2 July 2024




Onshore Visa Hopping – Restricted (Student Visa)
In its bold move to limit visa hopping in Australia, through the Australia’s Migration Strategy, the government formally announced the changes to Student visa eligibility. In addition to the existing certain visa holders from which the government has imposed the ineligibility to apply for a student visa while onshore, those who are Temporary Graduate, Visitor, and the Maritime Crew visa holders can no longer apply for a student visa while in Australia.
Here is the complete list of visa holders who will not be allowed to apply for a student visa while onshore based on the Department of Home Affairs official website:
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Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate)
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Subclass 600 (Visitor)
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Subclass 601 (Electronic Travel Authority)
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Subclass 602 (Medical Treatment)
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Subclass 651 (eVisitor)
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Subclass 771 (Transit)
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Subclass 988 (Maritime Crew)
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Subclass 995 (Diplomatic Temporary) – primary visa holders only
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Subclass 403 (Temporary Work) International Relations)) – Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream
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Subclass 426 (Domestic Worker (Temporary) – Diplomatic or Consular)
This restriction to apply for a student visa for the aforementioned visa holders certainly will bring a huge impact to Australian migration, most especially to those who would want to take the opportunity to directly apply for a student visa onshore. Nevertheless, these changes also aim to determine student visa applicants who genuinely intend to pursue studies in Australia.
Moreover, the Australian government seeks to strengthen the integrity of the student visa program. Thus, the recent rule will ensure that student visas will be granted to genuine students who will receive academic qualifications in Australia and eventually will contribute to the country’s societal innovation and economic development.
Given these changes, onshore visa holders, regardless of the type of visa that they are currently entitled to in Australia must always check from time to time their eligibility. It is also through these changes that we at Oz Pacific Group are even more eager to assist our existing and prospective onshore clients should they have any visa-related concerns and inquiries. You can always count on us!