Australia Tightens Work Visa Rules for International Students

In a recent announcement by the Australian Department of Education, it was revealed that the extended post-study work visa durations for international graduates will be reverted to their original timelines.

This decision, made last week, impacts undergraduates, master’s, and PhD students in selected programs, who will now be limited to staying for the original 2-3 years, depending on their level of study.

Reduced Work Rights

The Australian Department of Education announced that previously extended post-study work visas (up to 4-6 years) will revert to the original duration of 2-3 years, effective mid-2024.

This decision follows the introduction of the “Genuine Student Test” and stricter visa processing measures aimed at ensuring genuine study intentions and addressing skill shortages.

Shifting Policy Landscape

The change aligns with the government’s goal of managing a “broken” migration system and reducing overall migrant intake by half within the next two years.

Australia seeks to attract skilled workers by prioritizing applications from graduates in key shortage areas who have studied in regional locations, where additional post-study work rights may still be available.

Also Read: Australia Announces New Visa Rules for Students and Skilled Workers

Key Changes in Visa Regulations

The recent adjustments also include:

1. The new “Genuine Student Test” replaces the “Genuine Temporary Entrant” requirement and focuses on verifying genuine study intentions.

2. Stricter visa processing involves a higher English language test score requirement of 6.5 on the IELTS and a reduced age limit of 35 years for post-study work visa applicants.

3. Universities will be categorized based on risk levels, impacting visa processing times for students applying from institutions with higher risk ratings.

4. Elimination of further opportunities for post-study work rights extension, except for those who have completed education in regional areas.

5. Lowered age limit for applicants from 50 to 35 years.

Impact on International Students

These changes aim to ensure that international graduates contribute to Australia’s skill needs and utilize the visa system for its intended purpose of pursuing genuine education.

The Australian government encourages potential international students to research the updated visa requirements and course options aligned with the country’s skill needs.

Current Status of International Students

As of October last year, Australia hosted approximately 768,000 international students, with China, India, and Nepal constituting the largest groups, according to data from the Australian Department of Education.

Looking Ahead

The Australian government’s revised migration strategy and visa regulations aim to address concerns about the integrity of the education sector while attracting skilled graduates to contribute to the country’s economic development.