Australia to Change Student Visa Rules, Limiting Work Hours From July 01

Starting July 1, 2023, Indian graduates from Australian tertiary institutions will have expanded work opportunities in Australia. This development is a result of a bilateral agreement signed between India and Australia last month.

Under the bilateral agreement, a key feature called the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) has been established.

The program enables young professionals from India to spend two years in Australia without requiring visa sponsorship. This initiative will open up 3,000 spots annually for Indian graduates to gain valuable work experience in Australia.

MATES Visa Program Targets Specialized Fields

The MATES visa program is a temporary visa initiative that caters to recent Indian graduates from recognized and established Indian universities. The program specifically focuses on graduates with degrees in specialized fields of study. The eligible fields include:

1. Engineering
2. Mining
3. Financial technology
4. Artificial intelligence
5. Information & Communication Technology
6. Agricultural Technology
7. Renewable Energy

Eligibility Criteria for the MATES Visa

To be eligible for the MATES visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Age: Candidates must be below the age of 31.
2. Education: Applicants must have graduated from a recognized and verified university.
3. Recent Pass-out: Candidates should be recent graduates.
4. Early-career Stage: Applicants must be at an early stage of their career.

Post-Study Work Rights Extended for International Graduates

Starting July 1, 2023, international higher education graduates with eligible qualifications will receive an extension of two years for their post-study work rights.

This extension will be granted in addition to the existing one to two years of work rights for eligible students who study, live, and work in regional areas of Australia.

Changes to Student Visa Work Restrictions

From July 1, 2023, work restrictions for student visa holders will be reintroduced in Australia, except for those in the aged care sector.

The revised policy will cap work hours at 48 hours per fortnight. This adjustment aims to strike a balance between allowing students to focus on their education while providing opportunities for work experience and financial support.

Permanent Migration Programme 2023-24 Overview

The Australian government has announced the planning level for the 2023-24 Permanent Migration Programme, which has been set at 190,000 places. The program aims to address skill shortages and attract individuals with specialized skill sets that are in demand.

Breakdown of the 2023-24 Permanent Migration Programme

The 2023-24 Permanent Migration Programme comprises several streams:

Skill Stream (137,100 places): This stream accounts for approximately 72% of the program and focuses on improving the economy’s productive capacity and filling skill shortages. The allocation includes 30,375 places for Skilled Independent visas.

Family Stream (52,500 places): Making up about 28% of the program, this stream primarily consists of partner visas that allow Australians to reunite with family members from overseas. The estimated allocation for partner visas is 40,500, while 3,000 Child visas are planned.

Special Eligibility Stream (400 places): This stream caters to individuals with special circumstances, such as permanent residents returning to Australia after a period overseas.

Global Talent Visa Category: The 2023-24 program includes an allocation of 5,000 places for the Global Talent Visa (GTV) Program, which attracts highly skilled individuals from around the world.

BIIP Category: The planning level for the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) has been reduced from 5,000 visas in 2022-23 to 1,900 visas for the 2023-24 program.

Conclusion

The recent bilateral agreement between India and Australia paves the way for increased opportunities for Indian graduates to work in Australia.

Additionally, changes to visa policies and the Permanent Migration Programme for 2023-24 aim to address skill shortages, promote research collaborations and attract global talent to Australia.