Proposed changes to the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa from 1 July 2024
The Australian Government recently announced proposed changes to the Temporary Graduate Visa programme which are intended to take effect from 1 July 2024, subject to the passage of legislative amendments.
As part of these proposed changes, the new Temporary Graduate Visa programme may be subject to the following requirements:
Post-Vocational Education Work stream
The Graduate Work stream will be renamed to the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.
The maximum eligible age for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream will be reduced to 35 years of age or under (Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders will continue to be eligible provided they are under 50 years of age).
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 (MLTSSL).
Applicants with a degree level qualification or higher are not eligible under the Post-Vocational Education Work stream and must apply through the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
Applicants may stay for up to 18 months (Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders can stay for up to 5 years).
Post-Higher Education Work stream
The Post-Study Work stream will be renamed to the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
The maximum eligible age for Post-Higher Education Work stream applicants will be reduced to 35 years of age or under (Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders will continue to be eligible provided they are under 50 years of age).
The ‘select degree’ 2-year extension (which was only just announced in July 2023 and currently available to international students enrolled in or who have completed courses linked to workforce shortages) will cease.
Stay periods will change to the following:
Bachelor degree (including honours) – up to 2 years
Masters (coursework and extended) – up to 2 years
Masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) – up to 3 years.
Exceptions:
Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may be able to stay for up to 5 years.
Stay periods for Indian nationals, as agreed in the Australian Indian – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), remain as:
Bachelor degree (including honours) – up to 2 years
Bachelor degree (with first class honours in STEM, including ICT) – up to 3 years
Masters (coursework, extended and research) – up to 3 years
Doctoral degrees (PhD) – up to 4 years.
The Second Post-Study Work stream which is available to Subclass 485 visa holders (in the Post-Study Work stream or Replacement stream) who graduated with a degree from an Australian institution in a regional area, will similarly be renamed the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
Additionally, it is intended that the current Replacement stream of the Temporary Graduate Visa program available to current and former Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa holders who lost time on their original Subclass 485 visa due to COVID-19 travel restrictions will cease from 1 July 2024 onward.
Repercussions
The reduction of the age limit for the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa Programme will undoubtedly affect many international students and migrants in Australia, including those who are still in the process of completing their studies on a Student Visa and who may be turning 35 years of age before they are eligible to apply for a Subclass 485 visa. The loss of an opportunity to be granted a Subclass 485 visa after the completion of their studies may prevent them from accruing valuable work experience in Australia, and thereby affect their chances of being eligible for an employer-sponsored or skilled visa in the future.
While the Australian Government has not provided any indication as to whether there will be any transitional or grandfathering provisions provided to current Student (Subclass 500) visa holders and Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa holders, we hope that fair concessions will be made to these Student Visa holders and Temporary Graduate Visa holders who have chosen to come to Australia to complete their studies in good faith, so that they are hopefully exempt from the lowered age limit which is intended to take effect from 1 July 2024 onward.
To discuss your eligibility for a Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa either ahead of or after the commencement of these changes, as well as any other visa options you may have, please contact us at info@inclusivemigration.com.au or use the contact form on our website to submit an enquiry.
