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After you finish studying in Australia

Your Australian student visa is valid for the duration of your course and allows for you to remain in the country for a period of up to three months once your course has finished. If you want to continue living in Australia after completing your studies, it is your responsibility to ensure that you get an appropriate further visa to allow you to do this.

There are a number of options to consider, though please remember that immigration rules do change and visas that are available at the start of your course may not be available to you when you have graduated. Please check www.homeaffairs.gov.au for the latest information.

Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485)

There are two types of visa that you may be eligible to apply for under visa subclass 485. Both are temporary work visas which allow you to work full time for a defined period of time.

1. Post-Higher Education Work stream

This visa allows full work rights for you (and your partner) for up to three years, depending on the level of your Australian qualification. You must satisfy the Australian study requirement by studying a course that is two academic years or longer.

  • If you have studied a bachelor degree your visa will be valid for two years
  • If you have studied a masters by coursework degree your visa will be valid for two years
  • If you have studied a masters by research degree your visa will be valid for three years
  • If you have studied a doctoral degree your visa will be valid for three years

Please note you must be 35 years old or under when you apply (50 for Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders), or 50 years old and younger for research graduates

For further information please refer to: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/post-higher-education-work

2. Second Post-Higher Education Work stream

This visa is for holders already on a post study work visa in Australia to extend their stay in Australia. The main requirement is that the applicant must have graduated from an Australian institution located in a regional area.

This visa can be granted for a period of 1 to 2 years.

For further information please refer to: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/second-post-higher-education-work

Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417)

This visa is for applicants from certain countries including the UK between the ages of 18 and 30 (or up to 35 for some countries, including the UK). It is a temporary visa which allows you to work and holiday in Australia for up to a year. You cannot apply for this visa while onshore in Australia so you will need to leave the country before you lodge your application. For more information on applying for this visa please refer to: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417

There may be other temporary or permanent visas that you would be eligible for when you have completed your studies. We would recommend you consult the Australian Department of Home Affairs website or contact a registered migration agent to discuss your options.