My Student Visa is About to Expire (Australia): What Can I Do?

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Your student visa is expiring, so it’s completely natural that you’re nervous.

The fear and uncertainty that come with the impending expiration of your visa can be overwhelming. You might be wondering what steps you should take, what your options are and what consequences you might face if your visa expires.

Take a deep breath and know that you’re not alone on this journey. Plenty of people are experiencing what you are going through right now.

In this article, we’re here to provide guidance and reassurance to international students like you who are facing the expiration of their Australian student visas. We’ll walk you through the options available, the steps to take, and the resources that can help you navigate this challenging situation.

What Can You Do if Your Student Visa is Expiring?

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While your visa’s expiration date may be fast approaching, it’s crucial to understand that there are pathways that can enable you to continue your stay in Australia.

If you’re looking for an Australian visa extension, you will need to apply for a new visa in order to stay in the country.

It is important to understand that you must need to have a valid visa in order to stay in Australia unless you are a citizen or a permanent residency (PR). If you do not apply for a new visa before your visa expires, you will usually have 28 days to apply for a new one.

If you are Still Completing your Studies

You will need to apply for a new student visa if you are an overseas student who is still completing your education.

You’re going to need to apply for a new student visa in one of the following circumstances:

You can’t complete your course before your visa expiry date
You’re about to commence a new course of study
Your graduate research candidature has extended
Your graduate research thesis is still being marked

You can only apply for a visa before you complete your studies.

Can I Renew My Student Visa?

No, you cannot renew your student visa. Instead, you will have to either apply for a new one or move to a different type of visa altogether.

How Long is the Student Visa Processing Time?

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the average student visa processing time in July 2023 was 13 days.

You can also view the Department’s visa processing times guide.

If you Have Completed your Studies

If you have completed your studies, you have a number of options. This can include extending your stay in Australia, return to your home country, enroll in another course, applying for permanent residency and more.

Apply for Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

A temporary graduate visa allows you as an international student to live, study and have work rights in Australia after you have finished your studies.

You will need to satisfy a number of eligibility criteria in order to apply for a graduate visa. One of these criteria is that you need to have held a student visa in the past six months.

There are a number of streams you can apply for if you choose to apply for a temporary graduate visa. This includes:

Graduate Work Steam – this stream is for students who have recently graduated with certain qualifications that Australia needs. Namely, qualifications relating to an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). It allows you to stay in Australia for up to 18 months.

Post-Study Work Steam – this stream is for students who have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution. Depending on your occupation, you can stay between 2-4 years.

Apply for a Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

If you are looking to take an extended holiday, you could potentially apply for a Working Holiday Visa. This visa allows you to have your first extended holiday in Australia.

You are able to apply if you are aged between 18 to 30 years old (or, for some countries, 35 years old).

The visa allows you to study for up to 4 months, do temporary work to help you pay for your holiday, travel to and from Australia and also work for 3 months in order to become eligible for a second holiday working visa.

Apply for a Tourist Visa (Subclass 600)

If you’re in Australia and your student visa is expiring, you can consider applying for a tourist visa so that you can travel, have a holiday or see family and friends.

You are able to apply for this in Australia and stay up to 12 months in the country.

Apply for Permanent Residency

If you have spent enough time in Australia and met the various eligibility requirement, you may be able to apply for permanent residency so that you can stay in Australia indefinitely.

Get a Nomination and Apply for an Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186)

If your student visa’s expiry date is coming up, you can consider receiving a nomination from an employer and apply for this visa so that you can stay in Australia.

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanently if they are nominated by an employer.

You’ll need to have the skills necessary for the job, and also meet certain character and health requirements imposed by the Department of Home Affairs.

There are a number of streams you can select should you take this pathway:

Direct Entry Stream – this stream allows skilled workers to live in Australia permanent if they are nominated by an Australian employer. The occupation must, however, be on the list of the applicable list of eligible skilled occupations.

Labour Agreement Stream – you can apply for this stream if you currently work (or are going to work) for an employer who is party to a labour hire agreement who has nominated you.

Temporary Residence Transition Stream – this stream allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanent, However, you will need to have a 457, TSS or related bridging visa A, B or C in order to apply. You’ll usually also need to have worked for your employer full-time for at least three years, and be nominated by your employer.

My Student Visa Has Expired. What Can I Do?

First of all, there is no need to panic. There are options for you if your student visa expires – including applying for a bridging visa. We’ve outlined the general steps below.

Assess the Situation

If your student visa has expired within the past 28 days, you are still able to apply for a new visa. The Department of Home Affairs provides you with a 28-day ‘grace period’ whereby you are allowed to apply for a different visa.

If you do not apply with the 28-day grace period, you may become subject to a 3-year exclusion period, which prevents you from applying for any temporary Australia visa for three years after leaving the country.

If the visa that has expired was subject to a Condition 8503 (no further stay), then this will need to be waived by the Department of Home Affairs before lodging a new visa application.

Apply for a Bridging Visa

A bridging visa (BVC) is a temporary visa allowing you to stay in Australia once your current visa ceases, and while a new visa application is being processed (see next step)

It should be stressed that this is only a temporary solution, and you aren’t able to stay in Australia long-term.

Apply for a New Visa

You will need to apply for a ‘substantive visa’ if you want o stay in Australia. This includes one of the visas we’ve outlined above.

Speak to a Migration Agent or Immigration Lawyer

The visa system in Australia is complicated. We suggest reaching out to a migration agent, visa specialist or immigration lawyer to help you take the next steps. You may be able to appoint an agent to act on your behalf (Form 956A).

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Can I Stay in Australia After my Student Visa Expires?

There is a 28 day grace period to apply for another visa. If you remain in Australia after this time without having a valid visa, you will be staying in Australia unlawfully. Any visa application you make will be subject to a three-year exclusion period.

How Long Can I Stay in Australia on My Student Visa After Completing My Course?

You can stay in Australia for up to 18 months if you successfully apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa (Graduate Work Stream) if you have completed your studies. You can use this time to live, travel, work and improve your English.

Can I Apply for a Student Visa While on a Tourist Visa in Australia?

Yes, possibly. However, if your visa is subject to a Condition 8503 (no further stay), then this will need to be waived by the Department before lodging a new student visa application.

What Health Insurance Do I Need?

It is important that you have adequate health insurance if you hold a visa in Australia. This is because you are ultimately responsible financially for healthcare debts you incur. Some visas will require you to provide evidence of adequate arrangements.

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