Indian international students are exempt from changes to the length of Post Study Work visa Subclass 485 after studying in Australia

Australia’s updated migration strategy includes a reduction in the duration of temporary graduate visas for some international students.
Those who complete a master’s degree through coursework will now have a two-year visa instead of three, while doctoral students will have a three-year visa instead of four.

Notably, these changes won’t affect Indian students due to the terms of a free trade agreement between India and Australia established in late 2022.
The original post-study work guidelines, embedded in the India-Australia trade agreement, remain intact. This exemption means that Indian students will continue to be eligible for longer post-study work visas, much to the satisfaction of Nishi Borra, president of the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India.

In the 2022/23 academic year, over 100,000 study visas were granted to Indian students, the highest among all nationalities.

While the entitlement to a second temporary graduate visa remains, the additional two-year extension no longer applies to all international students, including Indians. Some voices in the industry, including members of the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India (AAERI), advocate for a “grandfather” clause to exempt current international students from these new guidelines, particularly those who chose Australia for its previously generous post-study work policies.

Australia’s government is actively strengthening educational ties with India, as demonstrated by the mutual recognition of qualifications established in March and the introduction of an educational strategy for the two countries in November.