You may be reaching the end of your studies, or you might have already graduated from your studies in Australia. All those years of hard work have paid off, but what do you want to do now?
What to do when you graduate - your options for staying in Australia
Whether you want to stay in Australia for just a little while longer or you’re interested in exploring pathways to permanent residency, there's a visa for you. Australian visas exist in a few categories, which can help you:
- Gain employment in Australia
- Extend your studies or commence new studies
- Have a holiday in Australia
- Go on a working holiday, or
- Permanently migrate to Australia.
Read on to find out more about each of these options.
1. Gain employment in Australia
There are a few temporary working visas that can help you stay in Australia if you decide to transition from studying to working.
Some of the temporary work visas granted by the Australian Government include the following:
- 858 National Innovation visa
- 400 Temporary Work visa (Short Stay Activity)
- 403 Temporary Work visa (International Relations)
- 407 Training visa
- 408 Temporary Activity visa
- 482 Skills in Demand visa, which replaces the 482 Temporary Skills Shortage visa and 457 Skilled Temporary Work visa
- 485 Temporary Graduate visa
In particular, the Australian graduate visa 485 is a great option for international students who have recently graduated from an Australian educational institution and want to stay in Australia to live, study and work.
Not everyone is eligible for the 485 Temporary Graduate Visa. This visa is granted to students who have certain skills and qualifications that are in demand in the Australian labour market. Applicants also must be aged 35 years or under, have held a student visa in the past six months and hold a qualification from a course listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
Alternatively, if you’ve landed employment after graduation, you could apply to stay in Australia under the 482 Skills in Demand visa. You can only apply for this Australian visa if your employer agrees to sponsor you, and you may have to meet other skill and language requirements.
You can find out more about Australian graduate visas and temporary working visas via the Department of Home Affairs website.
2. Commence new studies
Once you have finished your current studies, you may wish to undertake further study. For example, you may want to complete Honours or a PhD in your field of study or start a new degree altogether.
As with your previous Australian visa for study, you’ll need to make sure you apply for a course that’s CRICOS-registered. Under rules introduced in 2025, you’ll also need to supply a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) to apply for a second student visa from onshore.
Before you apply, you’ll also have to extend your OSHC policy so you’re covered for the new length of your stay.
You might also be able to complete some short-term studies while on a working holiday visa in Australia, which we explore further below.
For more information about Australian visas for students, see more at our page on Students Visas in Australia.
3. Have a holiday in Australia
Once you’ve graduated, you might want to stay just a little while to have a holiday before going home.
The 600 Visitor visa might be the right Australian tourist visa for you. This is a flexible visa, which means you can stay anywhere from a few weeks up to 12 months. You can even apply for a 600 visa from within Australia, if your current valid visa does not have a ‘No Further Stay’ condition imposed.
If you’ve left the country, you can instead apply for an Australian tourist visa via the 601 Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) if you are a citizen of an eligible country. These Australian visas allow you to visit for up to three months per visit on multiple occasions within 12 months from the date the visa is granted.
With any Australian tourist visa, it’s important to remember that you’re not allowed to work during your stay. You may be able to engage in some short-term study for up to three months, depending on your visa, course and conditions. You can find out more on the relevant visa page of the Department of Home Affairs website.
4. Go on a working holiday
If you want to experience more of this amazing country after your studies but want to earn money while you do so you might want to apply for a working holiday visa to Australia. This gives you the freedom to stay in Australia for up to a year.
Many who get a working holiday visa in Australia use this time to travel around and explore the cities and the wide-open spaces further whilst supplementing their income in occupations such as bar work or fruit picking. You might want to explore outback Australia, see the country’s hidden gems or walk on some of the world’s best beaches – you could do all of this and more!
Applicants from eligible countries can apply for either a 417 Working Holiday Visa, and a 462 Work and Holiday Visa. The eligible countries vary for each type, so if you’re not eligible for one, you may be able to apply to the other. You’ll also have to meet other conditions, like being under 30 years of age (or 35 for applicants from France, the Republic of Ireland or the United Kingdom).
You can learn more about eligibility criteria for working holiday visas in Australia on the Department of Home Affairs website.
5. Permanently migrate to Australia
Having spent some time here during your studies you may wish to stay in Australia permanently.
To become an Australian permanent resident, prospective immigrants can apply under the migration program or the humanitarian program. Migrants can apply for permanent residency under various permanent Australian visas.
There are yearly allocations for Australia’s permanent migration program, which include streams such as skilled and family migrants. You can find more information about migrating permanently to Australia on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Health insurance in Australia – overseas visitors and students
Our Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) includes cover for a range of medical services and expenses to help you stay healthy during your stay in Australia. Our OVHC meets the Australian Government's requirements for adequate health insurance for the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) and Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).
Allianz Care Australia also provides Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for Australian visa holders. This meets the Australian Government health insurance requirements in relation to the Student visa (subclass 500), where the primary reason for being in Australia is to study.