You may have seen recent news regarding an update to the Temporary Graduate visa (TGV). The Department of Home Affairs has announced that TGV holders (subclass 485) in the post-study work stream who have graduated from a regional educational institution and have lived in regional Australia on their first TGV will be eligible for a second TGV. The change is in an effort to encourage international students to move to regional areas to study, live and work. This move can be incredibly beneficial to international students, with a generally lower cost of living and less competition for a range of part-time and casual employment options.
Who is eligible for the second TGV?
There are two categories of students who would be eligible for a second TGV:
- International graduates who have studied and lived in cities and major regional centres (Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong, Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart) will be eligible for an additional year on a second TGV.
- Students who have studied and lived in all other regional areas will be eligible for an additional two years on a second TGV.
Why can’t I find any more information about this update?
As explored in our recent visa webinar, Australian Visa Update for International Students, the reason there is not much information regarding the TGV update is that it has not been officially legislated. That means the changes do not exist in law just yet and the exact details are not publicly available. You can find an announcement of the proposed changes on the Department of Home Affairs website, or catch up on our webinar here.
