A key outcome from the Australian Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit in September 2022 was the announcement of a two-year extension of post-study work rights for international graduates with select degrees in areas of verified skill shortage.
Post-study work rights for international graduates will be increased from:
- two years to four years for select Bachelor degrees
- three years to five years for select Masters degrees
- four years to six years for all doctoral degrees.
This extension will be added to the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) for eligible graduates; or enabling a new visa application for those select students who already hold a TGV and will be seeking an additional two years.
The Government has considered the working group’s advice and has announced more details about the measure including the indicative list of occupations and eligible qualifications.
The measure will commence on 1 July 2023.
Further information will be provided on the Home Affairs and Department of Education websites as July approaches.
Regional
This will not affect eligibility to apply for the Post-Study Work Stream for graduates who have studied, worked, and lived in a regional area.
Transitional arrangements
Eligible international students whose TGV will expire between 1 September 2022 and 1 July 2023, as well as TGV holders who remained in Australia contributing to the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be able to access a two-year Pandemic event (subclass 408).
Eligible qualifications
The list of eligible qualifications was developed by mapping in-demand occupations on the Skills Priority List to relevant qualifications.
The lists of occupations and qualifications will be monitored and reviewed on an annual basis to respond to any changes in the labour market and address any risks that emerge.
It is intended that future changes to the qualifications list will not adversely impact students who have started an eligible course of study, which has subsequently been removed from this list.
Students who graduate with a qualification that was eligible either when they started studying or when they finished studying, or both, will be eligible for the extension.
The list of eligible qualifications can be found here.
List of occupations and qualifications eligible for post-study work rights extension
Extended Work Rights for Select Occupations and Qualifications
Permanent residence pathway for sc482 visa holders with an occupation on the Regional Occupation List (ROL)
TSS 482 visa – No adverse information
TSS 482 visa – Direct employer or associated entity