Extension of the Temporary Graduate Visa (485) Post-Study Work Rights for Higher Education Students 

From 1 July 2023 the Australian Government will increase the duration of stay for some Temporary Graduate visas (subclass 485). Graduates with a Bachelor, Honours or Masters degree will be eligible for a visa with a further two-year validity if their qualification is listed on the Department of Education’s
Eligible Qualifications List (EQL)’.
 All doctoral graduates will be eligible for further two-year validity. 

These extended work rights come into effect from 1 July 2023. Current settings will be increased by two years. This will extend post-study work rights from

  • two years to four years for select Bachelor’s degrees
  • three years to five years for select Masters’s degrees
  • four years to six years for all Doctoral degrees.

Existing settings for regional and remote Australia will also be maintained, and where relevant, will be eligible for the additional two years.

Eligible graduates with a valid Temporary Graduate Visa on 1 July 2023 or who apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa after 1 July 2023, will be considered for the two-year extension. 

Keys of eligible qualifications

  • Bachelor of Nursing 
  • Bachelor of Public Health 
  • Master of Nursing 
  • Master of Public health 
  • Bachelor of Dental Science 
  • Master of Dentistry 
  • Bachelor of Physiotherapy 
  • Bachelor of Vision Science 
  • Master of Optometry 
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy 
  • Master of Pharmacy
  • Bachelor of Early Childhood Education 
  • Master of Teaching 
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
  • Master of Engineering 
  • Bachelor of Information Technology 
  • Bachelor of Information systems 
  • Master of Information Technology
  • Master of Information System

Graduates whose visa expires before 1 July 2023 can apply for an extension of their work rights by visiting Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) Australian Government endorsed events (COVID-19 Pandemic event).

They will provide more details on eligibility and how to apply for the extended Temporary Graduate visa closer to 1 July 2023. 

For more information, please contact our friendly migration agents. 

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