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From January 21st, 2021 you may apply for a further 1 or 2 year 485 Temporary Graduate Visa if you have been living in a regional area and graduated from an educational institution in that area.
If you don’t think you are in a regional area, don’t worry!
Regional areas include all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, so there is a good chance you already live in one.
If you are a student who has lived in Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart or Canberra for 2 years you can apply for a 1 year 485 Temporary Graduate visa extension.
If you have lived and studied in any area of Australia not mentioned above for 2 years, you can apply for a 2 year visa extension.
While on the 1 or 2 year extension you must reside in the regional area you applied from, so if you are looking for another visa option to stay in Australia this may be the opportunity you are looking for.
Any queries? Contact us for an appointment on +618 6117 1572
The definition of regional Australia for this purpose will be the same as the definition for skilled migration – all of Australia excluding Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (Perth and Gold Coast are classified as regional areas).
From 2021, Temporary Graduate visa (TGV) holders (post-study work stream) who have graduated from a regional educational institution and have lived in regional Australia on their first TGV will be eligible for a second TGV.
Those eligible for a second TGV will be required to remain in a regional area for the duration of their new visa.
Eligibility will include international students who studied at a regional campus of a metropolitan university.
· International graduates who have studied and lived in Category 2 will be eligible for an additional 1 year on a second Temporary Graduate visa.
· International graduates who have studied and lived in Category 3 will be eligible for an additional 2 years on a second Temporary Graduate visa.
The initiative will provide an additional incentive for international students to study at a regional institution and to live in regional areas post-study, boosting diversity and prosperity in regional Australia.
At the same time, it will help ease growing infrastructure pressures in our major cities.
There is no change to Student visas. This option is available as an initiative for international students to study and live in regional Australia
Increase in post-study work rights based on Australian qualification and region of study
| Definition | Locations | Regional incentives |
|---|---|---|
| Major Cities | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | NA |
| Cities and major regional centres | Perth, Adelaide Gold Coast Sunshine Coast, Canberra Newcastle/Lake Macquarie Wollongong/Illawarra Geelong Hobart | – Access to the dedicated 25,000 regional places. – Priority processing on regional visas. – Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists. – International students studying at regional universities will be eligible to access an additional 1 year in Australia on a post-study work visa. |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | All other locations | – Access to the dedicated 25,000 regional places. – Priority processing on regional visas. – Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists. – International students studying at regional universities will be eligible to access an additional 2 years in Australia on a post-study work visa. – Priority in negotiating region-specific Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs). |
· Bachelor degree (including Honours ): 2 + 1 year (for cities and major regional centres) or + 2 years for regional centres and other regional areas)
· Masters by coursework: 2 + 1 year (for cities and major regional centres) or + 2 years for regional centres and other regional areas)
· Masters by research: 3 + 1 year (for cities and major regional centres) or + 2 years for regional centres and other regional areas)
· Doctoral degree: 4 + 1 year (for cities and major regional centres) or + 2 years for regional centres and other regional areas)
· Regional areas include Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.