The Australian Government has announced new restrictions aimed at curbing visa hopping. Effective from 1 July 2024, certain temporary visa holders will no longer be able to apply for a Student visa while residing in Australia.
What This Means
From 1 July 2024, the following visa holders seeking to apply for Student visas with genuine intentions to study in Australia will need to apply from outside of Australia:
- 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)
This shift in the Student visa programme seeks to ensure that those applying for a student visa are genuinely committed to pursuing their education in Australia.
Existing Student visa applicants who have lodged their application before 1 July 2024 will not be affected by this change.
Implications for Temporary Graduate Visa holders
With these changes Temporary Graduate visa holders before the expiry of their visa will need to either leave Australia or secure employment that could lead to permanent residency.
The the recent changes to the Subclass 482 (Temporary Skills Shortage) visa which will start from 23 November 2024, reducing the work experience requirement for the visa from two years to one year may ease this transition to secure employment.
For further clarity on these developments and assistance with visa pathways, contact Stone Group Lawyers today to book an initial consultation.
The above article published by Stone Group Lawyers is intended as general information only and is not legal advice on any subject matter. By viewing the above article, the reader understands there is no solicitor-client relationship between the reader and the article published. The above article should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a legal practitioner, and readers are urged to consult Stone Group Lawyers on any legal queries concerning a specific situation.