Major Changes in effect from 1 July 2023
(1) Changes to medical examinations effective from 1 July 2023
From 1 July 2023, urine tests will no longer form part of the medical examination. We will require a blood test to be undertaken instead. Applicants aged 15 years or older, who have not completed their medical examinations prior to 1 July 2023, will be required to undertake a blood test. We will no longer require children between the ages of 5 and 14 years old to undertake urine or blood tests unless clinically indicated.
Who needs health examinations?
You and family members who apply for a visa with you might need to have health examinations to prove you meet the health requirement. You might need to have more health examinations if you come from a country where there are public health concerns such as polio or Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
(2) Temporary Graduate Visa (TR 485) update
please note that some of the requirements are changing. If you apply for a subclass 485 visa in the Graduate Work stream from 1 July 2023, you will need to show:
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You have a qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list, and
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You have applied for a skills assessment in your nominated occupation on the skilled
Learn more about TR 485: https://www.racc.net.au/temporary-graduate-visa-tr-485
If you are contemplating between applying for a course or TR 485 (Graduate Visa); just wanted to give a heads up that you can apply for Temporary Graduate Visa (TR 485) only ONCE.
From July 2023, onwards, graduates from eligible courses can get
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TR 485 for 5 years (Master courses)
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TR 485 for 4 years (Bachelor courses)
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TR 485 for 2 years (Diploma courses)
On top of this, you can also get additional up to 2 years of TR 485 depending on where you have studied.
From the 1st July 2023,
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Non-eligible diploma graduates will no longer be eligible for the 485 graduate stream. (This was only an exemption for 2022-23 FY). We have had clients who studied 2 years in Australia in Diploma of Leadership and Management and received TR 485 grant for 2 years.
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2 years to 4 years for select Bachelor degrees; 3 years to 5 years for select Masters degrees; 5 years to 6 years for all doctoral qualifications
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Additional 1-2 years of TR 485 for studying in regional area
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Working hour cap will be 48 hours per fortnight for international students
Find eligible occupations for extended TR 485 period (In effect for applications granted after 1 July 2023):
https://www.education.gov.au/extended-poststudy-work-rights-international-graduates/resources/list-occupations-and-qualifications-eligible-poststudy-work-rights-extension
(3) Work right changes for International students
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International students can work 48 hours per fortnight
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You can work full-time during your non-study period (Generally in Australia, 5 months in a year is non-study period)
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If you are studying Masters, your partner can work full-time during your study period
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If you are enrolled for Master of Research, you can work full-time
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People working in Aged-care/PCA sector can work full time till December 2023.
(4) Extended period of COVID visa
Temporary Graduate visa holders in Australia whose:
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Visas expired or will expire between 1 September 2022 and 1 July 2023, OR,
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Temporary Graduate visa holders who were in Australia throughout the pandemic period and are therefore not eligible for the TGV Replacement stream
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You must be working in Australia or have an offer of employment.
May be eligible for the COVID-19 Pandemic Event (subclass 408) visa with a 2-year stay period.
You must apply 90 days before your TGV expires, or 28 days after your TGV expires to be eligible for a Pandemic event visa.
If you are granted a 408 Pandemic Event visa, you will not be eligible to then apply separately for an extended TGV.
Read more about COVID Visa here: https://www.racc.net.au/covid-visa-408-visa-covid19-visa
