Post-study work rights extension up to two extra years for international students in Australia

From 1 July 2023, international higher education graduates in Australia with eligible qualifications will be granted an extra two years of post-study work rights.

While Australia has always offered great post-study work benefits to international students, the authorities have announced yet another update of extending the work rights to up to 8 years for select programs. This is a great opportunity for all international students who are planning to study in this welcoming country and those who are already pursuing their studies in Australia.Study in top ranked Australian Universities/institutions and take a step towards global career opportunities with extended post-study work rights offered under subclass 485.

Important Updates

1. Two-year extension of post-study work rights

  • The Australian Government has announced a two-year extension of post-study work rights for international graduates with select degrees in areas of verified skills shortage to strengthen the pipeline to skilled work. The extension will take effect from 1 July 2023.This extension will give eligible international higher education graduates an additional two years.

  • Post-study work rights for select degrees in areas of verified skills shortages will be increased from:

    1. Two years to four years for select bachelor’s degrees.

    2. Three years to five years for select master’s degrees.

    3. Four years to six years for all PhDs.

  • List of occupations and qualifications eligible for post-study work rights extension - List of occupations and qualifications eligible for post-study work rights extension - Department of Education, Australian Government

  • The extension is in addition to the existing additional one to two years of work rights for eligible students who study, live and work in regional areas.

2. Increase to allowable work hours cap from 1 July 2023

  • The Government has also announced an increase to the part-time working hour cap for international students, while studying, from 40 to 48 hours per fortnight, from 1 July 2023.

Duration of Post-study work rights in Australia:

Regions

Program Category

Bachelors

Masters

Phd.

(Coursework & Research)

Major Cities*

Eligible Qualifications
(Under verified skills shortages)*

4 Years

5 Years

6 Years

Other Qualifications

2 Years

3 Years

Cities and major
regional centers*

Eligible Qualifications
(Under verified skills shortages)*

5 Years

6 Years

7 Years

Other Qualifications

3 Years

4 Years

Regional centers &
other regional areas*

Eligible Qualifications
(Under verified skills shortages)*

6 Years

7 Years

8 Years

Other Qualifications

4 Years

5 Years

*List of occupations and qualifications eligible for post-study work rights extension - here
*Major Cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
*Cities and major regional centers: Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong, Hobart
*Regional centers and other regional areas: All other locations**

*List of occupations and qualifications eligible for post-study work rights extension here

  • Engineering

  • Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

  • Agriculture

What is 485 post-study work stream visa?

It’s a great opportunity to stay back and work in Australia for a longer duration! This new post-study work stream visa, offered by the Australian Government enables you to study, live, and work in the designated regional areas of the country, for up to five years. This is a great update as now you can plan for your career in a better manner, having a wider range of areas accessible to study and work, besides a longer duration of post-study work visa validity.

Who can apply?

As an international student, if you wish to work in Australia upon the completion of your studies for a longer duration (up to five years), then this is for you. Good news is that this visa allows you complete study and work rights, besides allowing the freedom to travel to and from Australia as long as it is valid.

You should know

  • Your field of specialisation will not be a determining factor as this post-study work visa doesn’t have an occupations list. But ensure you are studying at the right levels

  • You should have a degree from a CRICOS-registered course

  • Skills assessment isn’t requisite to apply for this visa

  • You need to fulfil the English language proficiency requirements

The post-study work stream visa can open doors to an exciting career in Australia. This means, more options, more exposure, and yes, more employability.Australia’s regional cities are a great place to study, work and live – offering a highly attractive combination of a world-class university education and a great lifestyle. While Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney are already popular, the equally important cities like Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Canberra now become more attractive to international students. This may be creating a sustainable balance and more opportunities for everyone and also that education and employment opportunities that are available across Australia are taken up by students rather than competing in a concentrated space. There are economic opportunities that are all around the country and the new policy will advantage the international students in many ways.Get informed, speak to us to find out all the benefits about studying and living regionally:

  • Enjoy face-to-face consultation with our experienced expert about entry requirements and application process for courses in regional Australia

  • Discover specialty course offerings that are unique to campuses in regional areas

  • Learn about Universities based in cities like Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast and many more

If you still have any queries get in touch with our international education experts at IDP. For more updates, you may also refer to the official website.