The government has unveiled detailed regulations underpinning the 2025–26 Migration Strategy, confirming that post-study work entitlements for international graduates will be shortened from 1 July 2026. Bachelor degree holders will be limited to roughly two years, master’s graduates to three, and PhD graduates to four, with only modest extensions for regional study. ([australiatimes.com](https://australiatimes.com/australia-tightens-post-study-work-and-student-visa-rules-in-2025-26-migration-strategy?utm_source=openai))
The new framework scraps the 2023 ‘bonus years’ that had allowed some city-based graduates to stay up to six years, arguing that extended rights distorted labour-market outcomes and fuelled housing demand in capital cities. Age limits for Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants will drop from 50 to 35, and stricter English and financial benchmarks will apply.
Navigating these imminent changes can be complex, but VisaHQ’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) streamlines the process. The platform offers up-to-date guidance on visa options, personalised checklists and online application tools, helping graduates and employers adapt quickly to the shortened post-study windows and tighter eligibility rules.
![Migration Strategy 2025–26 cuts post-study work rights and tightens Temporary Graduate visa rules]()
Employers who rely on the Graduate Work stream as a feeder into skilled-migration pathways must now accelerate talent-identification processes; waiting until an employee’s final study year may be too late. Immigration advisers recommend lodging nominations for the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa early to avoid skills gaps once shorter Graduate visas expire.
Home Affairs will publish a revised Skilled Occupation List in March to align with the strategy. Stakeholders expect more granular salary-thresholds that favour higher-paid roles, reinforcing the government’s push for “smaller, better-planned” migration.
While universities fear a competitive hit compared with Canada and the UK, the government insists the package will “restore integrity” and ensure temporary pathways flow into genuine skilled migration rather than precarious casual work.
The new framework scraps the 2023 ‘bonus years’ that had allowed some city-based graduates to stay up to six years, arguing that extended rights distorted labour-market outcomes and fuelled housing demand in capital cities. Age limits for Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants will drop from 50 to 35, and stricter English and financial benchmarks will apply.
Navigating these imminent changes can be complex, but VisaHQ’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) streamlines the process. The platform offers up-to-date guidance on visa options, personalised checklists and online application tools, helping graduates and employers adapt quickly to the shortened post-study windows and tighter eligibility rules.
Employers who rely on the Graduate Work stream as a feeder into skilled-migration pathways must now accelerate talent-identification processes; waiting until an employee’s final study year may be too late. Immigration advisers recommend lodging nominations for the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa early to avoid skills gaps once shorter Graduate visas expire.
Home Affairs will publish a revised Skilled Occupation List in March to align with the strategy. Stakeholders expect more granular salary-thresholds that favour higher-paid roles, reinforcing the government’s push for “smaller, better-planned” migration.
While universities fear a competitive hit compared with Canada and the UK, the government insists the package will “restore integrity” and ensure temporary pathways flow into genuine skilled migration rather than precarious casual work.
