Options after your student visa expiry in Australia

If you hold or held a student visa and completed specific qualifications in Australia in the last six months, the subclass 485 is a popular option. This visa allows you to live, study, and work in Australia temporarily after you have finished your studies. You may be able to get this visa for a duration of 2-4 years depending on the qualification you have acquired. There are two streams for this visa namely: Graduate work stream and the post-study work steam. The latter is mostly popular among students who have graduated with a higher education degree from an Australian institution.

Australia values skilled talent, and if your occupation is in demand, you might be eligible for a skilled migration visa. These include the skilled independent visa (Subclass 189), skilled nominated visa (Subclass 190), and the regional sponsored migration scheme (Subclass 187). These visas are points-tested and require you to have a certain level of work experience, English language proficiency and other criteria.

If you apply for a new visa before your current visa expires, you will usually be granted a Bridging visa A. (BVA) Your BVA will keep you lawful in Australia when your current visa expires. You should not leave Australia on your BVA, your BVA will end when you leave, and you will not be allowed to re-enter. If you want to leave and re-enter Australia, you must apply for a Bridging visa B (BVB) after you have been granted the BVA.

You should be mindful with your visa expiry dates and conditions well before you decide on a new visa. Your options for applying for a new visa will be limited if your last visa has already expired. Then you will be considered unlawful if you remain in Australia without a valid visa.