Australian Government Extends Post-Study Work Rights by Two Years!

International graduates with qualifying credentials will be granted an additional two years of post-study employment rights beginning on July 1, 2023. According to the Australian government. The government also said in its announcement that starting on the same date, the maximum number of hours that overseas students may work each fortnight would increase from 40 to 48.

International graduates on temporary graduate visa subclass 485, who have just graduated with skills and qualifications relevant to particular occupations Australia needs will be eligible for the benefits of work rights extensions.

485 visa for post-study work extension

A foreign student who has fulfilled the Australian Study Requirements and has earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an accredited Australian University is eligible for the After Study Work Stream. Only students who applied for and received an Australia student visa are eligible for this visa. The type of degree you hold will affect your tenure. 

An AUD 1,730 fee is required to obtain a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) – Post-Study Work Stream. For those who apply for this visa, there are various processing times.

With the new post-study work stream visa offered by the Australian government, you can study, reside, and work in the country’s chosen regional areas for up to five years. This is a great improvement because it makes it possible for you to plan your career more effectively. After all, new fields are now available for study and employment, and the duration of post-study work visas is increased.

If, as an international student, you want to work in Australia for a longer period (up to five years), this is the option for you. The good news is that as long as your visa is in good standing, you have full rights to study, work, and travel to and from Australia.

Any Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who complete their studies in a particular field on or after 1 July 2023 are subject to the extension of post-study work rights. This implies that the following increases will be made to the number of years that holders of visas may stay in Australia:

• Two to four years are required for some bachelor’s degrees. 
• Three to five years are required to obtain some master’s degrees.
• For all PhD degrees, four to six years are required.

The additional years that students can already receive on their visas for living, studying, and working in regional areas will be added to by this modification.

Eligibility

You must comply with the following parameters to receive this extension:

• You are eligible for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) and 
• Your degree is listed among the qualities that qualify you for the Post-Study Work stream. 

One of the additional requirements must also be met: 

• You already have a temporary graduate visa (post-study work stream) that is valid as of July 1, 2023, you have applied for a temporary graduate visa (post-study work stream) by July 1, 2023, or you apply after July 1.

Your visa will be automatically renewed by two years if you meet the requirements, have finished a qualification from the authorised list, and have a valid Temporary On or after July 1, 2023 applicants may apply for a graduate visa (subclass 485). 

If your Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) expires before 1 July 2023 or if you meet the requirements for the two-year Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Events visa (COVID-19 Pandemic event) as outlined above, you must apply for the visa with the Department of Home Affairs.

According to a government announcement, graduates who meet the requirements for several occupations, including:

• Information and communication technology 
• Engineering 
• Psychology 
• Optometry
• Pharmacy 
• Teaching
• Food science and technology

It is the responsibility of the student to determine whether their academic fields qualify for the extended post-study work visa. 

The goal is to achieve a balance between allowing international students to fully pursue their major objectives –

• studying in Australia, and
• giving them the means to sustain themselves financially, if necessary, and to get experience working there.

Conclusion

485 temporary graduate visas provide opportunities for international students to stay in Australia for their further studies or bright career. Graduates can remain back, study, and work in Australia for two to four years with a post-study work visa. Starting in November, Australia’s stay-back time for those with post-study work visas may be extended.

International students worldwide will be pleased with the expansion of the After Study Work Visa in Australia. Depending on where they are studying in Australia, students can now graduate, live, study, work, or look for work there for two to four years after graduation. 

The University of Perth, Gold Coast, and other regional locations applaud the additional years added to PSW Australia. The change is intended to put regional areas on an equal footing with major cities like Sydney and Melbourne.