OFFICIAL: Extension of Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) and Increase in Student Visa (Subclass 500) working hours

The Australian Government has just announced two important changes related to international students that will come into effect from 1 July 2023.

1. Increasing the allowable work hours cap

From July 1, 2023, holders of a Student Visa (subclass 500) or related Bridging Visa will be able to work 48 hours per fortnight instead of 40 hours.

2. Extension of Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) Visa

International higher education graduates with eligible qualifications will be granted an extra two years of post-study work rights to address the shortage of skilled workers.

The extended stay will be implemented from 1 July 2023. Current settings, detailed in published policy, will be increased by two years. This will extend post-study stay in Australia from:

• two years to four years for select Bachelor degrees

• three years to five years for select Masters degrees

• four years to six years for all Doctoral degrees.

A list of occupations and qualifications eligible for post-study work rights extension has been published from February 21, 2023. This list targets the skills Australia needs most, including health, teaching, engineering, and agricultural fields.

ANZSCO code	Occupation title	National Labour Market Rating	Future Demand Rating
233212	Geotechnical Engineer	S	Strong
233611	Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)	S	Strong
233612	Petroleum Engineer	S	Strong
234912	Metallurgist	S	Strong
241111	Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher	S	Strong
254111	Midwife	S	Strong
254411	Nurse Practitioner	S	Strong
254412	Registered Nurse (Aged Care)	S	Strong
254413	Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)	S	Strong
254414	Registered Nurse (Community Health)	S	Strong
254415	Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)	S	Strong
254416	Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)	S	Strong
254417	Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)	S	Strong
254418	Registered Nurse (Medical)	S	Strong
254421	Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)	S	Strong
254422	Registered Nurse (Mental Health)	S	Strong
254423	Registered Nurse (Perioperative)	S	Strong
254424	Registered Nurse (Surgical)	S	Strong
254425	Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)	S	Strong
254499	Registered Nurses nec	S	Strong
261112	Systems Analyst	S	Strong
261211	Multimedia Specialist	S	Strong
261212	Web Developer	S	Strong
261311	Analyst Programmer	S	Strong
261312	Developer Programmer	S	Strong
261313	Software Engineer	S	Strong
261314	Software Tester	S	Strong
261317	Penetration Tester	S	Strong
261399	Software and Applications Programmers nec	S	Strong
262111	Database Administrator	S	Strong
262114	Cyber Governance Risk and Compliance Specialist	S	Strong
262115	Cyber Security Advice and Assessment Specialist	S	Strong
262116	Cyber Security Analyst	S	Strong
262117	Cyber Security Architect	S	Strong
262118	Cyber Security Operations Coordinator	S	Strong
263111	Computer Network and Systems Engineer	S	Strong
263112	Network Administrator	S	Strong
263113	Network Analyst	S	Strong
263211	ICT Quality Assurance Engineer	S	Strong
263213	ICT Systems Test Engineer	S	Strong
121311	Apiarist	S	Moderate
133111	Construction Project Manager	S	Moderate
133112	Project Builder	S	Moderate
133211	Engineering Manager	S	Moderate
225411	Sales Representative (Industrial Products)	S	Moderate
233111	Chemical Engineer	S	Moderate
233112	Materials Engineer	S	Moderate
233211	Civil Engineer	S	Moderate
233213	Quantity Surveyor	S	Moderate
233214	Structural Engineer	S	Moderate
233215	Transport Engineer	S	Moderate
233311	Electrical Engineer	S	Moderate
233915	Environmental Engineer	S	Moderate
233999	Engineering Professionals nec	S	Moderate
234111	Agricultural Consultant	S	Moderate
234114	Agricultural Research Scientist	S	Moderate
234115	Agronomist	S	Moderate
234212	Food Technologist	S	Moderate
234711	Veterinarian	S	Moderate
241213	Primary School Teacher	S	Moderate
241411	Secondary School Teacher	S	Moderate
241511	Special Needs Teacher	S	Moderate
241512	Teacher of the Hearing Impaired	S	Moderate
241513	Teacher of the Sight Impaired	S	Moderate
241599	Special Education Teachers nec	S	Moderate
242211	Vocational Education Teacher / Polytechnic Teacher	S	Moderate
251211	Medical Diagnostic Radiographer	S	Moderate
251212	Medical Radiation Therapist	S	Moderate
251214	Sonographer	S	Moderate
251411	Optometrist	S	Moderate
251511	Hospital Pharmacist	S	Moderate
251513	Retail Pharmacist	S	Moderate
251912	Orthotist or Prosthetist	S	Moderate
251999	Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals nec	S	Moderate
252312	Dentist	S	Moderate
252411	Occupational Therapist	S	Moderate
252511	Physiotherapist	S	Moderate
252611	Podiatrist	S	Moderate
252712	Speech Pathologist / Speech Language Therapist	S	Moderate
253111	General Practitioner	S	Moderate
253112	Resident Medical Officer	S	Moderate
253311	Specialist Physician (General Medicine)	S	Moderate
253312	Cardiologist	S	Moderate
253313	Clinical Haematologist	S	Moderate
253314	Medical Oncologist	S	Moderate
253315	Endocrinologist	S	Moderate
253316	Gastroenterologist	S	Moderate
253317	Intensive Care Specialist	S	Moderate
253318	Neurologist	S	Moderate
253321	Paediatrician	S	Moderate
253322	Renal Medicine Specialist	S	Moderate
253323	Rheumatologist	S	Moderate
253324	Thoracic Medicine Specialist	S	Moderate
253399	Specialist Physicians nec	S	Moderate
253411	Psychiatrist	S	Moderate
253511	Surgeon (General)	S	Moderate
253512	Cardiothoracic Surgeon	S	Moderate
253513	Neurosurgeon	S	Moderate
253514	Orthopaedic Surgeon	S	Moderate
253515	Otorhinolaryngologist	S	Moderate
253516	Paediatric Surgeon	S	Moderate
253517	Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon	S	Moderate
253518	Urologist	S	Moderate
253521	Vascular Surgeon	S	Moderate
253911	Dermatologist	R	Moderate
253912	Emergency Medicine Specialist	S	Moderate
253913	Obstetrician and Gynaecologist	R	Moderate
253914	Ophthalmologist	S	Moderate
253915	Pathologist	S	Moderate
253917	Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist	R	Moderate
253999	Medical Practitioners nec	S	Moderate
254212	Nurse Researcher	S	Moderate
261111	ICT Business Analyst	S	Moderate
261315	Cyber Security Engineer	S	Moderate
261316	Devops Engineer	S	Moderate
272311	Clinical Psychologist	S	Moderate
272312	Educational Psychologist	S	Moderate
272313	Organisational Psychologist	S	Moderate
272399	Psychologists nec	S	Moderate
411211	Dental Hygienist	S	Moderate
411214	Dental Therapist	S	Moderate

Which situations will this change affect?

• Those about to apply for Visa 485: From July 1, 2023, the new duration of stay will be applied to the granted visa.

• Those applying for a Visa 485 (Replacement stream or Post-Study Work stream): From July 1, 2023, an extra two years will be added to the granted visa if it has not been applied to your first Visa 485.

Notes:

• The extension is in addition to the existing one to two years of work rights for eligible students who study, live, and work in regional areas.

• This change also addresses the shortage of human resources in many fields. Students also need to ensure that they maintain their academic records at school.

Source: legislation.gov.au