Spotlight on APAC Series: Australia

The Australian Government released a Migration Strategy in December 2023 to outline a new vision for Australia’s migrant system.  As part of that vision, more recently, the Temporary Graduate visa programmes have been subject to proposed changes.

Changes should take effect from 1 July 2024 provided that legislative amendments pass in full.

Graduate Work stream

• The Graduate Work stream will be renamed the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.
• The maximum eligible age for Post-Vocational Education Work stream applicants will be reduced to 35 years of age or under.
  • Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders will continue to be eligible provided they are under 50 years of age.
  • Applicants no longer eligible for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream due to the age reduction may be eligible for a number of other visas.  We would be happy to assist in assessing options.
• Applicants must hold an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification, closely related to their nominated occupation on the medium and long strategic skills list.
• Applicants with a degree level qualification or higher will no longer be eligible for this stream. If an applicant holds one of these qualifications, they must apply through the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
• Applicants may continue to stay for up to 18 months.
• Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders may be able to stay for up to 5 years.

Post-Study Work stream

• The Post-Study Work stream will be renamed to the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
• The maximum eligible age for Post-Higher Education Work stream applicants will reduce to 35 years of age or under.
  • Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders will continue to be eligible provided they are under 50 years of age.
  • Applicants no longer eligible for the Post-Higher Education Work stream due to the age reduction may be eligible for a number of other visas.
• The ‘select degree’ two-year extension will cease.

There will also be changes to periods of stay although the stay periods for Indian nationals specifically as agreed in the Australian Indian – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement remain as currently specified.  See below:

• Stay periods will change to the following:
  • Bachelor’s 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 be able to stay for up to 5 years.
• Stay periods for Indian nationals, as agreed in the Australian Indian – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), remain as:
  • Bachelor’s degree (including honours) – up to 2 years
  • Bachelor’s 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.

Second Post-Study Work stream

The Second Post-Study Work stream will be renamed the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream but no further changes have been proposed for this stream.

Replacement stream

It is proposed the Replacement stream will close.

For more information on changes to Australia’s migration policy please contact [email protected] and Rachel Ang on [email protected].