CoE is normal.
The warning sign is who you pay. Pay the provider through the payment details in your offer or its official portal, not a person or an agent's account. See the guide 'How to pay university fees and rent safely'.
Be careful with visa help
The Australian Department of Home Affairs says it is illegal for a third party to give paid immigration help unless they are a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner. It also warns that scam agents may not lodge the application and simply take your money.
The Australian High Commission in Pakistan says fake agents are targeting Pakistani migrants. Its warning signs include contact through WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, a 'guaranteed' visa, large upfront payments, pressure to act quickly, handing over your passport, refusing to share your visa application, and telling you not to discuss it with others.
Questions people ask
Does CRICOS show my CoE?
No. It lists providers and courses, not individual students. Ask your provider to confirm your CoE through its own portal or admissions office.
Is a deposit before the CoE a scam sign?
No, it is normal. Study Australia says the CoE is sent after you accept the offer and pay the deposit. Pay only the provider, never a person.
Sources
Official and institution sources
- CRICOS: Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (Australian Government Department of Education)
- CRICOS dataset description (data.gov.au)
- Visa application process (Study Australia (Australian Government))
- Visa scams (Australian Department of Home Affairs)
- Stay Visa Scam Safe (Australian High Commission, Pakistan)
- Search the register of migration agents (Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority)
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