*Disclaimer: The contents of this article do not constitute legal migration advice, are not intended to be a substitute for legal migration advice, and should not be relied upon as such. For professional migration assistance, always consult a Registered Migration Agent registered with the Office of Migration Agents Registered Authority (MARA) or contact the Department of Home Affairs.
As an international student in Australia, you’ll most likely hold a student visa that will be valid for the duration of your course. But if your visa expiration date is approaching, you might have some questions. What happens if my visa expires in Australia? How long can I stay in Australia after my visa expires? It can be daunting not to know the answers to these questions, which is why we’ve answered them for you! Here’s what you need to know.
What happens if my visa expires in Australia?
Unless you have permanent residency (PR) or you’re a citizen, you must legally have a valid visa to stay in Australia. It’s best to organise and apply for your next visa before your current one expires (hint: always double check your visa expiration date details to stay informed of your visa timeline).
However, if you don’t do this and your visa expires first, you typically have a 28-day grace period from when your previous visa ended to apply for a new one. However, it’s important to remember that you can only apply within this period if you have not previously been granted a visa based on an application made when you did not hold a substantive visa.
How to renew my visa
Technically speaking, extending or renewing a Student visa (subclass 500) is impossible. If you are planning to continue your studies (e.g. pursuing postgraduate study after finishing your undergraduate course), you’ll need to apply for a new one. You should allow plenty of time to apply for the new visa in case of any unexpected complications.
To apply for a student visa, you’ll need a variety of documents, which may vary slightly depending on your circumstances. You can use the Department of Home Affairs’ Document checklist tool to discover your required documents, but in most cases, you will need all or some of the following:
- Proof of identity
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
- Proof of English proficiency
- Proof of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Statement
I’m going to apply for a new visa – what are my options?
If your student visa is expiring and you wish to stay in Australia longer, you can apply for other visas that will allow you to live and work in Australia.
Types of visas you can apply for other than student visa (subclass 500) –
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
This is the most common visa for international students who have recently finished their courses but want to extend their stay in Australia. With this visa, you can live and work in Australia for up to 5 years.
There are two streams under this type of visa:
- *Graduate Work stream visa: This visa is intended for international students who have just graduated and possess the skills and qualifications necessary to fill specific positions in Australia.
- Post-Study Work stream visa: You can apply for this visa after graduating with a degree in Australia. If you study at an Australian institution in a regional area, you can further apply for a Second Post-Study Work stream visa.
*Important note: The occupation nomination and skills assessment requirements have been removed for the Temporary Graduate visa – Graduate Work stream from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. Learn more about this change here.
Read more: What is the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa?
Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) or Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visas are reserved for the age group 18-30 (or up to 35 for residents of some countries). These visas – which are only available to citizens of a set list of countries – allow you to work and live in Australia for up to a year with options to extend for a second and third year if you meet certain requirements. In most cases, you must complete three months (or 88 days) of regional work to be eligible for a second-year WHM visa and six months for a third-year WHM visa.
*Important note: You may need to be outside of Australia to apply for your first Working Holiday Maker visa.
Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)
A Temporary Skill Shortage visa allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers to fill labour gaps that can’t be appropriately filled by Australian workers. There are several streams under this type of visa that will impact how long you are eligible to stay in Australia and how much the visa will cost. You’ll also need to meet English language requirements, work in an occupation on the Skilled occupation list (SOL) and have a minimum of two years of relevant work experience. Depending on your profession and other circumstances, you may also require a valid skills assessment.
Visitor visa (subclass 600)
This visa allows you to visit Australia as a tourist, for business or visit your family for up to 12 months. This visa is also suitable for someone who holds another visa but would like to extend their stay. While there are a few different types of visas that you can apply for under this subclass, you will most likely need to apply for the Tourist stream (apply in Australia). This visa will allow you to stay for up to 12 months but only as a tourist; it’s extremely important to remember that you cannot work in Australia with this visa.
*Important note: There is an ‘apply in Australia’ and an ‘apply outside Australia’ option for the Tourist stream. Make sure you select the right one for your circumstances.
Where can I find help in understanding my visa options?
It is okay if you require assistance when applying for a new visa – Registered Migration Agents will help you step-by-step. These experts understand the requirements for various types of visas and will be able to assess your situation to recommend the best one for you.
To stay up to date on visa requirements and the latest migration news, visit the Department of Home Affairs website or get in touch with them to address any specific queries you might have.
