Australian Government Announces Major Changes to Temporary Graduate Visa Program Effective 1 July 2024
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in Australia Immigration News, Australian Migration Strategy & Policy, Skilled Migration News
In a significant update to the Temporary Graduate visa program, the Australian Government has introduced several changes set to take effect from 1 July 2024. These modifications aim to better align visa categories with levels of study and adjust eligibility criteria, particularly around age limits and stay durations. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the upcoming changes.
Re-alignment of Visa Streams
The Temporary Graduate visa streams will undergo rebranding to more accurately reflect the levels of education they pertain to:
- Graduate Work Stream will be renamed to Post-Vocational Education Work Stream.
- Post-Study Work Stream will be renamed to Post-Higher Education Work Stream.
Eligibility Based on Qualification
Eligibility for these streams will now be determined solely by the qualification that meets the Australian study requirement. Additional qualifications will not be considered.
- Post-Vocational Education Work Stream: This stream is for those holding an associate degree, diploma, or trade qualification closely related to their nominated occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
- Post-Higher Education Work Stream: This stream is for those with degree-level qualifications or higher.
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream (Formerly Graduate Work Stream)
- Age Limit Reduction:
- Maximum eligible age will be 35 years or under at the time of application.
- Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders will remain eligible if they are under 50 years of age.
- Those no longer eligible due to the age reduction should explore other visa options.
- Stay Duration:
- Applicants may stay for up to 18 months.
- Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders may stay for up to 5 years.
These changes aim to refine the eligibility criteria and adjust the visa stay periods to better align with current policy objectives.
Post-Higher Education Work Stream (Formerly Post-Study Work Stream)
- Age Limit Reduction:
- Maximum eligible age will be 35 years or under at the time of application.
- Masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) graduates, as well as Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, will remain eligible if they are under 50 years of age.
- Those no longer eligible due to the age reduction should explore other visa options.
- Ceasing of ‘Select Degree’ 2 Year Extension:
- The additional two-year extension for certain degrees will no longer be available.
- Revised Stay Periods:
- Bachelor Degree (including honours): Up to 2 years.
- Masters (coursework and extended): Up to 2 years.
- Masters (research) and Doctoral Degree (PhD): Up to 3 years.
- Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for up to 5 years.
- Specific Stay Periods for Indian Nationals (Under AI-ECTA):
- Bachelor Degree (including honours): Up to 2 years.
- Bachelor Degree (with first class honours in STEM, including ICT): Up to 3 years.
- Masters (coursework, extended, and research): Up to 3 years.
- Doctoral Degrees (PhD): Up to 4 years.
Other Notable Changes
- The Second Post-Study Work Stream will be renamed the Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream, with no other changes to this stream.
- The Replacement stream will be discontinued.
These changes reflect the Australian Government’s ongoing efforts to streamline immigration processes and ensure that visa programs align with national skills needs and educational outcomes. Prospective applicants should review these changes carefully and consider their eligibility under the new criteria. For those impacted by the new age limits, exploring alternative visa options will be essential.
Source
Department of Home Affairs, Australia
