Extend your stay in Australia
If your working holiday visa is coming to an end, you may have more options than you think to remain in Australia. Below you will find the most common options.
Extend Your Working Holiday Visa
If you are eligible, then a working holiday visa is by far the easiest option to remain in Australia. If you have already obtained your first working holiday visa, you may still be eligible for a second Subclass 417 working holiday visa. Check your eligibility and learn more about the second working holiday visa. To be entitled to apply for a second working holiday visa, you must have completed at least 88 days of regional specified work.
If you are not eligible for a second working holiday visa you still have other options.
Check Your Visa Conditions
Before beginning to look at your other options, it is important check the visa conditions on your current visa.
You may have certain conditions on your current working holiday visa that will restrict you from applying for another visa from within Australia. This can be done online using the Immigration Departments Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)
Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system
To check VEVO you will need:
- passport number
- date of birth
- nationality
- visa grant or evidence number*
* Your visa grant or evidence number will be in the visa label in your passport, or will be emailed through to you when you first apply for the visa.
Although it is not common, there is a chance that you may have a condition 8503 on your visa. Condition 8503 restricts the visa holder from applying for another visa (other than a protection visa) while in Australia. If this condition is imposed on your visa, you will need to go overseas to apply for another visa. Common countries to go to apply for your new visa are New Zealand or Bali. Please note that having to go overseas may cause different processing times for different visas, or cause you to apply for a different visa.
Please be aware that if you apply for a visa from offshore, you may be required to be outside of Australia when the visa is granted. You can apply to have condition 8503 waived if compelling and compassionate circumstances have developed since the granting of your original visa. If you have this condition waived you can stay in Australia.
Current processing time listed on the immigration website are listed below
| Type of Visa | Lodged in Australia | Lodged outside Australia |
| Student visa | 2 weeks – 6 weeks | 2 weeks – 3 months |
| Partner visa | 12 months – 17 months | 12 months – 17 months |
| TSS visa | 2 months – 6 months | 2 months – 3 months |
| Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) | 15 days – 28 days | 15 days – 28 days |
| 189 Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) | 5 months – 7 months | 5 months – 7 months |
Partner Visa
Partner Visa
If you are currently in a De Facto or Spousal relationship with an Australian resident or citizen, then you may be eligible for a partner visa. The partner visa is processed in two stages. You will firstly be issued as a temporary visa, and later you can apply for your permanent visa.
To meet the de facto requirement you must prove that:
- You and your partner are in a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others
- are in a genuine and continuing relationship
- live together and do not live separately on a permanent basis
Visa Approval
To have your visa approved, you must demonstrate that you meet the defacto relationship for at least 12 months before the application is made. By registering your relationship in certain states in Australia you may be able to waive this requirement.
Immigration will jude your de facto relationship based on:
- The Financial Aspect
- The Nature of the household
- The social aspect of the relationship
- The couples commitment to each other
Be added as a secondary applicant on partners visa
If you are in a de facto or spousal relationship with a partner that currently holds or is about to apply for another Australian visa (Student/Employer Sponsored/General Skilled Migration), then you may be eligible to be added as a secondary applicant to that visa.
Only under certain circumstances can a partner be added as a secondary applicant, but if it is a possibility, it could be the cheapest option for you. Please note that you can be added as the second applicant to most other visa (except the working holiday visas).
Some of the main reasons why you would want to be added as a secondary applicant to your partners student visa include:
- If you don’t want to pay the course tuition fees to study a separate course
- If you have started a relationship with a new partner and don’t want to return home.
- If you have finished your course and your partner still has time to go on their course
Case Study
We previously had a French client who wanted to apply to be added as a secondary applicant to her partners student visa.
A French girl had met an Argentinian man in Australia and they began a relationship. The French girl was on a working holiday visa, however it was expiring very soon. The Argentinian man had a student visa and his course would not finish for another 18 months. The French girl did not want to study a course in Australia and had no other visa options that would allow her to work in Australia.
Neither the French girl or Argentinian man had listed the other as a De Facto Partner on their previous visa applications.
Our Support
With a little work, we were successfully able to add the French girl as a secondary applicant to her Argentinian partners student visa. We did not need to cancel the Argentinian’s original student visa. The French girl made a separate application to be added as a secondary applicant of her Argentinian partner, provided the correct supporting documents and had her visa was granted roughly three weeks after application.
The French girl was granted a secondary applicant student visa, with limited work rights (40 hours per fortnight). Her visa would expire the same day as her partners student visa.
Enroll in a course and obtain a student visa
For many working holiday makers studying a course in Australia may be the most affordable way to extend their stay in Australia. If you study the right course, it could also put you on a pathway to applying for another work visa. On a student visa you are allowed to work for up to 40 hours per fortnight and unlimited hours during school holidays. Partners, spouses and children can be added as secondary applicants to the visa.
English Language Schools
($150 – $300 per week)
Courses include: General English, IELTS, English for Academic Purposes
Vocational Institutions
($100 – $200 per week)
Vocational Courses include: IT, Management, Fitness, Business, Accounting, Nursing, Childcare, Automotive plus many more.
Trade Courses
Courses available include: Carpentry, Joinery, Automotive Mechanical, Painting and Decorating, Engineering Fabrication
Work in Australia
482 Employer Sponsored
The 482 Employer Sponsored visa is the most common work visa in Australia. It is a temporary visa that allows you to live and work in Australia. It is quite common for working holiday makers or students to move to a 482 Employer Sponsored visa. Some examples of our past clients moving from a working holiday or student visa to an employer sponsored visa include Paolo and Tom :
To be eligible for this visa you must:
- Have a job offer from an employer
- The job must be on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List
- The job must be paid at least $53900 per year
- The employer must also agree to ”sponsor” your visa and become an approved business sponsor.
For tips on how to find an employer that will sponsor you check out this article and for information on the 482 visa click here
General Skilled Migration
General Skilled Migration (Subclass 189 or 190) visas are permanent visas that allow you to live and work in Australia. You are not required to have a job offer from an employer to apply for this visa. Jose is a past student of ours who has successfully gone onto a general skilled migration visa (Skilled Independent – Subclass 189).
To be eligible for this visa you must:
- Be qualified in a profession that is on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List
- Pass a points test and
- Be invited by the DIBP to apply for the visa.
More information on general skilled migration acan be found here
HI, my name is lucy and I am currently under a Working Holiday visa. I would like to extend my stay by taking a childcare course. Could you provide me with more information about it? Thanks!
No problem Lucy, We will email you through a some information to your email shortly in regards to childcare courses
Hi I am currently on a working holiday visa and wanting to get a student visa looking towards a management type course all help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Elle,
Thanks for getting in contact. What city would you like to study in?
Hi i am actually under a 457 visa but looking for a permanent residency
I am just confused about the right way to process
If you could get back to me
Thanks
Hi Pierre,
The most common pathway from a 457 to PR is to transfer to a ENS (subclass 186) visa. Provided you have been with your employer for at least 2 years on the 457 visa, you should be able to apply for the ENS visa. We will email you for more info.
Regards,
PTA TEAM
Hi! I have a question concerning the other way around: I already have been granted a student visa (subclass 575) and I’m allowed to travel for one additional month in Australia. However, I want to travel longer than this. Is it possible to have an additional visa for after my student visa?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Maudy,
You can possibly apply for a tourist visa sublcass 600 that will allow you to remain in Aus.
Regards,
PTA TEAM
HI
I just want to know how can I extend my visa? Currently I have temporary graduate visa which gonna expire this 4th of april , I would like to extend my visa whether is working or tourist visa. IS that possible?and I want to apply it in Australia
Thank you so much for your help
Hi Kevin,
Provided you do not have a no further stay condiiton, you should be able to extend your visa whilst you are in Australia. However the type of visa that you can extend to totally depends on your circumstances – Education, work experience, employer etc…
Feel free to give us a call or email on [email protected]
Regards,
PTA TEAM
Hi
My 2nd year working holiday visa is due to end soon. I need to stay for an extra 3 weeks after this date and I am just wondering what my options are? Would I be able to get a bridging visa to cover this time? Or would I be able to get a tourist visa? I am also due back in December for a 2 week holiday and I don’t want that visit to be affected by me going on a tourist or bridging visa when my working holiday visa is up.
I don’t have any conditions on my current visa so what would you suggest I do?
Regards James
Hi James,
You generally only get granted a bridging visa when you apply for a new visa. The bridging visa allows you to stay in Aus whilst a decision is being made on the new visa application.
Unfortuantely if you have spent more than 12 months in Aus, you may struggle to apply for a tourist visa as well. You may have to consider going offshore and returning.
Regards,
PTA TEAM
Hi, I am on a student visa (subclass 573) which will expire on the 12th Dec this year and I want to travel Australia for an extra 2 months, am I eligible to apply for a tourist visa given I don’t have no further stay condition on my current visa? My visa was granted in October last year and I am currently in Australia. So is it possible for me to get a tourist visa after my student visa?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Keith,
You would most likely be able to apply for a visitor visa subclass 600 visa. This can generally be applied for online.
Regards,
PTA TEAM
Hi, I´m currently in a student visa 573. I want to renew this visa and there is a fee for subsequent temporary application charge, but if I apply outside Australia that fee does not apply. Can I apply outside Australia and then enter Australia before I am granted the visa renewal application or do I have to wait outside Australia until the application is granted? Thank you.
Hi David,
What type of visa do you want to apply for? And what type of visa will you re-enter Australia on?
Regards,
PTA TEAM
Dear sir,
I am from Bangladesh. I got Australian work and holiday visa (462)
I will visit as soon as possible.
I will contact with you soon.
Sir can you give me some techniques by applying which i can extend my visa ,. I will stay at Sydney so if i will admit at any university for masters course can i extend my visa or i have to go back to my country
Thanks in advance
Hi Richy,
What type of course would you like to study? There are hundreds of different masters courses on offer.
Regards,
PTA TEAM
What should i do to extend my visiting visa?? I want to change my visa status…
Hi Urj,
So you would need to apply for a new visa. Whats sort of visa are you looking to apply for?
Regards,
PTA TEAM
hi
i have 3 month between my english course and my main course should i leave the country then com back or something?
Hi Behrad,
Have you already applied for a student visa? You can generally apply for a course up to 90 days in the future.
Regards,
PTA TEAM
Hi,
I’m currently on a 457 visa that ends in a month but I wanted to see if there was a way to extend it for a couple of days. My flight home is about 500 cheaper 3 days after my visa expires. I know I can apply for a tourist visa but that is an extra 1000.00. Any help would be great!
Hi Kim,
Unfortunately your only real option is to apply for a tourist visa or another visa. This can be quite expensive.
Regards,
PTA TEAM
Hey guys,
quick qeustions:
My employer made me redundant after working for them 2 years on a 457. Now i”m in the process of applying for jobs.
– Can I apply for a Visitor Visa or another type that comes into effect as soon as the 457 expires to give me more time for applying?
– If I’m unable to find a job even after the extension of my stay and I finally have to leave OZ, can I still ask my ex employer to pay for the travelcosts back home which is an obligation for 457 employers?
I’d appreciate your help before I make my way to an Immigration Office. Tried calling them – waiting time over 1hr.
Hi Dan,
So yes you should be able to apply for another type of visa when you are currently on a valid substantive visa. However you would need to make sure you meet the requirements of the visa.
If your employer lets you go, then I believe it is a condition of sponsorship they pay for return flights.
Best of luck with everything.
Regards,
PTA TEAM
Hi, me and my partner are about to finish our second year working holiday visa. We would like to stay here on a student visa. I would like to do a vocational course in nursing and my partner in IT. Could you please let us know of any institutions you might know in Queensland that would be eligible.
Thanks
Hi Kate, Thanks for getting in contact with us. We will send you an email with a few options for you to study.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us on [email protected]
Hi I am currently studying towards diploma of early childhood care and education. This is my second time to study in Australia. I have finished master in TESOL in Australia in 2015.
I’m planing to do working holiday for 2 years then study further degree ( graduate diploma of early childhood education) to get qualification of early childhood teacher.
My concern is my visa history will affect to get student visa again?
I understand that process of getting student visa has been stricter because of the change made in 2016.
Thank you in advance
Hi Saki,
It is hard to speculate how strict the Department of Home Affairs will be with Student Visa applications in two years. Provided you have not breached or overstayed an Australian visa in the past, and that you meet the visa and course enrollment criteria, I see no reason why a further student visa would be refused.
Please reach out to us when the time comes, and you would like to enrol to study the Graduate Diploma. We can assist with both your enrollment and student visa lodgement.
Kind Regards,
The PTA Team
Hi,
I’m currently on a student visa (500), valid until 15jan2018. I would like to know if I decide to extend my stay in Australia, applying for a Visitor Visa (600) onshore, can apply for it now or should I wait my student visa end. I’m asking it because I wouldn’t like to have my student visa replaced by the visitor visa … (not now!)
Thank you in advance
Hi Fernanda,
As long as you apply before the end of your student visa, you should be granted a bridging visa that will allow you to remain in Aus until a decision has been made on your application.
Regards,
PTA TEAM
Hi!
I am a french citizen and I have done a 417 WHV between 2017 and 2018, then I had to come back to my country for 3 months. After that, I came back to Australia on a tourist visa to then apply for a student visa of 6 months because I wanted to stay longer. Due to work commitment, I had to leave Australia just after my course ended but I have met the visa requirements.
I am planning to come back to Australia on a tourist visa as I have friends and family there. I wanted to know if it can be refused or if I will have problems with immigration agents.
Thank you in advance
Hi Adele,
We have contacted you directly regarding your query.
Kind regards,
PTATeam
Hi,
Please i’m coming to Australia with a tourest visa and i will like to know if i can change it to a student visa if i get to Australia?
Hi Eugene,
It would depend very much on the circumstances. We have emailed you directly.
Kind regards,
PTA Team
Hi, I’m about to enroll a course at TAFE this feb under BVA, but my BVA is about to expire. I’m applying BVE now, should I submit the confirmation of enrolment together with the BVE application to notify them or no need.
Thanks in advance
Hi Aimee,
It may be helpful to have a chat with one of our Registered Migration Agents who will be able to advise on your specific circumstances. Here is the link:
Kind regards,
PTA Team
Respected sir,
Nick Yock
I am from india and i just landed in australia on student visa(500) and currently studying masters in IT at CSU Brisbane. i want to ask u that after 6 months of study at CSU can i change my college and enroll for trade course (cookery, automative, boat building) what are the chances for me to get enrolled in these courses with PR options and can i extend my student visa to complet 2 years of trade education in australia and then am i eligible for 485(GW) visa?
please reply me as soon as possible.
Thanks and Regards.
Varun
Hi Varun,
We have emailed you directly.
Kind regards,
PTA Team
Is it possible to extend a 1st year visa 417 on compassionate grounds? Our worker hasn’t met the 88 days required yet to apply for a 2nd year visa however an illness in his family requires him to return to his home country for an unspecified time and he is unlikely to be able to return to Australia to fulfill the rest of his 88 day requirement before the visa runs out.
Hi Jo,
To discuss your worker’s specific circumstances, we would recommend that he book a consultation with one of our Registered Migration Agents. He can do that here:
Kind regards,
PTA Team
My daughter is currently in Australia on on working holiday visa due to expire 5.8.18 and looking for the best way to extend her stay. She is an elite sportsperson representating Australia nationally and internationally. We have looked at the temporary activity visa which we believe she meets all the criteria. We were also considering a visitor visa for her. Is she able to apply for visa subclass 600 and if so can she stay in Australia while she does this. She does not get payment for the sport so does not need a working visa. Would appreciate some advice on best options for her. Thank you
Hi Debbie,
We have contacted you directly.
Kind regards,
PTA Team
Dear Sir,
I am about to apply for a postgraduate coursework degree from ANU, which would start at the Feb of 2020.
However, I will graduate in China at June of 2019, which means where will be six months before I can visit Australia as a student.
I want to go to Australia as soon as I graduate, and it would be ideal if I could get some internship or volunteer work during the six months. So can I apply for the working holiday visa?
Hi Chang,
It may be helpful to book a consultation with one of our registered migration agent, you can do that here:
Kind regards,
PTA Team
Hi,
I am in Australia on a working holiday visa. I want to stay another 6 months just to travel, not work. Can I apply for a visa 600 whilst I am still in Australia?
Thanks.
Hi Leanne,
We have emailed you directly.
Kind regards,
PTA Team
Hi,
I’m on a first year 417 Visa, but would like to extend my stay with a 3 month tourist visa just for traveling; I’ve heard I need to be out of the country to apply for this free ETA, otherwise Ill pay $1000 that I lose if it’s not granted. But now someone told me there is still a chance you get denied if you apply from example from Bali (my plan is to go to Fiji in the meantime), I’ve heard the same can happen at the border, unless you can show them proof of travel. Ive been reading online otherwise, so I just want to make sure what the rules are..
Hi Pip,
To discuss your specific circumstances, it may be best to book a consultation with a Registered Migration Agent, here is the link:
Kind regards,
PTA Team
My daughter is currently in Australia on a Student 500 Visa which will expire on June 30, 2019. She would like to stay in Australia for another 2 weeks on holiday. Can she apply for a visitor 600 visa now? Or should she wait until her studies end on June 30? I know sometime the process of applying for a visa can take time, but I don’t want her current Student Visa 500 be replaced yet…too soon? When should she apply for the visa 600? 2 months prior? 1 month? Thanks
Hi Sheila,
To discuss your daughters individual circumstances, please book a consultation by following this link:
Book a Consultation
Kind regards,
PTA Team
am I in trouble if I am on a bridging visa A due for renewal in October and havent worked since november
Hi Mitchell,
To discuss your individual circumstances, we recommend booking a consultation with a Registered Migration Agent. You can do that here:
Book a Consultation
Kind regards,
PTA Team
Hi, I am on a 417 visa which I applied for and was granted when I was 30. I was only planning on staying for the 12 months of my visa but now I would like to extend my stay. I have 1 month left of my current visa and I was looking at a 600 visa for an additional 12 months but it doesn’t look promising. What are my options? Thank you in advance for your help.
Hi Sam,
Yes it would be very difficult to apply for a visitor visa, if you have already spent 1 year in Aus on a WHV.
Hi, my name is Elio and I’m an italian boy that currently is in Australia with a WHV. I’m not able to take the second WHV because I’m 31yo. I m going to stay until 9th of November, than I d like to go out of Australia for 2weeks and then come back here with a tourist visa, JUST TO TRAVEL. Is there the possibility that they deny me the tourist visa? Someone told me yes.
THX
Hi Elio , we would advise you to book in for a consultation and speak with one of our registered migration agents. You can book in online through the website by following this link : https://pathwaytoaus.com/book-a-consultation/