Australia Post Study Work Visa

Are you unclear how long you can stay in Australia after finishing your studies?

Australia has become a popular destination for international students due to its high-quality education, welcoming culture, and range of post-study options. One of these options is the Australia Post Study Work Visa, which provides international graduates with the opportunity to work in Australia after completing their studies. In this article, we will explore the Australia Post Study Work Visa, its benefits, and how to apply for it.

Get complete information without having to look in several locations (this information is current as per government regulations on March 1st, 2023).

Types of Australia Post Study Work Visa

The Australia Post Study Work Visa has two streams: the Graduate Work stream and the Post-Study Work stream.

The Graduate Work programme is for international students who have a degree or diploma in an area on the Skilled Occupation List and want to work in Australia. This stream is for graduates with titles and skills that are in demand in Australia. The visa is good for 18 months and gives people a chance to get work experience in their field.

International students who have earned a degree or diploma in any subject may apply for the Post-Study Work track. Graduates who intend to work in Australia and maybe apply for permanent residency should enrol in this stream. Depending on the degree of completion, the visa is valid for two to four years. The degree of study completed determines the length of the visa, as shown in the table below:

Qualification Level	Visa Duration
Bachelor’s Degree	2 years
Master’s Degree	2-3 years
PhD	4 years

The visa received for post-study is 485 (Post Study Work Stream), and you can find more information about this visa here!

You can also reach to a Migration Agent at KnNMigration.com.au and take professional help for your Student visa.

Australia Cities are categorized in 3 main categories:

 

• • Category 1– Major cities- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane

• • Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart

• • Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas (Include Designated regional area postcodes as per table in the link below)

To check which city is in which category, you can visit this link to learn more about it.

As announced on Australia Govt on 21 Feb 2023, Government is addressing skills shortages by extending post-study work rights for international students that have graduated from an Australian higher education provider. These extended work rights come into effect from 1 July 2023. A two-year extension of post-study work rights is available for international graduates with select degrees that are in areas of verified skill shortage.

 

• • The tentative list of occupations is shared by Govt and can be found below

• • The list will be finalized by Govt before implementing it on 1^st July 2023

ANZSCO code	Occupation title	National Labour Market Rating	Future Demand Rating
233212	Geotechnical Engineer	S	Strong
233611	Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)	S	Strong
233612	Petroleum Engineer	S	Strong
234912	Metallurgist	S	Strong
241111	Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher	S	Strong
254111	Midwife	S	Strong
254411	Nurse Practitioner	S	Strong
254412	Registered Nurse (Aged Care)	S	Strong
254413	Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)	S	Strong
254414	Registered Nurse (Community Health)	S	Strong
254415	Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)	S	Strong
254416	Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)	S	Strong
254417	Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)	S	Strong
254418	Registered Nurse (Medical)	S	Strong
254421	Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)	S	Strong
254422	Registered Nurse (Mental Health)	S	Strong
254423	Registered Nurse (Perioperative)	S	Strong
254424	Registered Nurse (Surgical)	S	Strong
254425	Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)	S	Strong
254499	Registered Nurses nec	S	Strong
261112	Systems Analyst	S	Strong
261211	Multimedia Specialist	S	Strong
261212	Web Developer	S	Strong
261311	Analyst Programmer	S	Strong
261312	Developer Programmer	S	Strong
261313	Software Engineer	S	Strong
261314	Software Tester	S	Strong
261317	Penetration Tester	S	Strong
261399	Software and Applications Programmers nec	S	Strong
262111	Database Administrator	S	Strong
262114	Cyber Governance Risk and Compliance Specialist	S	Strong
262115	Cyber Security Advice and Assessment Specialist	S	Strong
262116	Cyber Security Analyst	S	Strong
262117	Cyber Security Architect	S	Strong
262118	Cyber Security Operations Coordinator	S	Strong
263111	Computer Network and Systems Engineer	S	Strong
263112	Network Administrator	S	Strong
263113	Network Analyst	S	Strong
263211	ICT Quality Assurance Engineer	S	Strong
263213	ICT Systems Test Engineer	S	Strong
121311	Apiarist	S	Moderate
133111	Construction Project Manager	S	Moderate
133112	Project Builder	S	Moderate
133211	Engineering Manager	S	Moderate
225411	ICT Sales Representative (Industrial Products)	S	Moderate
233111	Chemical Engineer	S	Moderate
233112	Materials Engineer	S	Moderate
233211	Civil Engineer	S	Moderate
233213	Quantity Surveyor	S	Moderate
233214	Structural Engineer	S	Moderate
233215	Transport Engineer	S	Moderate
233311	Electrical Engineer	S	Moderate
233915	Environmental Engineer	S	Moderate
233999	Engineering Professionals nec	S	Moderate
234111	Agricultural Consultant	S	Moderate
234114	Agricultural Research Scientist	S	Moderate
234115	Agronomist	S	Moderate
234212	Food Technologist	S	Moderate
234711	Veterinarian	S	Moderate
241213	Primary School Teacher	S	Moderate
241411	Secondary School Teacher	S	Moderate
241511	Special Needs Teacher	S	Moderate
241512	Teacher of the Hearing Impaired	S	Moderate
241513	Teacher of the Sight Impaired	S	Moderate
241599	Special Education Teachers nec	S	Moderate
242211	Vocational Education Teacher / Polytechnic Teacher	S	Moderate
251211	Medical Diagnostic Radiographer	S	Moderate
251212	Medical Radiation Therapist	S	Moderate
251214	Sonographer	S	Moderate
251411	Optometrist	S	Moderate
251511	Hospital Pharmacist	S	Moderate
251513	Retail Pharmacist	S	Moderate
251912	Orthotist or Prosthetist	S	Moderate
251999	Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals nec	S	Moderate
252312	Dentist	S	Moderate
252411	Occupational Therapist	S	Moderate
252511	Physiotherapist	S	Moderate
252611	Podiatrist	S	Moderate
252712	Speech Pathologist / Speech Language Therapist	S	Moderate
253111	General Practitioner	S	Moderate
253112	Resident Medical Officer	S	Moderate
253311	Specialist Physician (General Medicine)	S	Moderate
253312	Cardiologist	S	Moderate
253313	Clinical Haematologist	S	Moderate
253314	Medical Oncologist	S	Moderate
253315	Endocrinologist	S	Moderate
253316	Gastroenterologist	S	Moderate
253317	Intensive Care Specialist	S	Moderate
253318	Neurologist	S	Moderate
253321	Paediatrician	S	Moderate
253322	Renal Medicine Specialist	S	Moderate
253323	Rheumatologist	S	Moderate
253324	Thoracic Medicine Specialist	S	Moderate
253399	Specialist Physicians nec	S	Moderate
253411	Psychiatrist	S	Moderate
253511	Surgeon (General)	S	Moderate
253512	Cardiothoracic Surgeon	S	Moderate
253513	Neurosurgeon	S	Moderate
253514	Orthopaedic Surgeon	S	Moderate
253515	Otorhinolaryngologist	S	Moderate
253516	Paediatric Surgeon	S	Moderate
253517	Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon	S	Moderate
253518	Urologist	S	Moderate
253521	Vascular Surgeon	S	Moderate
253911	Dermatologist	R	Moderate
253912	Emergency Medicine Specialist	S	Moderate
253913	Obstetrician and Gynaecologist	R	Moderate
253914	Ophthalmologist	S	Moderate
253915	Pathologist	S	Moderate
253917	Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist	R	Moderate
253999	Medical Practitioners nec	S	Moderate
254212	Nurse Researcher	S	Moderate
261111	ICT Business Analyst	S	Moderate
261315	Cyber Security Engineer	S	Moderate
261316	Devops Engineer	S	Moderate
272311	Clinical Psychologist	S	Moderate
272312	Educational Psychologist	S	Moderate
272313	Organisational Psychologist	S	Moderate
272399	Psychologists nec	S	Moderate
411211	Dental Hygienist	S	Moderate
411214	Dental Therapist	S	Moderate

Benefits of the Australia Post Study Work Visa

The Australia Post Study Work Visa provides international graduates with a range of benefits, including:

 

1. 1. Work Experience: The visa provides an opportunity for graduates to gain valuable work experience in Australia. This work experience can be invaluable when it comes to finding employment in the future, both in Australia and abroad.

1. 1. Pathway to Permanent Residency: The visa provides a pathway to permanent residency in Australia. If an international student is able to secure a job in Australia while on the visa, they may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the Skilled Migration Program.

1. 1. Travel Opportunities: The visa allows international students to travel freely in and out of Australia. This can be particularly valuable for those who want to visit family and friends in their home country while they are working in Australia.

Also, check out our article on how you can plan your budget for studying in abroad here!

Eligibility Criteria for the Australia Post Study Work Visa

To be eligible for the Australia Post Study Work Visa, international students must meet the following criteria:

 

1. 1. Completed a degree or diploma at an Australian university or vocational education and training institution

1. 1. Met the English language requirements for their course of study

1. 1. Held a valid student visa for the duration of their course

1. 1. Meet health and character requirements

The table below provides a summary of the eligibility criteria for the Australia Post Study Work Visa:

Eligibility Criteria	Requirement
Completed a degree	Completed a degree or diploma at an Australian university or vocational education and training institution
English language	Met the English language requirements for their course of study
Student visa	Held a valid student visa for the duration of their course
Health and character	Meet health and character requirements

How to Apply for the Australia Post Study Work Visa

International students who are interested in applying for the Australia Post Study Work Visa should follow these steps:

 

1. 1. Research the visa requirements: It is important to research the visa requirements and ensure that all eligibility criteria are met.

1. 1. Look for job opportunities: Securing employment is a key requirement for the visa application, so it is important to start looking for job opportunities before applying for the visa. Job opportunities can be found on job search websites or by networking with employers in Australia.

1. 1. Gather required documents: Applicants will need to provide a range of documents to support their visa application, including their academic transcripts, English language test results, and proof of their job offer.

1. 1. Lodge the application: The visa application can be lodged online through the Department of Home Affairs website. Applicants will need to pay the application fee and provide all the required documentation.

1. 1. Wait for a decision: The visa processing time varies depending on the visa stream and individual circumstances. It is important to check the Department of Home Affairs website for the latest processing times.

Also, check out our articles on fees and scholarship programs for studying Information Technology in Australia in details here!

The Australia Post Study Work Visa is a fantastic chance for international graduates to obtain work experience in Australia while also potentially applying for permanent residency. The visa offers a variety of advantages, such as work experience, a road to permanent residency, and travel chances. International students must have finished a degree or certificate at an Australian university or vocational education and training institution, met English language criteria, held a valid student visa, and meet health and character requirements to be eligible for the visa. International students can apply for the visa and begin their journey to professional achievement in Australia by following the steps mentioned in this article.

Kindly note that Australia is re-working on their Visa strategy for all stream. It is adviced to talk to one of our MARA agent and get professional help on Visa. Our insights on Australian migration strategy 2024 can be found at –  Australia Migration Strategy 2023 blog post.