will the changes in Australian visa rules impact approved 1

Starting July 1, 2024, individuals applying for an Australian student visa must do so from outside the country, rather than within Australia. This change impacts holders of certain visas, such as Visitor and Temporary Graduate visas, who will no longer be permitted to apply for student visas while in Australia. The Australian government highlights that only offshore applicants who can demonstrate a genuine intent to study in Australia will be considered for student visas.

Beginning July 1, 2024, new Australian student visa rules will require applications to be submitted from outside the country. Temporary Graduate visa holders must seek job opportunities to extend their stay. Post-study work rights are reduced, with stricter English language requirements. Certain visa holders are no longer eligible to apply for student visas within Australia, requiring them to apply from abroad.

Visa holders, including those on Visitor and Temporary Graduate visas, currently in Australia will be ineligible to apply for student visas under the new regulations. However, student visa applications submitted within Australia before July 1, 2024, will continue to be processed without any impact. Those on Working Holiday Maker and Work and Holiday visas are exempt from these changes and will not see any effect on their current visa statuses.

The Australian government has made it clear that temporary graduates should either plan to leave the country once their visa expires or explore employment opportunities that could lead to employer-sponsored visas or permanent residency if they wish to stay. The recent “Graduates in Limbo” report by the Grattan Institute reveals that 32% of Temporary Graduate Visa holders are choosing to return to study in order to extend their stay in Australia beyond their visa’s duration.

These changes are in line with additional reforms set to take effect on July 1 for Temporary Graduate visa holders. The reforms include significantly shorter post-study work rights, a reduction in the age eligibility from 50 to 35 years, and stricter English language proficiency requirements, which were introduced in March.

Prospective students can submit their Student visa applications from abroad and travel to Australia while waiting for their visa decision. However, they must hold or obtain a visa that allows them to enter and stay in Australia during this time. It’s important to note that offshore Student visa applicants are not eligible for a Bridging visa to remain in Australia while their application is being processed.

Under the new rules, visitor visa holders are allowed to study for up to three months during the validity of their visa. Those intending to pursue studies longer than this period must apply for a Student visa from outside Australia.

Certain visa holders in Australia are now prohibited from applying for a Student visa while inside the country. The affected visa subclasses are:

Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate)
Subclass 600 (Visitor)
Subclass 601 (Electronic Travel Authority)
Subclass 602 (Medical Treatment)
Subclass 651 (eVisitor)
Subclass 988 (Maritime Crew)

In addition, the following visa holders were already ineligible to apply for a Student visa within Australia:

Subclass 403 (Temporary Work) under the International Relations (Domestic Worker – Diplomatic or Consular) stream
Subclass 426 (Domestic Worker (Temporary) – Diplomatic or Consular)
Subclass 771 (Transit)
Subclass 995 (Diplomatic Temporary – primary visa holders only)

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