Special permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders Global Talent IndependentImmigrationStudent

Special permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders

Since July 2020, the Australian Government has introduced a number of measures for students, temporary graduates and skilled workers who hold Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passports, and want to live, work and study in Australia. Specifically, these include that: Skilled workers are offered 5 year visas, with a pathway to permanent residency through two Hong Kong specific pathways;…
Mihan Hannan
19 January, 2026
Student (Subclass 500) (Student) visa checklist australian immigration practiceStudent

Student (Subclass 500) (Student) visa checklist

Studying in Australia offers a unique way to experience Australian life, whilst gaining access to Australia’s world-class education system including top-ranking universities, practical vocational colleges, and outstanding English language schools to support international students. If a person intends to undertake study in Australia for more than 3 months, they will usually require a Student (Subclass 500) (Student) visa. What are…
Mihan Hannan
4 July, 2025
Understanding the ‘Genuine Student’ Requirement for an Australian Student Visa child migration australiaStudent

Understanding the ‘Genuine Student’ Requirement for an Australian Student Visa

Australia has one of the best higher education systems in the world, and is home to many international students. As part of this process, a prospective international student must apply for a Student (Subclass 500) visa, to be able to travel to, live, and study in Australia. The Student visa application itself requires the applicant to provide evidence of the…
Emily Young
21 March, 2025
End of Student (Subclass 500) visa hopping from 1 July 2024 child migration australiaStudent

End of Student (Subclass 500) visa hopping from 1 July 2024

As part of its Migration Strategy released in December 2023 (see here), the Department of Immigration has indicated that from 1 July onwards, measures will be brought in to stop visitors and Graduate visa holders from being able to apply for further Student visas onshore. This article discusses what these changes are and how they will take effect. What is…
Jordan Tew
27 June, 2024
Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) replaced with Genuine Student (GS) for Student visas, and increased English language requirements EnglishStudent

Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) replaced with Genuine Student (GS) for Student visas, and increased English language requirements

In line with the Migration Strategy released on 11 December 2023, the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement for Student (Subclass 500) (Student) visas was replaced with a Genuine Student (GS) requirement from 23 March 2024. The new GS requirement The new GS requirement has target questions that provide decision-makers with an overview of the applicant and their reasons for wanting…
Mihan Hannan
25 March, 2024
The application of the GTE criterion for Student Visas: Kumar v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2020] FCAFC 16 australian resident visaJudicial ReviewStudent

The application of the GTE criterion for Student Visas: Kumar v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2020] FCAFC 16

The issue for consideration in Kumar v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection FCAFC 16 was whether a decision-maker, deciding whether an applicant for a student visa intends genuinely to stay in Australia temporarily, have to make express findings in relation to all matters prescribed by Ministerial Direction 69 — Assessing the genuine temporary entrant criterion for student visa and…
Joel McComber
18 February, 2024
The Australian government released its Migration Strategy on 11 December 2023 australian resident visaEmployer SponsoredGeneral Skilled MigrationStudent

The Australian government released its Migration Strategy on 11 December 2023

The Australian government released its much anticipated and comprehensive Migration Strategy on 11 December 2023, with a policy roadmap containing 8 key actions and over 25 new policy commitments and areas for future reform. What are the key actions? Going forward, the key actions have been identified as: Introduction of a new Skills in Demand visa (see here for a…
Mihan Hannan
11 December, 2023
Can I Add My Family to My Student (Subclass 500) Visa Application? australian immigration practiceStudent

Can I Add My Family to My Student (Subclass 500) Visa Application?

Australia is home to many international students due to its excellent higher education system. In order to study in Australia, prospective international students must apply for a Student (Subclass 500) visa. Fortunately, the Student visa includes provisions to include certain family members in an application. This allows applicants to study in Australia without having to separate from their immediate family.…
Emily Young
28 September, 2023
What is the ‘Genuine Temporary Entrant’ requirement for an Australian Student visa? australian immigration practiceStudent

What is the ‘Genuine Temporary Entrant’ requirement for an Australian Student visa?

Australia has one of the most developed higher education systems in the world, and is home to many international students. As part of this process, a prospective international student must apply for a Student (Subclass 500) visa, to be able to travel to, live, and study in Australia. The Student visa application itself requires the applicant to provide evidence of…
Emily Young
18 July, 2023
Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement GraduateIndiaStudentWorking Holiday

Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement

The visit of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to Australia, also resulted in the signing of an Australian-Indian Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement which forms part of the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). For more information about the ECTA, see here. This agreement provides greater access for Indian nationals to come to Australia, including access to the Work…
Jordan Tew
30 May, 2023
Australia to end flexible work arrangements for Student visa holders australian immigration practiceStudent

Australia to end flexible work arrangements for Student visa holders

​​​ To address Australia’s workforce shortages, Student visa holders in Australia have had work hour limitations temporarily relaxed, providing not only much needed assistance to Australian businesses, but also providing Student visa holders opportunities to build full time experience that can lead to more permanent visa options. The Department have announced that this arrangement will end on 30 June 2023.…
Mihan Hannan
13 October, 2022
Several concessions for Student, Graduate and Working Holiday Maker visas australian immigration practiceGraduateImmigrationStudentWorking Holiday

Several concessions for Student, Graduate and Working Holiday Maker visas

Throughout January 2022, the Australian government announced a number of concessions for Student (Subclass 500), Graduate (Subclass 485) and Working Holiday Maker visa holders to help support Australia's COVID-19 impacted economy. Temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders Firstly, there has been a temporary relaxation of student visa work limits to all sectors of the economy. This takes…
Mihan Hannan
20 January, 2022
Temporary immigration measures to increase support to Australia’s tourism and hospitality sector australian immigration practice408CovidStudentTSS

Temporary immigration measures to increase support to Australia’s tourism and hospitality sector

On 8 May 2021, Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke announced temporary measures to increase support to Australia’s tourism and hospitality sector. This includes increased access to the 408 visa (COVID-19 Pandemic event stream) and the removal of existing fortnightly work limits placed on student visa holders. These temporary changes are part of the government’s response to support Australia’s economic recovery…
Emily Young
11 May, 2021
Can I apply for a Graduate Subclass 485 visa from outside Australia using the COVID-19 concessions? australian immigration practiceCovidGraduateStudent

Can I apply for a Graduate Subclass 485 visa from outside Australia using the COVID-19 concessions?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive for all, including migrants and visa holders. Australia’s travel restrictions and the pandemic in general meant that a significant number of individuals had their eligibility for Australian visas removed due to factors outside of their control. On 19 September 2020, a suite of legislative amendments came into effect which, amongst other things, made certain…
Jordan Tew
24 September, 2020
Australian government announces immigration changes to support international students (updated 17 Aug 2020) australian immigration practiceImmigrationStudent

Australian government announces immigration changes to support international students (updated 17 Aug 2020)

On 20 July 2020 the Australian government announced a number of changes to student visa arrangements to ensure Australia remains a priority destination for international students post COVID-19. International students are not only able to obtain world class education in Australia, but many go on to further temporary visas after their studies and even obtain Australian citizenship (for example, through…
Mihan Hannan
17 August, 2020
Red Cross assistance for temporary visa holders in Australia Protection VisasStudentTSS

Red Cross assistance for temporary visa holders in Australia

On 11 April 20120 the Red Cross confirmed that they are receiving funding from the Australian Government for the next six months to deliver emergency relief and casework support. You can read the latest information about this from the Red Cross here. These funds are for people on temporary visas who have no way to support themselves and who have…
Mihan Hannan
14 April, 2020
Coronavirus and Temporary Visa holders (a 4 April 2020 update) 457 visa482CovidEmployer SponsoredStudentTSSWorking Holiday

Coronavirus and Temporary Visa holders (a 4 April 2020 update)

Whilst citizens, permanent residents and many New Zealanders have access to unconditional work rights and government payments (including the new JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments), temporary visa holders do not. This has placed both these visa holders and their employers in a difficult situation. On 4 April 2020 The Hon Alan Tudge MP, Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and…
Mihan Hannan
6 April, 2020
Student visa cancellation, and conditions on a Student visa australian immigration practiceCancellationStudent

Student visa cancellation, and conditions on a Student visa

The last decade has seen an influx of international students accessing Australia’s world class education system. The Sydney Morning Herald noted in an article on 2 Mach 2018 that from 2015 to 2017 the number of overseas students at Sydney universities increased from 55,000 to 75,745, or a 37.7% increase in just 2 years. As a result of these increased…
Jordan Tew
19 March, 2018