Proposed Changes to the Temporary Graduate Visa Program

Date: 03 May 2024

Changes to the Subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate Visa Program – proposed 01 July 2024

Australia’s Temporary Graduate visa program is undergoing major changes, as outlined in the recent Migration Strategy announced by the Australian Government. These changes are set to be implemented from July 1, 2024, subject to legislative approval. The purpose of these adjustments is to ensure that more graduates are working in jobs that match their skills, addressing skills shortages, and not remaining in a ‘permanently temporary’ status.

Graduate Work Stream

Let’s delve into the key adjustments:

Stream Renamed: The Graduate Work stream will be renamed to the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.

Age Limit Reduction: The maximum eligible age for applicants under the Post-Vocational Education Work stream will be lowered to 35 years or younger. However, exceptions will be made for Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, who can apply if they are under 50.

Qualification Requirements: Applicants must hold an associate degree, diploma, or trade qualification closely aligned with occupations listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) to be eligible.
Stay Period: Successful applicants may stay for a maximum of 18 months under this stream. However, Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders may have the opportunity to extend their stay for up to 5 years.

These adjustments aim to better align the visa program with the evolving needs of Australia’s labour market while providing opportunities for individuals with vocational qualifications to contribute to the workforce.

Post-Study Work stream

Here are the changes expect for the Post-Study Work stream:

Stream Renamed: The Post-Study Work stream will be renamed as the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
Age Limit: The maximum age limit for applicants applying for the Post-Higher Education Work stream will be reduced to 35 years or under. However, Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders who are under 50 years of age will still be eligible for this stream.
2-Year Extension: The 2-year extension for the ‘select degree’ option will no longer be available.
Adjusted Stay Periods: The new stay periods for different degrees will be as follows:
1. Bachelor’s degree (including honours) – up to 2 years
2. Masters (coursework and extended) – up to 2 years
3. Masters (Research) and doctoral degree (PhD) – up to 3 years
4. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders might be able to stay for up to 5 years.
Stay Periods for Indian Passport Holders: Indian nationals will benefit from specific stay periods outlined in the Australian Indian – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA). This includes:
1. Bachelor’s degree (including honours) – up to 2 years
2. Bachelor’s degree (with first-class honours in STEM, including ICT) – up to 3 years
3. Masters (coursework, extended and research) – up to 3 years
4. Doctoral degrees (PhD) – up to 4 years.

Second Post-Study Work stream

This visa is intended for individuals holding a Temporary Graduate visa (first Post-Study Work stream or Replacement stream) who have completed their degree from an Australian institution located in a regional area. The Second Post-Study Work stream will be named the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. No other changes have been proposed to this stream.

Replacement stream

This visa was introduced for current and former Temporary Graduate visa holders who lost time on their original visa due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The replacement stream will cease from 01 July onwards.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the Department hopes that the upcoming revisions to Australia’s Temporary Graduate visa program, effective July 1, 2024, aim to combat onshore “visa hopping” and reduce “permanent temporariness.” If you have any questions or are confused about how these changes might affect you, contact us.