Australia Changed Visa Rules: What You Need to Know
The Australian Government has announced significant changes to the student and further stay visa application process as part of a broader effort to maintain the integrity of the international education system.
Starting from July 1, 2024, holders of certain temporary visas, including Visitor and Temporary Graduate visas, will no longer be able to apply for Student visas while in Australia.
The new regulations are part of the Australian Government's ongoing Migration Strategy, aimed at reducing 'permanent temporariness' and ensuring that visas are granted to genuine students.
Affected Visa Holders:
Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) Subclass 600 (Visitor) Subclass 601 (Electronic Travel Authority) Subclass 602 (Medical Treatment) Subclass 651 (eVisitor) Subclass 771 (Transit) Subclass 988 (Maritime Crew) Subclass 995 (Diplomatic Temporary) – primary visa holders only Subclass 403 (Temporary Work) International Relations)) – Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream Subclass 426 (Domestic Worker (Temporary) – Diplomatic or Consular)
From July 1, 2024, holders of these visas will need to apply for Student visas from outside Australia. This move is intended to prevent individuals from exploiting the visa system to extend their stay without meeting the criteria for permanent residency.
Recommendations for Prospective Students:
Temporary graduates must now leave Australia upon the expiration of their visas or seek alternative pathways, such as employer-sponsored visas or permanent residency. The government encourages graduates to find skilled jobs that may lead to permanent residency rather than returning to further study, which has often been used as a means to prolong their stay.
Visitor visa holders can continue to study for up to three months but must apply for a Student visa from offshore if they wish to study for longer periods.
A key commitment in the Migration Strategy, released last year, was to restrict 'visa hopping' - ending the loopholes that allow students and other temporary visa holders to continuously extend their stay in Australia, in some cases indefinitely.
The changes aim to address the trend of 'permanent temporariness,' where individuals use multiple visa applications to remain in Australia without meeting the eligibility criteria for permanent residency. According to a report by the Grattan Institute, less than one-third of Temporary Graduate visa holders transition to permanent residency, with many opting for cheaper vocational courses to extend their stay.
This change was announced as part of the Australian Government’s Migration Strategy released on 11 December 2023 and applies to all Student and Temporary Graduate visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.
The Migration Strategy outlined how the English language reforms for student visas will support international students to have a positive educational experience in Australia, and prepare them for the skilled workforce should they wish to apply for a graduate visa post study.
Temporary Graduate visa (TGV)
Student visa
Increasing English language requirements for students undertaking VET and higher education courses requires a similar increase in score for those taking packaged ELICOS courses.
This ensures that students can transition successfully into their main course, with the appropriate level of English.
The amount of money that Student and Student Guardian visa applicants need to have to be eligible for the visa increased from May 2024.
The financial capacity requirement has been updated to align with a proportion (75 per cent) of the national minimum wage. This will better indicate the amount of money considered reasonable to provide a minimum standard of living while studying in Australia. This proportion considers that students are out of course session for 25 per cent of the year. During this time they may return home or have access to unrestricted work.
International students who can show they meet this new financial capacity requirement are better able to make informed decisions about their future.
Students are less likely to:
The below table outlines the funds you need to show to meet the minimum financial capacity requirement, which will be changed from 10 May 2024.
Financial capacity requirement before 10 May 2024 | Financial capacity requirement after 10 May 2024 | |
primary applicant | AUD24,505 | AUD29,710 |
spouse or de facto partner of the Student primary applicant (not applicable to Student Guardian applicant) | AUD8,574 | AUD10,394 |
dependent child | AUD3,670 | AUD4,449 |
annual school costs | AUD9,661 | AUD13,502 |
personal annual income if there is no member of the family | AUD72,465 | AUD87,856 |
personal annual income where there is a member of the family unit | AUD84,543 | AUD102,500 |
For further details, visit the official Home Affairs website.