Graduate Visa Extension (Extra 1 or 2 Year)
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Overview
The Department of Home Affairs has introduced a novel initiative involving an additional Temporary Graduate visa that extends post-study work privileges by an extra one or two years for international students who:
- Attain a higher education or postgraduate qualification from a registered university or institution’s regional campus.
- Maintain continuous residence in a regional zone while holding their initial Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa.
For the second Temporary Graduate visa, continual residence in a designated regional area is mandatory.
The definition of designated regional Australia will match that used for skilled migration, encompassing all parts of the country except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane (with Perth and the Gold Coast categorized as regional areas).
Commencing in 2021, Temporary Graduate visa (post-study work stream) holders who have graduated from a regional educational institution and have resided in regional Australia during their initial TGV period will qualify for a second TGV.
Recipients of the second TGV are obligated to remain within a regional area for the entirety of their new visa’s validity.
This endeavor aims to offer an extra inducement for international students to enroll in regional educational institutions and establish residence in regional zones after their studies, contributing to the enrichment and development of regional Australia.
Simultaneously, it will contribute to alleviating the escalating strain on infrastructure in our prominent urban centers.
Notably, Student visas remain unaffected. This alternative stands as an initiative for international students, providing them an opportunity to both study and reside in regional Australia.
Graduate Visa Extension ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
- Be below 50 years of age
- Lodge your application while you are in Australia
- Possess a Temporary Graduate visa under the post-study work stream or hold a Temporary Graduate visa under the replacement stream while previously holding a Temporary Graduate visa under the post-study work stream, serving as the main applicant
- Hold a degree from an education institution listed in CRICOS, situated in an eligible designated regional area, which was instrumental in obtaining your initial Temporary Graduate visa under the post-study work stream
- Have resided in a qualifying designated regional area for a minimum of 2 years before applying for the second Temporary Graduate visa under the post-study work stream
- Provide proof of sufficient health insurance for all applicants at the time of application
Designated regional areas
The regional classification is composed of two distinct categories, each offering incentives for skilled migrants relocating to regions designated as either Category 2 ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ or Category 3 ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’:
Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’, which includes locations like Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong, and Hobart, the following regional incentives are available:
- Expedited processing for regional visas
- Access to the Regional Occupations List, which provides a greater variety of job opportunities compared to non-regional lists
- International graduates with a bachelor’s or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution will be eligible for an additional year on a post-study work visa in Australia.
Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’, the benefits include access to the dedicated 11,200 regional spots, priority processing for regional visas, and the Regional Occupations List. Additional incentives encompass:
- International graduates with a bachelor’s or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution being eligible for an additional 2 years on a post-study work visa in Australia.
- Priority in negotiating region-specific Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).
The above information can be summarized as below:
| Definition | Locations | Regional incentives |
|---|---|---|
| Major Cities | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | NA |
| Cities and major regional centres | Perth, Adelaide Gold Coast Sunshine Coast, Canberra Newcastle/Lake Macquarie Wollongong/Illawarra Geelong Hobart |
|
| Regional centres and other regional areas | All other locations |
|
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This visa enables you to:
- Reside in Australia for a period ranging from 1 to 4 years subsequent to the completion of your studies, contingent upon factors like your study location, residence, and degree.
- Engage in travel, employment, or educational pursuits within Australia throughout your authorized stay.
This visa is of a temporary nature. The duration of your stay in Australia hinges upon several factors including the location of your studies and graduation, the specific degree you possess as a student visa holder, and the geographic region of your residency under your initial Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream or your Temporary Graduate visa in the replacement stream.
In cases where:
- You studied and reside in a Category 2 area, your stay duration is for 1 year.
- You studied and reside in a Category 2 area and additionally hold a specified degree, your stay duration extends to 3 years.
- You studied and reside in a Category 3 area, your stay duration encompasses 2 years.
- You studied and reside in a Category 3 area and possess a select degree, your stay duration expands to 4 years.
More Visas
You might also be interested in these Visas
Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590)
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