How to Extend Your Visa in Australia: A Complete Guide for Students, Tourists & Temporary Residents

Is your visa going to expire soon? Do you want to stay longer in Australia? If that's the case, you need to apply for a new visa to extend your stay. Before that, you must investigate “No further stay” conditions if you want a visa extension. 

If there any restrictions on your current visa, it is necessary for you to leave Australia to avoid any unlawful status. If not, you can explore other visa options. However, it is crucial to check your current visa status, including its terms, expiration date, and any applicable restrictions, before looking into different visa options to extend your stay in Australia. 

The VEVO app allows you to view your visa's terms and expiration date. However, you should use the "Australian ETA app" to confirm the terms and expiration date if you are currently in Australia on an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).

Here are some common types of Australian visas and how you might be able to stay longer: 

Working Holiday Visa 

If you have previously entered in Australia in a First Working Holiday visa (subclass 417), you are eligible to apply for a Second Working Holiday visa, allowing you to stay longer in Australia for up to 12 months. 

Likewise, if you previously hold 2 subclass 417 visas (i.e. first working and second working holiday visa) in Australia, you are eligible to apply for a Third Working Holiday Visa, which allows you to stay longer in Australia for up to 12 months. 

Eligibility Criteria: 

• be 18 to 30 years old 
• Eligibility for Second Working Holiday visa includes: 
• You must complete 3 months of specified work (e.g., picking fruits, fishing, tree farming, construction, etc.) 
• Eligibility for Third Working Holiday visa includes: 
• You must complete 6 months of specified work (e.g., picking fruits, fishing, tree farming, construction, etc.) 

Student Visa (Subclass 500) 

Another options to extend your stay in Australia is through student visa (subclass 500).  

If the course you are currently involved in requires more years to complete or if you are planning to study a new course, you may be eligible to extend your student visa. 

Learn how to extend your student visa in detail

Visitor Visa/Tourist Visa (Subclass 600) 

According to the Department of Home Affairs, if your current visitor visa (tourist visa) does not have a “No Further Stay” condition, then you can apply for another tourist visa before your current one expires.  

While it is not possible to extend your current visitor visa, you must apply for new tourist visas if you want to stay longer in Australia. 

For more information visit our visitor visa page

Temporary work visas 

If your occupation is listed on Australia Skilled Occupation List (SOL), you may be eligible for an Employer-sponsored visa which allows you to live and work in Australia from 2 to 4 years  

The list of available temporary work visas is as follows: 

• Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) (internal link to 482-page) 
• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) (internal link to the 485 page) 

General Skilled Migration Visas 

General skilled migration visas are the point-based visas that allows skilled workers from overseas countries to stay and work in Australia permanently.  

To be eligible for this visa: 

• Your occupation must be listed on the Australia Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). 
• Must score at least 65 points in SkillSelect program. 
• Must be less than 45 years of age. 

Learn more about General skilled migration (GSM) visas in detail

Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186)    

Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa is a permanent residency visa that lets Australian employer to hire skilled workers to fulfill the skill shortages if they are unable to find the qualified Australian employees.  

The overseas skilled professionals must be nominated by an approved Australian employer to qualify for subclass 186 visa 

Learn more about 186 visas in detail

De Facto visa (Partner Visa) 

If your current partner holds Australian citizenship, you may be eligible for De Facto visa. Which means, it allows the partner or spouse of Australian citizen to stay, work and live in Australia temporarily.  

To be eligible for this visa: 

• You sponsor must be Australian citizen 
• You must be able to prove your relationship is genuine and ongoing to the Department of Home Affairs. 

This Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820 / 309) will lead to Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801/ 100) if you remain married or still in de facto relationship for at least 2 years from the date you first applied for temporary partner visa. 

Learn more about partner visa here

Step 1: Check your current visa conditions 

• Check your current visa status using the VEVO app, which includes the expiry date and visa conditions. 
• If your visa includes "No Further Stay" conditions, you must leave Australia before it expires. 

Step 2: Check your eligibility before applying for new visa 

Step 3: Gather all the required documents depending on the visa types 

Step 4: Apply for new visa online through the ImmiAccount 

• Complete all the application forms. 
• Attached all the supporting documents. 
• Pay the visa application fee (depending upon visa types) and submit online. 

Step 5: Await a decision 

• Your visa application will be assessed by the Department of Home Affairs authorities in accordance with Australian immigration regulations. The processing time for your new visa application varies depending on the visa type and the severity of your application. 

• If your application for your new visa is denied, you need to submit an appeal with additional supporting documents. 

• If your current visa has condition called “No Further Stay”, you must leave Australia before your visa expires to avoid any unlawful status 

• If you apply for new substantive visa while your current visa is still valid, you will be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA), which allows you to stay lawfully in Australia while your application for new visa is being processed. 

• You must collect all the required documents depending upon the visa type you are applying for.