Your student visa conditions

As an international student holding a student visa (subclass 500), it is important to note that there may be conditions imposed on you. To check what these conditions are, refer to your student visa grant notification letter.  

What do I do if my study situation has changed?  

If you have transferred your degree, extended the duration of your degree, need to defer your course due to compassionate and compelling reasons, or have or will undergo any changes to your study situation, you must make sure that despite these changes, you continue to meet the conditions of your visa. 

To check what kind of action you may need to take in these circumstances, visit: Your Study Situation Has Changed or book an appointment with us and we can help.  

Working Under your Student Visa 

To understand your working restrictions, check your visa grant letter and review your visa conditions carefully.

As a general rule, undergraduates and Masters by Coursework students are restricted to 48 hours of work a fortnight while their course is in session. You do not have work restrictions when your course is not in session.  

Masters by Research and Post-Doctorate students on the other hand, do not have any work restrictions and are allowed to work unlimited hours during the duration of their study once their study have commenced.

Visit the ANU Calendar for details on the start and end dates of the semesters to see when courses are in session.

What do I do if my student visa is going to expire soon?

Applying for a new visa can be complicated, so make sure you give yourself sufficient time to prepare your documents and apply for a new visa. We generally advise applying at least 6-8 weeks before your visa expiry. It’s also important to gather the documents you need and seek any advice before then, if you can.

If you are a holder of any of the following visas, there may be some restrictions on your eligibility to apply for a student visa onshore due to Visa Hopping Restrictions:

• Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate)
• Subclass 600 (Visitor)
• Subclass 601 (Electronic Travel Authority)
• Subclass 602 (Medical Treatment)
• Subclass 651 (eVisitor)
• Subclass 771 (Transit)
• Subclass 988 (Maritime Crew)
• Subclass 995 (Diplomatic Temporary) – primary visa holders only
• Subclass 403 (Temporary Work) International Relations)) – Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream
• Subclass 426 (Domestic Worker (Temporary) – Diplomatic or Consular)

If this applies to you, seek legal advice. If you need urgent assistance (i.e.: your visa is expiring within 2 days or has expired), you are encouraged to seek advice from a registered migration agent, as you will likely need to apply urgently for a new visa.

To check the validity and details of your current visa, visit: VEVO Check

A common visa that international students at universities apply for after the completion of their study is the 485 Post-Higher Education Work Stream Visa. 

There are specific requirements students must meet to apply for this visa, including, but not limited to:

• Meet the age requirements; 
• be in Australia when you apply for this visa; 
• hold an eligible visa; 
• have held a Student visa in the last 6 months; 
• meet the Australian study requirement; 
• have a recent degree in a CRICOS-registered course at a degree level or above; 
• provide evidence of adequate health insurance for all applicants when you apply; 
• provide evidence you have applied for an AFP check when you apply; 
• provide evidence of the required level of English with the application. 

To see the full eligibility requirement, visit: 485 Post-Study Work Visa Eligibility Requirements.

When can I apply for a 485 Post-Higher Education Work Visa?

To apply for a 485 Post-Higher Education Work Visa, you must first have completed an eligible degree and meet the eligibility requirements.

Applications for the 485 visa must be made onshore, within 6 months of the date of course completion.

The date of course completion is the date you first met the academic requirement for the award or your degree, diploma or trade qualification and were advised in writing, generally through a Letter of Course Completion. You cannot apply for a 485 visa on the same day as the letter of course completion. You must wait at least one day from the day you receive your course completion letter before you submit your application

This date should not be confused with the date of conferral of award. The date of conferral is the date that the student receives their qualification, for example, at a graduation ceremony.

To learn more about the study requirement guidelines, see: Australian study requirement. If your studies were affected by COVID-19 which meant that you had to study offshore, please book in for a consultation with us as there are special circumstances/ further forms that may apply to you.

 General

Student Visa (Subclass 500)

485 Post-Higher Education Work Visa

NOTICE: This is legal information and is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. These materials have been prepared for ANU Students by the ANUSA Legal Service. If you would like legal advice, please book in for an appointment with the ANUSA Legal Service.