April 2nd, 2024 at 02:55 am

6 Australia Student & Graduate Visa Changes in 2024 | Australia Student Visa Update

Australia has announced several adjustments to its laws about international student visas and Australian graduate visas in an attempt to raise the caliber of its educational system and ensure the safety of its students.

A couple of these modifications aim to strike a balance with the evolving needs of international students. It is expected that these changes will impact international students and graduates who want to extend their stay in Australia. The modifications aim to simplify processes and preserve the integrity of the visa system.

We’ll go into great depth about these changes and how they might impact you in this article.

1. Stricter Assessment

The Genuine Student Test (GST), which was first announced in November of last year, is being implemented by the Australian government as a prerequisite for international students requesting visas. This new exam’s objective is to ascertain whether applicants genuinely intend to stay temporarily in Australia to continue their education.

The GST, which aims to identify and reward people who are more likely to be studying than working and to supply the skills that the Australian economy requires, is replacing the Genuine Temporary Entrance requirements.

2. Faster Processing Times

The current 53-82-day processing time for 90% of Poststudy Graduate Visa applications will be cut to a maximum of 21 days. The changes to the student visa, including its faster processing, are planned for early 2024, while the changes to the graduate visa are set to begin in the middle of the year. We are still unsure, though, if this change will go into effect this year.

3. Increased English Proficiency Requirements

As of March 23, 2024, there is a new minimum English score required to apply for a student or graduate visa. However, the two-year validity term for the English Test remains unchanged. The minimum scores required for a student visa are 6.0 on the IELTS, 50 on the PTE, 64 on the TOEFL, and 169 on the CAE.

You must have taken your English exam no more than a year ago to be eligible for a graduate visa. Test results from exams completed more than a year ago will not be accepted. For consideration for a Subclass 485 Graduate Visa, candidates must now have a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5 and a PTE score of 57, which comprises at least 43 in listening, 48 in reading, 42 in speaking, or 51 in writing, or an equivalent test.

4. Simplification and Streamlining of Visa Processes

The Australian government has begun streamlining the Graduate visa application process in an attempt to enhance the applicant experience and hasten the transition from student to graduate visas. Furthermore, the government is fortifying the route from graduate to temporary skilled visas, giving employers more assurance regarding a graduate’s capacity to continue working and their routes to permanent residence.

5. Renaming and Restructuring Visa Streams

The Temporary Graduate Visa, Post-study Work, and Graduate Workstreams are being rebranded as Post Higher Education Work and Post Vocational Education Work in an attempt to simplify the Visa streams. It is believed that this modification will make the terminology more application-friendly and descriptive.

Moreover, the cap on the TGY stream and the Subclass 476 Skilled Recognized Graduate Visa was implemented late last year.

6. Modification of Post-Study Work Rights

Less post-study work privileges are the main change to the policy. The original duration of the Temporary Graduate Visa will be reduced, and it will no longer be generally available for extensions of post-study employment privileges. This change addresses the issue of graduates remaining in Australia indefinitely and limits the number of students eligible for extensions to those who attended school in rural areas.

While these modifications may pose new challenges for international graduates in Australia, they also open up more effective pathways for those seeking to advance into specialized roles. For their academic and professional endeavors in Australia, both present and prospective students must stay informed and make the necessary preparations.