Post-Study Work Visa in Australia: Benefits for Indian Students
Indian students who have just completed their higher education in Australia can apply for a post-study work visa. It offers them a temporary stay of upto 6 years, depending on their qualification.
The Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) allowed Indian students carrying a first-class bachelor’s honours degree in STEM fields to extend their stay from 2 to 3 years on a post-study work visa in Australia.
In this blog, you will learn more about the benefits, eligibility criteria, and Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) application process.
- Post-Study Work Visa in Australia for Indian Students: Introduction
- Benefits of Post-Study Work Visa (Temporary Graduate Visa 485 Subclass)
- Eligibility Criteria for Post-Study Work Visa in Australia (Temporary Graduate Visa 485 Subclass)
- Required Documents for Post-Study Work Visa in Australia
- Australian Post-Study Work Visa Cost
- Application Process of Post Higher Education Work Visa
- Key Takeaways by AdmitX
- FAQs
Post-Study Work Visa in Australia for Indian Students: Introduction
- Australia provides opportunities for Indian students to work in the country through a post-higher education work stream.
- Indian graduates can become eligible for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485), which allows them to work, study, and stay anywhere in Australia.
- This visa is for those Indian students who have completed their degree program from an Australian institution.
- The Australian post-study work visa provides several benefits to Indian graduates.
Benefits of Post-Study Work Visa (Temporary Graduate Visa 485 Subclass)
The benefits of a Temporary Graduate Visa (485 subclass) are described below.
Duration of the Visa
| Qualification | TGV Duration |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree (including honours) | 2 Years |
| Bachelor’s Degree ( First Class Honours in STEM/ICT subjects) | 3 Years |
| Master’s Degree (Coursework, Research, and Extended ) | 3 Years |
| PhD | 4 Years |
Stay Longer and Work in Australia
- It is not possible to extend the duration of the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485).
- Indian graduates can apply for a second post-higher education work visa whose duration is about 1-2 years.
- Hence, they will get a chance to stay in the country for about 5-6 years, which will eventually help them gain strong work experience.
- However, this advantage is only available to those students who have graduated from the designated regional areas in Australia.
| Designated Regional Areas Type | Areas Covered | Location | Duration of Second Post Higher Education Work Visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 2 | Cities and Major Regional Centres | Perth Adelaide Gold Coast Sunshine Coast Canberra New Castle/Lake Macquarie Wollongong/Illawarra Geelong Hobert | 1 Year |
| Category 3 | Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas | 11,200 regional places except for the above category | 2 Year |
Path to Permanent Residency
Indian graduates on TGV with strong work experience and skillsets are eligible to apply for PR in Australia through the skill migration pathway, employer-sponsored pathway, and partner visa pathway. This helps them get settled in the country permanently.
Include Family
If the following family members of the post-study work visa applicant are residing in Australia or India, they can join the applicant on this visa.
- Applicant’s Spouse
- Applicant’s De Facto Partner
- Applicant or Partner’s Children
Conditions:
- The child must be aged under 18 years.
- In other cases, when the child is aged under 18-23 years and dependent on the main applicant or the main applicant’s partner/spouse.
- When the child is aged more than 23 years or older and dependent on the main applicant or main applicant’s partner/spouse due to partial or full mental or physical disability.
- Dependent child of the child above.
- The main applicants cannot add their parents or any other relative to this visa.
Travelling
The post-study work permit in Australia enables Indian graduates to travel outside the country and return as many times as possible.
Eligibility Criteria for Post-Study Work Visa in Australia (Temporary Graduate Visa 485 Subclass)
The following are the basic requirements that Indian students must meet to apply for a post-study work permit in Australia.
- Applicants must be 35 years of age or under.
- Applicants can be under 50 years of age if they have pursued master’s (research) or PhD courses.
- Applicants should have a valid student visa within the past 6 months along with a substantial visa such as bridging visa A or bridging visa B.
- Applicants must have completed a degree course (bachelor’s/master’s/PhD) or graduate diploma/graduate certificate in the last 6 months from CRICOS, a registered Australian education provider.
- Applicants must fulfill the English language requirements by scoring in one of the following tests.
| English Language Test | Minimum Score Required for Visa Application | Reading Section | Writing Section | Listening Section | Speaking Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 83 | 8 | 18 | 7 | 16 |
| IELTS | 6.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| PTE | 57 | 48 | 51 | 43 | 42 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced Test | 176 | 162 | 162 | 162 | 162 |
| Occupational English Test | B | B | B | B | B |
- Applicants must have adequate health insurance.
- They should be medically fit and must present an undertaking related to it.
- Applicants should meet the character requirements.
- Applicants must read the live in Australia booklet and sign an Australian value statement that confirms they will respect the country’s laws and regulations.
- No prior history of cancellation or refusal of Australian visa.
Required Documents for Post-Study Work Visa in Australia
Main Applicant
- Passport
- Identity card such as Aadhar Card/PAN Card/Driving License/Voter ID Card
- Letter of Course Completion from an Australian college or university showcasing the following details.
- The date the course started and ended
- Certified copies of course transcripts
- The date of course completion
- The location of the campus where you studied
- Whether the applicant studied full-time or part-time
- The language in which the applicant received instruction
- English Language Requirements Documents (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Cambridge/OET)
- Documents of Australian health insurance providers such as evidence of health insurance, proof of enrollment with Medicare, and a signed letter.
- Character certificate from Australian Federal Police.
Family
- Character Certificate.
- National Identity Card (Aadhar Card/PAN Card/Driving License/Voter ID Card).
- Marriage Certificate OR
- Proof of De Facto Relationship.
Dependents under 18
- Copies of birth certificates or the family book showing the names of both parents of all your dependent children.
- Copies of the adoption paper, if applicable.
Dependents Over 18
- Copy of their birth certificate.
- National identity documents.
- Character documents.
- Proof of dependency of the child is dependent on the applicant.
- Proof of the applicant’s relationship with the dependent, such as a birth certificate or adoption papers.
- Proof of financial dependency such as bank statements, money transfers, and rent receipts.
Australian Post-Study Work Visa Cost
The post-study work visa in Australia costs around AUD 1,945 or INR 1.08 Lakh per application. There will be additional costs for other documents, such as fitness documents, character certificates, and biometrics.
Application Process of Post Higher Education Work Visa
Indian graduates can apply for a post-study work permit through ImmiAccount by following these steps.
- Create an account on ImmiAccount and log in.
- Attach the documents and fill the required details.
- Pay the visa application fee.
- Submit the details.
- It will take approx 21 days to process the application and declare the relevant outcome.
Key Takeaways by AdmitX
International graduates are required to have a post-study work visa before they get involved in the employment sectors in Australia. Like other countries, students cannot convert their student visa into a post-study work permit, and they must apply for it separately.
The Australian post-study work visa also cannot be extended or renewed, and graduates are needed to apply for the second post-higher education work visa, which also provides a route to other skilled worker visas and, ultimately, permanent residency.
FAQs
How long can I stay in Australia after completing my studies?
You can stay in Australia for 18 months-4 years, depending on your qualification, through a Temporary Graduate Visa (TGV) to pursue work opportunities.
What is the age limit for post-study work visas in Australia?
The maximum age of an applicant applying for a post-study work permit in Australia should be 35 years. In some cases, such as if an applicant holds a master (research) degree or PhD, this age limit can be extended upto 50 years.
Does Australia give PR after studies?
Yes, Australia gives PR to extraordinary and highly qualified graduates who have significant work experience in demanding industries and can contribute to the country’s economy through their skills.
Can I get a PSW visa after 1 year master’s in Australia?
The minimum duration of the master’s degree courses in Australia is 2 years, and applicants must have fulfilled the Australian Study Requirements (ASR) to qualify for a PSW visa.
Does an employer sponsor the Australian post-study work visa?
No, the post-study work visa in Australia is not sponsored by an employer, and graduates are required to enter the workforce on their own while staying on this type of visa.
