The international education sector in Australia is making a post-pandemic recovery, thanks in part to favorable policies that offer generous in-study and post-study work rights for foreign students.
As these policies continue to develop, let’s take a closer look at the latest regulations regarding work rights in Australia, which will come into effect on July 1, 2023.
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Caps Will Be Reintroduced On Working While Studying
The post-pandemic recovery of Australia’s international education sector has been aided by the policies concerning in-study and post-study work rights for foreign students. These policies are evolving, and from 1 July 2023, new rules around work rights in Australia will take effect.
Here are the latest updates:
– The temporary policy that removed the limits on the number of hours international students could work while studying in Australia will end on 1 July 2023.
– The new limit on hours will be higher than the previous limit, which was 40 hours. The new limit will be 48 hours every two weeks.
– The aim is to strike a balance between allowing foreign students to engage fully in their primary purpose of studying and providing them with a means of supporting themselves financially and gaining work experience in Australia.
– Both currently enrolled and new international students will be subject to the 48-hours-per-fortnight (24 hours per week) cap beginning in July.
– Some international students are unhappy with the modest increase in allowable working hours. They rely on working unlimited hours to finance their studies and manage their living expenses, which are skyrocketing.
– Other students are relieved that a cap on working hours will help stem the drive to work as many hours as possible among international students.
– The various student perspectives highlight the difficulties that international students face in balancing their studies and paying for tuition, rent, and food.
– In Canada, for instance, most of the nearly 2,000 students relying on the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Canada to eat enough were international students, and a common reason cited by those students was the 20-hours-a-week cap on work rights during the study.
SEE ALSO: The Impact of UK Immigration Restrictions On Families And Students
Certain Degrees Will Lead To An Extra Two Years Of Post-Study Work Rights
Last fall, the Australian government announced that certain international students graduating with specific degrees would be eligible for extended post-study work rights from 1 July 2023. The list of eligible degrees for extended work rights includes areas of skills shortages in the Australian economy, such as health, teaching, engineering, and agriculture.
Bachelor’s graduates will be granted 4 years of post-study work rights, while master’s graduates will have 5 years. Doctoral graduates, regardless of their area of study, will be granted 6 years, an increase from the previous 4-year limit.
Education Minister Jason Clare emphasized the importance of skilled workers in Australia’s economy, saying that the extended post-study work rights would help fill some of the chronic skills shortages that the country is experiencing.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil added that allowing students who have gained an education in Australia to stay longer and contribute to the economy would benefit everyone.
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Eligibility Details
According to the government, international students who are eligible for the extended post-study work rights must have a valid Temporary Graduate Visa on 1 July 2023, or apply for it after that date. Those whose visas will expire before 1 July 2023 may apply for an extension of their work rights by attending an Australian Government-endorsed event (COVID-19 Pandemic event) and applying for a Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408).
FAQs
What immigration rule changes in Australia in 2023?
All skilled temporary workers will be awarded an opportunity to apply for permanent residency in Australia. The change will come into effect by the end of 2023, making the PR application process even more competitive.
What are the important changes to Australian student visas from 1 July 2023?
From 1 July 2023, some holders of subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visas will be allowed to stay in Australia for a longer period. The change will result in a stay period of four years for a bachelor’s degree graduate, up from two years.
SEE ALSO: Australian Companies Willing To Sponsor Visa in 2023