Do you intend to stay in Australia after finishing your studies? Learn about the post-study work permit in Australia, what it entails, who is eligible, and how to apply for one. Every student who plans to study outside their country does so with the intention of returning to the nation. Either permanently or for a few more years to obtain valuable work experience. In fact, if you do not have a job offer for you when you return, it is preferable to obtain some work experience in the nation.
Australia is a popular study abroad location for its ease of access. The continent’s constant demand for skilled workers has benefited the education sector, which continues to attract and retain international students while also assimilate them into the country’s economy. However, as an international student, there are various alternatives. And you’ll require a Post Study Work Permit (PSWR). So, what exactly is it, and how can you get it?
Latest Update
September 13, 2022:
To address Australia’s skills shortage, Education Minister Jason Clare has announced the extension of post-study work rights for international students for up to six years. Applicants who are presently studying or have recently graduated from an Australian university may apply for this post-study work visa. More information can be found at – Australia extends PSW rights for international students for up to six years.
February 15, 2022:
From February 21, 2022, Australia’s borders will be open to fully vaccinated visa holders with no travel exemptions. Those visa holders who are not completely vaccinated will need a travel exemption and may be quarantined upon arrival.
January 25, 2022:
Temporary (subclass 408) visas are introduced in Australia for international students in order to increase employment rates in essential areas and ensure their ability to provide services to the government. In this case, students might work for more than 40 hours in a fortnight either before or during the course. Applications are being accepted online, and students traveling in Australia between January 19 and March 19, 2022 are eligible for a fee waiver. Find out more here: In Australia, a temporary (subclass 408) visa has been introduced to bridge the employment decline.
December 13, 2021:
Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who were unable to travel to Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions may apply for a replacement visa. This applies to both current and past visa holders who wish to apply for the same period of time as specified in the original guidelines. In addition, the Australian Government has proposed extending the residence duration for Temporary Graduate Visa holders from 2-3 years to 2 years for VET field graduates.
These initiatives have been announced in support of international students who have been studying outside of Australia during COVID-19. Only applications will be accepted beginning in mid-2022. Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) holders willing to apply for a replacement visa should keep in mind that their course must be completed within the CRICOS timetable, which is at least 92 weeks. In addition, the applicant’s course and institution must be CRICOS-recognised. Before applying for a post-study work permit in Australia, you must have a job in hand.
From November 16, 2019
The federal government classifies Adelaide, Perth, and the Gold Coast as regional. This offers city university graduates an extra year of post-study work rights (PSWR). Graduates in Darwin can stay for an additional two years, and PhD graduates can stay for up to six years. Even after attaining regional migration status, cities other than Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane will be entitled for Destination Australia scholarships.
Regional Australian PSWR
Only areas classified as ‘Inner Regional Australia’ to ‘Very Remote Australia’ remain Destination Australia eligible. Darwin is the only capital city that can take advantage of both the scholarship program and an additional two years of PSW. The number of regional migration visas will increase from 2000 to 25,000 in 2023.
Cities with an additional year of PSWR:
- Adelaide
- Perth
- Gold Coast
- Wollongong/Illawarra Geelong
- Hobart
- Sunshine Coast Canberra Newcastle/Lake Macquarie
On a Student Visa, an international student is accepted and allowed to study in a foreign country. This visa is only for the purpose of attending a course or receiving vocational training. However, once the course is completed, the visa’s validity ends. This could happen right away or after 6 months (according to the Student Visa Guidelines of the country.)
Following that, a student must apply for and obtain a Work Permit in order to remain in the country for employment purposes. Students who have completed their studies in Australia are eligible to apply for a Post Study Work Permit or a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). This visa, which replaced the previous Skilled Graduate Visa (subclass 485), and came into effect in March 2013.
Kinds of Australia Post Study Work Permits
There are two streams or categories of the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485). The Graduate Work Stream is the first, and the Post Study Work Stream is the second. The main difference between the two is the type of qualification obtained by an international student.
Graduate Work Stream
International students who have completed the Australian Study Requirements and have an approved qualification as well as skills relevant to occupations listed on the Skills Occupation List are eligible for the Graduate Work Stream (SOL). This would mainly apply to students applying for a Vocational Education and Training qualification and a TAFE institute. This visa is valid for a period of 18 months.
Post Study Work Stream
A Post Study Work Stream, on the other hand, is for international students who have completed the Australian Study Requirements and earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an approved Australian university. This visa is only available to students who applied for and were granted an Australian student visa on or after November 5, 2011. The duration of your tenure is determined on the type of degree you hold.
A bachelor’s degree, a bachelor’s honours degree, or a master’s course degree (a degree does not have a linked industrial training) is valid for two years. A master’s degree with a research degree qualifies you for a Temporary Visa for up to three years, and a doctorate degree qualifies you for a four-year Temporary Visa.
Who can apply for this visa?
You can apply for this as an international student no later than 6 months after finishing your study. To put it another way, you must apply for this visa within 6 months of finishing your study. To be eligible, you must complete the Australia Study requirements, which include a minimum of 16 months in Australia and finishing at least 92 weeks of study on a course listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). (This is easily available on the university website, so it would be wise to check before you start!)
It is important to note that 92 weeks are how CRICOS views the situation, not how long it takes to complete a course. For example, if you took 92 weeks to finish a course that CRICOS thinks should take 74 weeks, it would only count as 74 weeks. As a result, extending your studies is not the way to go! It is also important to remember that they require a specific level of expertise in the skill set. Apart from that, you should check the institution’s recognition before enrolling for a course if you intend to stay and work in Australia after finishing your studies.
Aside from the requirements listed above, you must be at least 18 years old, under 50, have an eligible visa, and have health insurance in Australia. Apart from that, they would also require you to have a competent level of the English language, as well as health and character certificates. You should have these documents ready before applying for the visa. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection would provide you with the details of eligibility, actual cost, and required documents. You can also register on the website and apply for the same.
How much time can an applicant stay after completing studies in Australia?
According to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection of Australia, international applicants with a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) are permitted to stay in Australia for up to 18 months after completing their studies. As a result, they will be able to come to Australia, obtain work experience, and improve their English language skills through ELICOS.
Also, those students who completed their studies in the metropolitan cities of Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, can get two years of post-study work visas, and in regional areas, they can get three to four years of post-study work visas.