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Visa Key Dates Planner
Reviewed by Mohammad Saghir Khan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1170510)Last reviewed:
How to Use This Tool
Enter your course end date, visa expiry and health cover end date to see your key deadlines on one timeline: when your Student visa ends, whether your OSHC covers your stay, when to sit your English test and the last day to apply for a Temporary Graduate (485) visa.
- Enter your course end dateUse the end date on your Confirmation of Enrolment.
- Add your visa expiry if you know itCopy it from VEVO. If you leave it blank, the planner estimates it from the usual grant rules.
- Add your health cover end dateEnter the end date of your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy.
- Choose your course length and 485 plansPick whether your course is 10 months or longer, and whether you plan to apply for a 485.
- Review your timelineDates are listed in order with warnings, such as health cover ending before your visa. Add them to your calendar.
What You Will Need
- Your Confirmation of Enrolment (course end date)
- Your visa expiry date from VEVO
- Your OSHC policy end date
Understanding Your Result
- Timeline: each key date in order, with what you need to do by then.
- Warnings: problems to fix, such as a visa ending before your course or health cover ending early.
When to Get Advice
- Your visa ends before your course finishes
- Your visa has already expired or expires within weeks
- You are not sure which visa to apply for next
Speak with a Registered Migration Agent: call 1300 919 717 or book a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plain-English answers to the questions we are asked most often.
When does my Student visa usually end?
For courses of 10 months or more, the visa usually ends 2 months after the course end date, or on 15 March of the following year if the course ends in November or December. For courses under 10 months, it usually ends 1 month after the course. Postgraduate research students generally get 6 months longer. Always check your actual expiry date in VEVO.
Why does the planner say my visa date is estimated?
If you do not enter your visa expiry, the planner estimates it from the usual grant rules. Your real expiry date is the one shown in VEVO and your grant letter, and it cannot be changed once the visa is granted.
Does my health cover need to last as long as my visa?
Yes. Condition 8501 requires you to keep adequate health insurance for your whole stay in Australia. The planner warns you if your OSHC ends before your visa.
When must I apply for a Temporary Graduate (485) visa?
Within 6 months of completing your course, while you are in Australia and hold a Student visa or held one in the last 6 months. Your course is completed when you meet its academic requirements, which can be before your graduation ceremony.
When should I sit my English test for the 485?
Your English test must be taken in the 12 months before you apply for the 485. The planner shows the earliest useful test date so your result is still valid when you lodge.
What if my visa ends before my graduation ceremony?
You may be able to apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) to attend, with a letter from your provider showing your graduation date.
What if my visa expires?
Your visa does not extend automatically. If you apply for a new visa in Australia before it expires, you will usually get a Bridging visa A. If it has already expired, you must leave or apply for a Bridging visa E straight away. Staying more than 28 days after your visa ends can lead to a re-entry ban.
Where are my dates saved?
Only in your own web browser, so the planner remembers them next time. Nothing is sent to us or Home Affairs.
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