Australia Confirms Amendments to Post-Study Work Route
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has confirmed the details of adjustments to the Temporary Graduate Visa Program due to come into effect in July.Changes to post-study work rights via the Temporary Graduate Visa Program were first announced in the release of the government’s Migration Strategy in December last year.
Reforms for post-study work rights will come into effect from July 1st.As previously reported, the post-study work rights available will be reduced to: two years for bachelor degree students; two years for master’s (coursework and extended) students; and three years for master’s (research) and doctoral degree students.The two-year extension for certain subjects that was introduced in 2022 will cease.
However, stay periods for Indian nationals, as agreed in the Australian Indian – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) will remain as: two years for bachelor degrees; three years for bachelor degree (with first-class honours in STEM); three years for master’s; four years for doctoral degrees.Additionally, Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for up to five years.
The Second Post-Study Work stream will be renamed the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.Meanwhile, the Graduate Work stream will be renamed as the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.As above, the maximum age of eligibility will reduce to 35 years, apart from Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders (50 years).
Applicants must hold an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification closely related to their nominated occupation on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List, andApplicants with degree-level qualifications will no longer be eligible for this stream.Successful applicants will be able to stay for up to 18 months (five years for Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders).
