Extra year in Graduate Visa

Second graduate visa available for students in regional areas

From 2021, Temporary Graduate visa (TGV) holders (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.

Those eligible for a second TGV will be required to remain in a regional area for the duration of their new visa.

Eligibility will include international students who studied at a regional campus of a metropolitan university.

• International graduates who have studied and lived in Category 2 will be eligible for an additional year on a second Temporary Graduate visa
• International graduates who have studied and lived in Category 3 will be eligible for an additional 2 years on a second Temporary Graduate visa.

The initiative will provide an additional incentive for international students to study at a regional institution and to live in regional areas post-study, boosting diversity and prosperity in regional Australia.

At the same time, it will help ease growing infrastructure pressures in our major cities.

There is no change to Student visas. This option is available as an initiative for international students to study and live in regional Australia.

Applications can be made from 21 Jan 2021 onwards.

Eligible regional areas

The regional definition is comprised of the following 3 categories:

• Category 1 – ‘Major Cities’ of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane do not receive any regional incentives
• Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart
• Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’.

The regional definition offers regional incentives for skilled migrants who migrate to locations classified as Category 2 ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ or Category 3 ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’.

For further information, visit: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au

Fee

The visa application fee would be:

• Main applicant = AUD$650
• Spouse or partner = AUD$325
• Children under 18 = AUD$165

Immigration advice and assistance

For further information about visa applications, please call our office on 02 6247 7577 or send an email to: info@visaustralia.com

VisAustralia is committed to working hard to assist our clients, negotiate the application process and apply for permanent residence in Australia.