Posted on February 16, 2022 at 11:26PM
The Australian Government have recently announced various changes to support the international education sector as international borders reopen. Other than the existing adjustments already announced to visa conditions, fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and visa holders can travel to and from Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption.
This change takes effect from Monday, 21 February 2022 and includes Bridging, Visitor and any other visa types that allow travel to Australia that aren’t listed as eligible visa holders. Additionally, existing measures already in place, such as those mentioned below, will all help to support international students in Australia:
- subclass 485 visa holders being allowed to apply for a replacement visa
- increases to the length of stay for specific visa holders
- extension of measures to recognise time spent offshore studying online Specifically, this means:
- Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who have been unable to travel to Australia as a result of COVID-19 international border restrictions, will be able to apply for a replacement visa. This will allow current and former Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders whose visas expired on or after 1 February 2020 to re-apply for a new subclass 485 visa of the same duration as their original visa.
- Increases to the length of stay on the Temporary Graduate visa from two to three years for a Master’s degree by coursework graduates, matching that of a Master’s degree by research graduates. Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector graduates will also receive a two-year Temporary Graduate visa.
- Extension of measures for students and temporary graduates to recognise time spent offshore studying online to count towards qualifying for a temporary graduate visa.
For more information, please read the following information below:
