Australia announced key Measures to support the International students

The Scott Morrison Government of Australia to introduce further targeted measures to support the foreign education sector to thrive back, as international borders reopen. Recently Australian government announced that fully vaccinated eligible visa holders could travel to and from Australia without any need to apply for a Travel Exemption.

Now, this is evident that government is consistently taking steps and announcing measures to ease the migration to Australia easy not only for foreign skilled workers, but also for the international students.

Support for the International students

As per government, over $37 million will be available to support those foreign education providers most affected by the global pandemic. Stretched regulatory fee waivers and extra grants are components of this.

Moreover, changes to visa regulations, etc. will also deliver required flexibility for foreign students, as they are ready to return to Australia.

The new arrangements will extend measures to protect the post-study work rights of foreign students as well as lengthen the temporary graduate visa from 2 to 3 years for masters by coursework graduates. As per Alan Tudge, the Minister for Education and Youth, the announcement would hasten the pandemic recovery process for the 2022 academic year. He further added: 

• “This will help ensure the rapid return of international students,” Minister Tudge said.
• “It provides clear incentives for institutions and students and ensures students are not disadvantaged from being prevented from coming to Australia earlier.
• “The extension of the Innovation Grants will help English language providers who have been hit particularly hard by COVID.”

Moreover, Alex Hawke, the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs mentioned that the changes to visa arrangements for the foreign education sector gave students required absolution as Australia’s borders were set to reopen.

Also read- How to immigrate to Australia from India- Explore key pathways

Key Points regarding the visa settings:

• The holders or Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa, who earlier could not travel to Australia because of global pandemic caused international border restrictions, will be able to apply for a replacement visa. This will consent present and former Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders with an expired visa (on or after 1 February 2020) to re-apply for a new subclass 485 visa of the same interval as their original visa.
• Furthermore, the Government will raise the length of stay on the Temporary Graduate visa from 2 to 3 years for Masters by coursework graduates, matching that of Masters by research graduates. Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector graduates will also get a 2-year Temporary Graduate visa.
• The new visa arrangements will also lengthen current measures for students and temporary graduates to recognise time spent offshore studying online to count towards qualifying for a temporary graduate visa.

All these measures will support application of the impending Australian Strategy for International Education.

To check your eligibility status and apply for relevant skilled visa, Study visa, family-sponsored visa, etc. in Australia, you may get in touch with Visas Avenue- the leading Visa Consultant in India for Australia and Canada. You may call VA Australia migration expert on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar