July 3rd, 2024 at 09:28 am

New Rules for Australian Student Visas: Must-Know Changes for Temporary Graduate Visa Holders

Temporary Graduate Visa Holders Subclass 485 will no longer be eligible to apply for an Australian student visa while they are in Australia as of July 1, 2024. Applications for student visas must be submitted from abroad, according to a new rule (outside of Australia)

Impacted Visa Categories

Affected parties include not just holders of Temporary Graduate Visas but also holders of Visitor, Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), Medical Treatment, and Maritime crew visas. They have to apply from outside of Australia for a student visa. Nonetheless, applications received before July 1, 2024, will continue to be handled.

Encouraging Permanent Residency Over Permanent Temporariness

The Australian government wants to slow down the number of people who apply for numerous visas to extend their stay without becoming permanent residents. Rather, skilled occupations that could result in employer-sponsored visas or permanent residency are encouraged for temporary graduates.

Additional Changes for Temporary Graduate Visas

Other modifications for temporary graduate visa holders include shortened post-study work privileges, lowered age restrictions from 50 to 35, and tougher English language proficiency standards in addition to the new student visa regulations.

Offshore Application Process

While applications for student visas must be submitted abroad, those who hold or are awarded a visa that allows admission and stay are permitted to travel to Australia while they await the verdict. Be aware that anyone applying for an offshore student visa won’t be able to stay in Australia while their application is being processed for a Bridging Visa.

Study Limitations on Visitor Visas

Students in Australia with a Visitor Visa may stay and study for a maximum of three months. Those who want to continue their education outside of Australia must apply for a student visa.

These adjustments aim to stop visa hopping and guarantee that people are interested in studying in Australia. The government hopes to address the issue of permanent temporariness and expedite the Visa process by incentivizing temporary graduates to pursue pathways to permanent residency or to leave Australia.

Key Changes in the Temporary Graduate Visa

Stream Renaming

The Post-Vocational Education Work Stream will replace the Graduate Work Stream. The Post-Higher Education Work Stream will replace the Post-Study Work Stream. The Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream will now be referred to as the Second Post-Study Work Stream.

Age and Qualification Adjustments

The newly named streams will have a 35-year-old applicant age limit. Each stream will have specific requirements, with an emphasis on matching educational outputs to industry demands.

Visa Duration and Eligibility

The length of the visa has been adjusted for each degree of qualification, with varying time frames for graduates of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. There are still special rules that provide longer eligibility and visa durations for holders of Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) passports.

Cessation of the Replacement Stream

There will be no more of the Replacement Stream, which was created for students affected by COVID-19.

With a focus on attracting skills that are essential to Australia’s long-term economic success, these revisions also offer clarity and improved prospects for international graduates. Consulting with migration professionals is advised for a thorough knowledge of how these changes can affect applications in the future.