In the last few months, the Australian Government has made many changes to Student (Subclass 500) and Graduate (Subclass 485) visas. Some changes have already been implemented, while others will start from 1 July 2024. In this article, we will go through the main changes happening to student and graduate visas.
No Student Visas for Tourists/Visitors and Graduate Visa Holders
Starting from 1 July 2024, visitor visa holders and temporary graduate visa holders will not be able to apply for student visas onshore.
In summary, from this date, the following subclasses will not be able to apply for a student visa onshore:
- Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate)
- Subclass 600 (Visitor)
- Subclass 601 (Electronic Travel Authority)
- Subclass 602 (Medical Treatment)
- Subclass 651 (eVisitor)
- Subclass 988 (Maritime Crew)
Additionally, the following visas, which already cannot make a valid student visa application, include:
- Subclass 403 (Temporary Work) 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
Increase in Financial Capacity Requirements
The financial capacity requirements for student visas have increased starting from 10 May 2024. This is the second increase this financial year, with the previous one on 1 October 2023. The new annual living requirements are:
- $29,710 for a single student
- $10,394 for a partner
- $4,449 for each dependent child
- $13,502 for school costs for school-going dependent children
Age Reduction to Apply for the Graduate Visa
Starting from 1 July 2024, the age requirement for the 485 Graduate Visa will be reduced to 35 years and under. Exceptions apply for Masters by research, PhD graduates, and Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, who will still be eligible up to the age of 50.
English Test Requirements for Student Visa
The English test score requirements for student visas have changed to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent. With 10 weeks ELICOS, the minimum score required will be 5.5, and with 20 weeks ELICOS, it would be 5.0 overall. There is no change for students applying for one year of ELICOS or through foundation programs for university courses.
English Test Requirements for Graduate Visa
The 485 Graduate Visa English requirements have increased to an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each of the four parts, or a PTE overall score of at least 57 with minimum scores of 43 for listening, 48 for reading, 42 for speaking, and 51 for writing.
The validity of the English test results for the 485 Graduate Visa has been decreased from 3 years to 1 year, requiring many students to retake the test.
TOEFL English Test
TOEFL iBT is again recognized for Australian visa purposes starting from 5 May 2024.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about student visas or 485 visas, please contact us at suman@australia-study.com.au or +61 8 8234 5664.
We hope this information helps you stay informed about the latest changes in Australian immigration policies. Thank you for reading, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need further assistance.
Sources:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/archive/article?itemId=1196
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/archive/article?itemId=1211
https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/news/english-language-requirements-changes
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/changes
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language