Post Graduate Study Work Visa in Australia: A Complete Guide

Many international students studying in Australia wish to stay there for a long time and get work experience. Luckily, the land of kangaroos offers several job opportunities for students worldwide.

The high demand for a skilled workforce in the country enables international students to apply for a post-study work visa. It allows them to stay in Australia for up to four years and work after completing their studies.

In this post, you’ll get detailed information about Australian post-study work visas, including the application process, eligibility requirements, visa fees, and visa processing time.

Here is an outline of work visas available for international students after their studies, including 485 post-graduate visas, post-study work visas, visa requirements, cost, stay duration, and more.

1. Post Study Work Visas In Australia

2. Post-Study Work Visa Requirements in Australia

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has set up eligibility requirements for Post Study Work Visas that need to be fulfilled by international students. These requirements may vary depending on the visa you are applying for and the duration you want to stay in Australia. 

We'll now discuss the requirements of different post-study work visas:
 

Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

The Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 is for international students who wish to work, study, and live in Australia temporarily. This visa type has two streams - Graduate Work Stream and the Post-Study Work Stream. 

The Graduate Work Stream permits you to stay in Australia for up to 18 months. Whereas, through the Post-Study Work Stream, you can stay in Australia for around four years, depending on your qualification. 

Below are the 485 visa requirements for each stream:

Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) - Graduate Work Stream

• You must be a recent graduate with skills and qualifications relevant to the professions mentioned in the skilled occupation list. 

• You must be under 50 years of age.

• You should fulfil the Australian study requirements. You must have a degree, or a diploma in a CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) registered course. 

• You must have a valid PTE, TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge C1 or OET test scores to prove your English language proficiency.

• You must hold an Australian study visa, and your study medium should be English. 

• You must not be a former holder of Subclass 485 or Subclass 476. 

• If your visa has been refused or cancelled before, then your application for the Graduate Work Stream will not be considered.

• You must also fulfil the character and health requirements mentioned. 

Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) - Post-Study Work Stream

• You must have a graduate degree in a course registered with CRICOS.

• You must be under 50 years of age. 

• You should be a current student visa holder or must have held it in the past (usually six months before applying for the Temporary Graduate Visa).

• You are required to study with an Australian education provider and hold either of the degrees - bachelor's degree, bachelor (honours) degree, Masters's degree, extended master's degree, master's (research) degree, and doctoral (PhD) degree. 

• You should not be a previous holder of Subclass 476 or 485 visas in Australia. 

• You should meet the Australian study requirements.

• You must provide proof of your English language proficiency by taking tests like PTE, IELTS, OET, TOEFL, or Cambridge C1 Advanced Test. 

• You cannot apply for this visa if you have a trade qualification or a diploma.

• You must also meet the health requirements and have adequate health insurance.  

4. Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa (Subclass 476)

The Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa is mainly available for graduates in engineering. It enables you to study, live, work, and travel in Australia for up to 18 months. To be eligible for this visa type, you should meet the following requirements:

• You must have an engineering degree from a specified educational institution. 

• You must be below 31 years of age.

• You must not be a previous holder of Subclass 485 or Subclass 476.

• You must prove your English Language proficiency if you have a passport from countries like the USA, Canada, New Zealand, the Uk, or the Republic of Ireland. In that case, the 485 visa English requirements don't apply to you.

• You must also meet character and health requirements as specified. 

5. How to Apply For A Post Study Work Visa?

International students who apply for a post-study work visa can apply through the paper form or online via their ImmiAccount. The paper form is accepted when a 'No further stay' condition is available in a student's current visa. 

To apply online, the candidate must visit the Australian Department of Home Affairs official website. 

You should apply for the post-study work visa within six months of completing your course.

For your convenience, here is a step-by-step guide to filling out the online application form:

• Step 1: Collect all the supporting documents before filling out the application form.

• Step 2: Visit the ImmiAccount website.

• Step 3: Log in to the ImmiAccount, if you already have one, or click on 'Create ImmiAccount' if you are a new user.

• Step 4: Fill in the post-study work visa application and attach all the required documents.

• Step 5: Add their details if you want to take family members along.

• Step 6: After completing the form, pay the visa application fees online via PayPal, Credit Card, BPAY, or UnionPay. 

Important Documents Required for Post-Study Work Visas

In support of your visa application, you require the following documents:

• Study documents

• Identification documents

• Character document

• 485 visa health insurance documents

• Partner documents (if taking them along)

• Dependants over 18 years of age documents (if required)

• Dependants under 18 years of age documents (if needed)

7. How Can International Students Stay Longer in Australia?

Australian immigration is always ready to provide permanent visas to students who can contribute to the country's economy. Australia evaluates Skilled immigrants wanting to work in Australia on a points-based method, with points for language proficiency, qualifications, and work experience. 

To migrate to Australia and become a permanent resident (PR), you must first submit an EOI (Expression of Interest) through the SkillSelect process. 

If your EOI is accepted, you can start filling out the application form for a permanent visa. There are many permanent visas available, but the popular ones for recent graduates are as follows:

• Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)

• Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190)

• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)

To explore more permanent work visa options in Australia, you can visit the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Useful Links to Explore: 

• English Language Requirements for Australia
• Cultural differences you may experience in Australia
• How to find Part-Time work as a Student in Australia
• Seven Tips for Students on a Budget in Australia
• How to get a Scholarship to Study in Australia
• Driving in Australia as an International Student
• How to change your Course or Institute in Australia
• The Benefits of a Professional Year Program (PYP)
• A Complete Guide to Study in Australia
• Types of Education in Australia 
• What to Study in Australia?