International students in Australia enjoy a wide array of benefits and advantages, not only through its excellent educational system but through the exciting yet laid-back lifestyle that Aussies have. This and the attractive labour market is why so many international students choose to stay after finishing their studies and find a job here. To do so, graduates need to apply for a post-study work visa. But what exactly is this visa and what does it entail? You’ll find the answer to this and more useful information below.
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The Australian Post-Study Work Visa Explained
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is issued to international students who have graduated with a degree from an Australian university. This visa allows you to temporarily live, work, and study in Australia after graduation.
The length of the post-study work visa depends on the level of your study qualification and type of degree. Starting from July 2023, the Australian government has announced an extension to post-study work rights of graduates from more than 400 study programs due to the current workforce shortage. From this date, international higher education graduates in areas with skill shortages will benefit from a two-year extension of post-study rights.
The visa duration will change as follows:
- Select bachelor’s degree graduates – from two years to four years.
- Select master’s degree graduates – from three years to five years.
- All PhD graduates – from four years to six years.
Graduates from the following fields of occupations and qualifications in skill shortage are eligible for an extension of post-study work rights:
- Medical and Nursing
- Professional Health
- Diagnostic
- Allied Health
- Teaching
- Engineering
- ICT
- Agriculture
Here’s a full list of occupations and qualifications that are eligible for the extension.
Types of Post-Study Work Visas in Australia
The post-study work visa (subclass 485) for international students in Australia has four different streams and applies to a variety of graduates from Australian higher education institutions.
The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs also issues a Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476) for recent engineering graduates.
Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) – Graduate Work Stream
The graduate work stream of the subclass 485 visa applies to international students who have recently completed a degree program with skills and qualifications that are relevant to occupations that are in demand in the Australian workforce.
This visa typically allows you to travel, work, or study in Australia for a duration of 18 months, however, it has been temporarily increased to 24 months for visas granted from 1 December 2021. The price of this visa application is AUD 1,730 for the primary visa applicant.
Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) – Post-Study Work Stream
The post-study work stream of the subclass 485 visa is for international students who have recently completed a degree program at an institution in Australia. With this visa, you can temporarily live, work, and study in Australia.
The recent post-study work rights extensions apply to this visa stream. You can’t extend this visa more than its set duration, however, you may check if you are eligible for a second post-study work stream visa. This visa costs AUD 1,730 for the main applicant.
Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) – Second Post-Study Work Stream
The second post-study work stream of the subclass 485 visa is eligible for holders of the post-study work or replacement stream visa holders who graduated from an Australian educational institution that is located in a regional area. The designated regional areas are divided into two categories which include most locations outside of major cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane). This visa stream allows you to travel, work, or study in Australia.
With this visa stream, you can stay between one to two years depending on the regional location of the institution from which you graduated and the regional area where you lived while holding your first post-study work stream or replacement stream Temporary Graduate visa. This visa costs around AUD 680 for the main applicant.
Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) – Replacement Stream
The replacement stream of the subclass 485 visa is eligible for current and former holders of the Temporary Graduate visa who lost time on the original visa duration due to travel restrictions as a result of COVID-19.
This visa stream allows you to stay in Australia for 18 months to 5 years depending on the level of your Australian study qualification or the type of Temporary Graduate visa you previously held. This visa costs around AUD 1,730 for the main applicant.
Skilled-Recognised Graduate Visa (Subclass 476)
The Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476) is different from the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa, however, it is another visa that is relevant to recent graduates who want to work in Australia. This visa is eligible for graduates with an engineering qualification from a specified educational institution.
Here’s a full list of acceptable institutions for the subclass 476 visa. With this type of visa, you can travel, work, and study in Australia for up to 18 months.
Post-Study Work Visa Requirements
You need to meet specific requirements to be eligible for one of the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) streams or the Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476).
Some of the main requirements for the graduate work stream of the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485):
- You must be under 50 years of age.
- You must have met the Australian study requirement six months prior to applying for this visa.
- You must have a valid passport from either the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland; or provide proof of the required English language proficiency.
- You must have adequate health insurance and meet health requirements.
- You must meet character requirements (if 16 years of age or older).
- You must sign the Australian values statement (if 18 years of age or older).
- You must not have debt to the Australian government.
The main requirements for the post-study work stream of the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) include:
- You must be under 50 years of age.
- You must hold a degree-level or above qualification and must have met the Australian study requirement six months before applying for this visa.
- You must have studied at an Australian institution that offers degree-level programs and is registered in CRICOS.
- You must have a valid passport from either the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland; or provide proof of the required English language proficiency.
- You must have adequate health insurance and meet health requirements.
- You must meet character requirements (if 16 years of age or older).
- You must not have debt to the Australian government.
The main requirements for the second post-study work stream of the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) are as follows:
- You must be under 50 years of age.
- You must have been previously granted a Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream or replacement stream.
- You must have studied in an Australian education institution that is based in a designated regional area.
- You must have lived in a designated regional area for two years prior to applying, as well as if you worked and studied while holding your first Temporary Graduate visa, you must have done so in the designated regional area.
- You must have adequate health insurance and meet health requirements.
- You must meet character requirements (if 16 years of age or older).
- You must not have debt to the Australian government.
The main requirements for the replacement steam of the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) include:
- You must be under 50 years of age.
- You must be a current or former holder of the Temporary Graduate visa who lost time of their stay in Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
- You must submit your visa application before 1 January 2027.
- You must not be in immigration clearance.
- You must have adequate health insurance and meet health requirements.
- You must meet character requirements (if 16 years of age or older).
- You must not have debt to the Australian government.
The main visa application requirements for the Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa (Subclass 476) include:
- You must have engineering qualifications from an institution accredited under the Washington Accord.
- You must be under 31 years of age.
- You must not have previously been the primary holder of a Temporary Graduate visa or a Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa.
- You must meet health and character requirements.
- You must have a valid passport from either the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland; or provide proof of the required English language proficiency.
- You must sign the Australian values statement (if 18 years of age or older).
- You must not have debt to the Australian government.
Holders of this visa affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions may be eligible to apply for a visa extension.
Note that you may not be eligible for all of these visas if you had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused.
How to Apply for a Post-Study Work Visa
Now that you have all the information you need, it’s time to apply for a post-study work visa.
Here are the steps you need to take:
- Create a new account or log in to ImmiAccount.
- Attach the required documents depending on the type of visa.
- Pay the visa application fee for primary applicants (extra fee if a family member is a secondary applicant).
- Submit your application.
Once you submit your application and documents, the Department of Home Affairs will let you know they have received them. If you are granted the visa, you will be notified in writing. You will receive your visa grant number, the date your visa starts, and the visa conditions.
Australia is a gem of a country, so it is no surprise that many international students decide to stay and work here after they graduate. With the post-study work visa, you are able to enjoy more time in Australia and contribute to the labour market.