Post-Study Work Visa in Australia for Nigerian Students

Do you wish to obtain a post-study work visa in Australia as a Nigerian Student?

If you are a Nigerian student and you have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate study program in Australia, you may be eligible for a post-study work visa.

The post-study work visa program is designed to allow recent graduates who have completed an approved course of study in Australia and hold a valid professional or tertiary qualification to remain in the country to seek work. This pathway allows applicants to work in the country without obtaining a full working visa first.

In this article, we will discuss how to obtain an Australia post-study work visa as a Nigerian student.

Why Obtain a Post-study Work Visa in Australia?

Well! You may be wondering why obtaining a Post-study work visa when he or she should return back to “Naija.”? The truth is that a lot of Nigerian students see studying abroad as a way to “Japa” or leave Nigeria to somewhere greener. Australia is one of the most desirable destinations for many Nigerian nationals looking to relocate.

Apart from high standards of education, Australia also has a highly competitive jobs market, better living standards, and a quality healthcare system. Nigerian students can gain an Australian post-study work visa to commence working immediately after completing their studies at an Australian university.

Besides, the Australian government offers many attractive incentives such as a better minimum wage, appointment to permanent resident status after five years, and so on.

However, while some Nigerian students simply want to use this medium to Japa, others want post-study work visas to get foreign work experience and boost their resume when seeking jobs in other countries.

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Type of Australian Post-Study Work Visa for Nigerians

Currently, Australia has two types of post-study work visas under the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485). The first is the Graduate Work Stream, and the other is the Post Study Work Stream. The primary distinction between the two is the type of qualification an international student has gained.

Graduate Work Stream

A Graduate Work Stream is open to Nigerian students who have completed the Australian Study Requirements, hold a qualifying qualification, and have skills relevant to occupations on the Skills Occupation List (SOL). This would mainly apply to students applying for a Vocational Education and Training qualification and a TAFE institute.

This visa is valid for 18 months; however, the stay duration has been temporarily extended to 24 months. Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) – Graduate Work Stream costs AUD 1,730.

Post Study Work Stream

A Post Study Work Stream, on the other hand, is for those Nigerian students who have fulfilled the Australian Study Requirements and obtained a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an accredited Australian university. This visa is only accessible if you have applied for and been granted an Australian student visa. Meanwhile, the length of your tenure is determined by the type of degree you hold.

For example, a bachelor’s honors degree or a master’s course degree (a degree without related industrial training) is valid for 4 years. A master’s degree with a research degree qualifies you for a Temporary Visa for up to 5 years, while a doctorate degree qualifies you for a 6-year Temporary Visa. A Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) – Post-Study Work Stream will cost you AUD 1,730.

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List of occupations eligible for Australia post-study work

Prior to seeking Post-study work, you should ensure that you meet the occupation requirements to extend your stay in Australia. Below is a list of required occupations for international students who want to work in Australia after their studies:

Engineering Programs:

• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
• Bachelor of Biomedical Science
• Bachelor of Medical Science
• Bachelor of Project Management
• Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)
• Bachelor of Science (Lab + Non-lab Based)
• Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies
• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure) (Honours)
• Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil)
• Bachelor of Engineering Science
• Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil)
• Master of Engineering
• Master of Professional Engineering
• Master of Engineering Science
• Master of Biotechnology
• Master of Construction Management

ICT Programs:

• Bachelor of Information Technology
• Bachelor of Computer Science
• Bachelor of Business Information Systems
• Bachelor of Networking
• Bachelor of Science – Computer Science
• Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
• Bachelor of Information Systems
• Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology
• Bachelor of Cyber Security
• Bachelor of Business Analytics
• Bachelor of Information Technology (Software Development)
• Bachelor of Data Science
• Master of Information Technology
• Master of Data Science
• Master of Business Information Systems
• Master of Information Systems
• Master of Information Technology and Systems
• Master of Computer Science
• Master of Computing
• Master of Business Analytics
• Master of Cyber Security

Agriculture Programs:

• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Biomedical Science
• Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies
• Bachelor of Agriculture
• Bachelor of Agricultural Science
• Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience)
• Bachelor of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
• Bachelor of Science (Honours)
• Bachelor of Science (Science)
• Bachelor of Environmental Science

Note: kindly visit the Department of Education’s website for the full list of identified occupations from the 2022 Skills Priority List.

Eligibility for an Australian Post-Study Work Visa

As a Nigerian student, you will be eligible for this visa if you meet all of the requirements for the Temporary Graduate visa’s Post-Study Work stream (subclass 485), and your qualification is on the list of approved qualifications.

In addition, one of the following criteria must be met:

• You have a Temporary Graduate visa (Post-Study Work stream) on July 1, 2023
• You have applied for a Temporary Graduate visa (Post-Study Work stream) by July 1, 2023, or
• You apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (Post-Study Work stream) after July 1, 2023.

If your Temporary Graduate visa (Post-Study Work stream) expires before July 1, 2023, but you have an acceptable qualification, you can apply for this extension.

However, instead of a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), you will be awarded a two-year Temporary Activity Australian Government Endorsed Events (COVID-19 Pandemic Event) visa (subclass 408).

You may also be eligible for a two-year Temporary Activity Australian Government Endorsed Events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) visa (subclass 408) if you meet the following criteria:

• You were awarded a Temporary Graduate visa (Post-Study Work stream) before December 15, 2021, and you are currently in the country.
• The visa became effective on or after February 1, 2020, and
• You were in Australia for the entire period that your visa was valid, from 1 February 2020 to 15 December 2021, and
• You have the necessary qualifications.

How to Apply for a Post-Study Work Visa in Australia?

If you meet the eligibility criteria and have completed a qualification from the approved list of occupations, you can apply for a post-study work visa. Nigerian students can apply for it either online or on paper.

To apply online, go to the official website of the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs and follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Go to the official website of the relevant department, followed by the ‘ImmiAccount’ portal.

Step 2: If you are a new user, select ‘Create ImmiAccount’ or log in with your credentials (User ID and Password) if you are already registered.

Step 3: Fill out the visa application form completely and upload/attach all required papers.

Step 4: If you intend to bring your family, submit their information in the form as well.

Step 5: Make the payment online using your credit card or other payment methods.

Documents required for Post-Study Work Visa in Australia for Nigerian students

Finally, to submit your application effectively, you will need a number of key documents. And these are the documents:

• Identity Documents
• Study and Related Documents
• Character and Related Document
• Health Insurance and Related Documents
• Documents of the Partner (If your spouse is accompanying you)
• Documents of the Dependants under 18 Years of Age, if required
• Documents of the Dependants above 18 Years of Age, if required

Conclusion

We have carefully discussed how Nigerian students, as well as other international students, can apply for a Post-study work visa after completing their studies in Australia. However, before directly applying for the post-study work visa in Australia, we advise that you do your due diligence to ensure a successful application. And for those who aspire to study and work after their studies in Australia, it’s very essential to research and choose courses that are listed on Australia’s Skills Priority List.