You’ve graduated from a university in Australia. You want to explore your job options or career path in Australia. But how do you identify which post-study Australian work visa is suitable for you? In this blog, we will explore the various types of work and skilled visas to help you identify the best options.
This list of Australian post-study work visas will help you learn more about what they offer.
Post-Study Work Visa | About the Visa |
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) | This visa allows international students to live, study and work after completing their studies. This visa includes the following streams:
However, please note that changes have been proposed to the Temporary Graduate Visa Program under the Australian government’s recent Migration Strategy. These changes are intended to take effect from the1st July 2024: The intended changes are-
The maximum eligible age for these applicants will be reduced to 35 years or under as opposed to the previous under-50 years age limit. The applicants will no longer be eligible to apply for the Post-Vocational Education Work Stream due to the age reduction criterion. Also, the applicants may continue to stay for up to 18 months in Australia. Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders may stay for up to 5 years.
The maximum eligible age for these applicants will be reduced to 35 years or below compared to the previous under-50 years age limit. However, those who are Masters (Research) and Doctoral Degree (PhD) graduates, including Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders will still be eligible if they are under 50 years of age. Also, these applicants will not be eligible for the Post-Higher Education Work Stream due to the age reduction criterion. The 2-year extension for ‘select degree’ will cease while the stay periods will change to:
Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may be able to stay for up to 5 years. The stay period of Indian Nationals is slightly different and can be verified here.
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Subclass 888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa | This visa is meant for entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors who wish to continue their business activities in Australia. This visa is segmented into five streams: 1. Business Innovation Stream: stay permanently 2. Investor Stream: stay permanently 3. Significant Investor Stream: stay permanently 4. Premium Investor Stream: stay permanently 5. Entrepreneur Stream: stay permanently All the above streams allow you to stay permanently in Australia. Each stream application will cost starting from AUD 3,310. |
Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) visa (subclass 188) | This visa is meant for those who wish to own and manage a business in Australia. They can engage in business and investment opportunities or take on entrepreneurial activities in Australia This visa is segmented into seven streams:
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Business Owner (subclass 890) | This visa is meant for people who own and manage a business in Australia. You can stay indefinitely once this visa is granted to you. While applying for this visa as a primary applicant, you must have a qualifying visa granted on a particular basis. This visa costs Starting from AUD 2,810. |
Global Talent visa (subclass 858) | This visa is meant for people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional and remarkable achievement in an eligible field. This visa is permanent once granted and starts from AUD 4,710. |
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | This visa allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanently. These skilled workers are nominated by their employers, making them eligible for this visa. There are three streams included in this visa type:
The cost of applying for each stream starts at AUD 4,640. |
Investor visa (subclass 891) | This visa is for people who engage in business and investment activities in Australia. It allows the person to stay indefinitely. To apply for this visa as a primary applicant, you must have a qualifying visa granted on a specific basis. This visa cost starts at AUD 2,810. |
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) | This visa allows workers to live and work in Australia permanently. These workers are granted the visa based on them holding an eligible visa and meeting a certain income requirement. This visa includes two streams: 1. Regional Provisional Stream: You don’t need a sponsor or nominator, hold an eligible visa for 3 years, and must have a taxable income or above the income threshold for 3 years while holding your eligible visa. Cost of application: Starts at AUD 475. 2. Hong Kong Stream: Must hold a British National (Overseas) or a Hong Kong passport; don’t need a sponsor or nominator, must meet certain visa requirements and resident requirements. Cost of application: starts at AUD 4,640. |
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494) | This visa helps regional employers to identify labour shortages within their region. In doing so, they can sponsor skilled workers where employers can’t source an adequately skilled Australian worker. This visa includes three streams: 1. Employer-Sponsored Stream: can stay up to 5 years. (Application cost: starts at AUD 4,640) 2. Labour Agreement Stream: can stay up to 5 years. (Application cost: starts at AUD 4,640) 3. Subsequent Entrant: can stay up to 5 years. (Application cost: starts at AUD 4,640) |
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) | This visa is meant for invited workers, eligible British National (Overseas )passport holders, and Hong Kong passport holders with the necessary skills to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia. This visa includes three streams: 1. Points Tested Stream: can stay permanently. (Application cost: starts at AUD 4,640) 2. Hong Kong: can stay permanently. (Application cost: starts at AUD 4,640) |
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) | This visa is meant for skilled workers who are nominated to live and work in Australia indefinitely as permanent residents. This visa starts from AUD 4,640. |
Skilled Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 489) | Skilled workers are allowed to live and work in regional Australia on this visa. They are allowed to bring their family members along with them if they wish to. This visa has three streams:
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Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887) | This visa is for people who have lived and worked in particular regions in Australia while holding a previous, eligible visa. By applying for this visa, the primary applicant can stay permanently in Australia. This visa application costs starting from AUD 465. |
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) | This is a visa for skilled people who have been nominated by a territory or state government. Once granted, this visa will allow them to live and work in regional Australia. This visa has two streams:
This visa application cost for each stream starts from AUD 4,640. |
State or Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (subclass 892) | This visa is for people who own and conduct business in Australia, allowing them to stay indefinitely. The person must have a qualifying visa granted on a particular basis to apply for this visa as a primary applicant. The visa application cost starts from AUD 2,810. |
State or Territory Sponsored Investor visa (subclass 893) | This is a permanent resident visa applicable to subclass State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) visa (subclass 165) holders. This visa is also applicable to those who have held a designated investment starting from AUD 750,000 for 4 years. This visa allows the applicant to stay permanently in Australia, and can later apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible. The visa application cost starts from AUD 2,810. |
Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) | This visa enables the applicant to perform specific types of work for a short duration. This visa is categorized in the following ways: 1. Australian Government Endorsed Events: can stay up to 4 years. 2. Special Program: can stay up to 12 months. 3. Religious Work: can stay up to 2 years. 4. Entertainment Activities: can stay up to 2 years. 5. Superyacht Crew: can stay up to 12 months. 6. Exchange Arrangements: can stay up to 2 years. 7. Domestic Work for Executives: can stay up to 2 years. 8. Research Activities: can stay up to 2 years. 9. Invited Participant: can stay up to 2 years. 10. Sporting Activities: can stay up to 2 years. The application cost for each visa type starts at AUD 405. |
Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) | This is a temporary visa granted to applicants required to work in special circumstances that can help improve Australia’s international relations. This visa includes five streams: Government Agreement Stream: can stay based on the time specific in the visa (usually up to 2 years). (Application cost: starts at AUD 355) Foreign Government Agency Stream: can stay based on the time specific in the visa (usually up to 4 years). (Application cost: starts at AUD 355) Domestic Worker (Consular or Diplomatic) Stream: the first visa is valid for up to 12 months. A further visa is granted based on the length of the employer’s posting in Australia. Can stay based on the time specific in the visa. (Application cost: starts at AUD 355) Privileges and Immunities Stream: Can stay based on the time specific in the visa. (Application cost: Free) Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream: can stay based on the time specific in the visa (usually up to 4 years). (Application cost: starts at AUD 355) |
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400) | The visa lets you do short-term, highly specialised work in Australia. It is a temporary visa suitable for applicants who have specialised skills, experience, and knowledge that is not typically available in Australia. This visa application starts at AUD 405. |
Bridging Visa, A – BVA – (subclass 010) | This visa allows the applicant to stay in Australia after their current substantive visa ceases. The applicant must have applied in Australia, before their existing substantive visa expires, for a substantive visa that can be granted in Australia. There are some visas that can be applied in Australia; however, they cannot be granted in Australia. In such cases, the applicant cannot be granted a Bridging A visa. An example is subclass 143 (Parent visa). Cost of this visa: No charge as of now. |
Working in Australia and creating a career path for yourself can prove beneficial for a bright future. If you need to understand which post-study visa options suit you, reach out to us at Expert Education.
This depends on the type of visa you hold as an international student. The immigration policies are subject to change, so we advise you to check with our immigration experts at Expert Education to know more.
Yes, you could extend your stay in Australia after completing your initial study program but this depends on the current visa you hold. Other factors must also be considered including the type of course you wish to pursue and the educational institution where you plan to study.
This can affect your visa options based on factors like the duration of the post-study work visa, the stream duration, the level of studies (degree) you complete, and meeting the skills shortage occupation list, among other related factors.