Purpose

The purpose of the instrument is to specify the qualifications that entitle certain graduates from Australian educational institutions to apply for an additional Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Study Work stream at no cost – i.e. without paying a visa application charge (VAC).

The Migration Regulations, as amended from 1 July 2023 by the Migration Amendment (Extension of Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) Visa and Increase in Subclass 500 (Student) Visa Work Hours) Regulations 2023, provide the Minister with flexibility to extend post-study stay in Australia with unrestricted work rights for certain international students who have graduated from an Australian higher education provider. The policy is to provide the extended stay to graduates with specified qualifications that are in high demand.

The extended stay will be implemented, under policy, from 1 July 2023. Current settings, detailed in published policy, will be increased by two years. This will extend post-study stay in Australia 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.

Source: LIN23048.pdf and LIN23048-Explanatory-Statement.pdf