Government Focuses on Strengthening Student Visa Integrity
The Australian Government is taking significant steps to enhance the integrity of the Student visa program. These efforts aim to ensure that genuine students are granted visas while also allowing graduates to contribute to Australia’s economic growth.
As part of the newly released Migration Strategy, the government announced changes to Student visa eligibility, which will impose restrictions on certain temporary visa holders seeking to apply for a Student visa while in Australia.
Effective 1 July 2024, holders of Temporary Graduate, Visitor, and Maritime Crew visas will no longer be able to apply for a Student visa from within Australia. This update expands upon existing restrictions and now includes the following visa subclasses that will not permit onshore Student visa applications:
- 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 stream)
- Subclass 426 (Domestic Worker – Temporary) – Diplomatic or Consular
The practice of “visa hopping” has contributed to an increasing number of former international students living in Australia without a clear path to permanent residency. These changes, along with additional measures, aim to address this loophole and put an end to this issue.
Temporary Graduate visa holders are encouraged to either depart Australia or pursue skilled job opportunities and other visa pathways that may lead to permanent residency. Visitor visa applicants intending to study must apply for a Student visa from outside Australia.
Genuine Student visa applicants looking to further their education in Australia are still welcome to apply from offshore, and those meeting the necessary criteria will be granted a Student visa.
