Following an announcement on eligible qualifications in February 2023, the Australian Government has now released the full list of all selected courses (degrees) eligible for an extended post-study ‘stay and work’ period in Australia. Extended post-study work rights are intended for international students graduating with a degree linked to workforce shortages in Australia.
The Australian Government has released the full list of selected courses eligible for an extended Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) from 1 July 2023.
The full lists of all eligible higher education courses, occupations and qualifications can be found at the extended post-study work rights page.
The lists will be reviewed each year to respond to any changes in the Australian labour market and address any risks that emerge.
Under the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Post-Study Work Stream, the ‘stay and work’ period for eligible graduates of listed qualifications and courses will increase, as follows:
These extensions are in addition to the existing additional one to two years of work rights for eligible students who study, live and work in regional areas in Australia.
You will be eligible for this extension if:
Graduates with an eligible degree who apply for a Temporary Graduate (Post-Study Work stream) visa on or after 1 July 2023 will be eligible for the extension.
Eligible graduates already holding a Temporary Graduate (Post-Study Work stream) visa on 1 July 2023 can apply for a nil-fee extension of their current visa through ImmiAccount.
Temporary arrangements are in place for graduates whose Temporary Graduate visa expired before 1 July 2023. You can apply for a two-year Temporary Activity Australian Government Endorsed Events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) visa (subclass 408) if:
If you have completed an eligible qualification and apply for a Temporary Graduate (Post-Study Work stream) visa on or after 1 July 2023 – you will be eligible for the extension. The additional ‘stay and work’ period will be applied to your visa if it is granted. Apply for a Temporary Graduate (Post-Study Work stream) visa using ImmiAccount.
If have an eligible qualification and already hold a Temporary Graduate (Post-Study Work) visa on 1 July 2023, you can apply for a nil-fee extension of your current visa using ImmiAccount.
If your Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) expired before 1 July 2023 and you are eligible for the two-year Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Events visa (COVID-19 Pandemic event) as above, apply with the Department of Home Affairs.
The Australian Government has also announced that student visa holders already working in the aged care sector on 9 May 2023 can continue to work unrestricted hours in the aged care sector until 31 December 2023.
However, if this exemption applies to you, you must continue to balance your study and work commitments even though there is flexibility in the number of hours you can work. You must still:
If you cancel your enrolment and stop attending classes, or fail to meet satisfactory course progress, you may be in breach of your visa conditions.
For more information on the latest travel and visa advice, visit our preparing to travel page.