Post-study work arrangements were introduced by the Department of Home Affairs (HA) on 23 March 2013.
Students who graduate with an Australian Bachelors, Masters or a Doctoral degree and meet the other eligibility criteria will have access to the new Post-Study Work Visa.
The duration of the post-study work visa you are able to apply for will depend on the degree you attain, as follows:
- Bachelor and Master by Coursework graduates will be eligible to apply for a two year post-study work visa
- Master by Research graduates will be eligible to apply for a three year post-study work visa
- PhD graduates will be eligible to apply for a four year post-study work visa
The post-study work arrangements is an additional stream in the temporary skilled graduate (subclass 485) visa. The temporary skilled graduate (subclass 485) visa has been renamed the temporary graduate (subclass 485) visa. You may apply for the temporary graduate visa through either the new post-study work stream or the graduate work stream provided you meet the specific eligibility requirements.
The Department of Home Affairs has changed the requirements for a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa for those who have been impacted by COVID-19:
Online study undertaken outside Australia as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions will count towards the Australian Study Requirement for existing and new student visa holders (online study outside Australia is counted from the time of student visa grant).
Graduates affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions will be able to apply for and be granted a PSWV visa outside Australia (Applicants from outside Australia must hold or have held a student visa in the past 12 months to apply).
Please see the Department of Home Affairs’ website for more information.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for the post-study work visa, you must:
- successfully complete an Australian Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral degree
- have lodged your first student visa application after 5 November 2011
- meet the Australian study requirement in the six months immediately before making your post-study work visa application
- be in Australia
- be under 50 years of age
- meet the English language requirement
Other requirements that will need to be met include health, character and security requirements.
Graduates who do not meet the requirement for the post-study work stream may be eligible to apply for an 18 month visa through the graduate work stream.
The Australian study requirement
Regardless of whether you are applying under the post-study work stream or the graduate work stream, you must meet the Australian study requirement in the six months before making your subclass 485 visa application.
The Australian study requirement is defined as study in Australia in a registered course for a period of at least two academic years. The course must be conducted in English and must be completed in no less than 16 calendar months.
To meet the Australian study requirement, you must:
- attain either a single qualification requiring at least two academic years study or multiple qualifications resulting in a total period of at least two academic years study
- undertake this study in no less than 16 calendar months.
