Check here the minimum age requirement for post-study work visa in Australia

Source: News9live
Author: Arpita Das

New Delhi: Australia's Department of Home Affairs has declared that it will maintain the minimum age requirement of 50 for post-study work visas for research students. After the publication of changes to the Temporary Graduate Visa Program, the decision has been taken and will be on effect from July 1, 2024.

Earlier, the Department decided to reduce the minimum age limit to 35 for all Temporary Graduate 485 visa streams. But it was exceptional for those who have Hong Kong and British National Overseas passports. However, feedback on the potential impact of this change on postgraduate research students led to the decision to keep the higher age limit for research students in the Post-Higher Education Work Stream.

The government's official statement reads, 'The maximum eligible age for Post-Higher Education Work stream applicants will reduce to 35 years of age or under at the time of application. Masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) graduates and Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders will still be eligible if they are under 50 years of age.'

The 35-year-old age limit will still apply to graduates of taught master's, bachelor's, associate degree, and vocational programs, effective from July 1, 2024. The confirmed post-study work rights by the government include-

The initial migration strategy suggested that lowering the age limit would support 'early career professionals'. However, critics argued that the proposed cut-off would exclude most doctoral graduates. The Group of Eight highlighted that in 2022, 40 per cent of international PhD students in Australia were 30 years or more, making many ineligible for a visa by the time they completed their PhD under the proposed age limit.