The changes to Australia's Temporary Graduate Visa Programme, set to take effect from July 1, aim to provide clarity and streamline the visa process for international graduates. These changes include renaming the visa streams to better reflect the level of study associated with them and introducing a new maximum age limit of 35 years old for both streams.
Applicants with associate degrees, diplomas, or trade qualifications should apply for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, while those with degrees or higher qualifications should apply for the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
The maximum stay periods for the Post-Higher Education Work stream have also been revised. Graduates with Bachelor's degrees will be eligible to stay for up to 2 years, while those with coursework and extended Master’s degrees will have the same limit. Masters by research and Doctoral degrees (PhDs) will allow graduates to stay for up to 3 years.
These changes may impact international students from India who are planning to study in Australia. However, it's essential to note that the stay periods for Indian nationals, as agreed in the Australia-India – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), remain the same. These stay durations vary based on the level of degree obtained, with Indian nationals eligible to stay for up to 4 years for doctoral degrees (PhDs).
Overall, while the changes to the Temporary Graduate Visa Programme may affect some international students, the stay periods for Indian nationals remain unchanged under the AI-ECTA agreement.
