Visa Extension & Further Stay Services

Need to Stay in Australia Longer?

If your current Australian visa is approaching its expiry date, it is important to understand your options before your visa expires.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for another visa that allows you to remain in Australia. However, Australian visas generally cannot simply be “extended” by requesting additional time on the same visa. The appropriate pathway depends on your current visa, visa conditions, purpose of stay and individual circumstances.

Astra Consulting Group provides professional migration advice to help you understand your options for remaining lawfully in Australia.

Onshore Visa Options

We assist eligible applicants considering further stay options associated with visas such as:

• Student visa – subclass 500
• Visitor visa – subclass 600
• Temporary Graduate visa – subclass 485
• Other applicable temporary and substantive visas

The appropriate option depends on your circumstances and the requirements of the visa you are considering.

Student Visa – Subclass 500

If you are currently studying in Australia and need additional time to continue your studies, you may need to apply for a new Student visa.

We can assess your current visa, study circumstances, course progression and proposed future enrolment to determine whether further visa action may be required.

Where a new Student visa application is appropriate, we can assist with the application and supporting documentation.

Visitor Visa – Subclass 600

If you are in Australia on a Visitor visa and wish to remain longer, you may need to apply for another visa rather than “extend” your existing visa.

Importantly, some Visitor visas carry a No Further Stay condition, such as condition 8503, which can prevent an applicant from making certain further visa applications while in Australia. Waiver of such a condition is only available in limited circumstances.

We can assess your visa conditions and circumstances before advising on possible options.

Temporary Graduate Visa – Subclass 485

The Temporary Graduate visa is subject to specific eligibility rules and does not provide an automatic right to remain in Australia after it expires.

If you are approaching the end of your 485 visa, we can assess your circumstances and advise on potential future visa pathways that may be available to you, including skilled, employer-sponsored, family or other applicable pathways.

Maintaining Lawful Status

Remaining in Australia after your current visa expires without holding another valid visa can have serious immigration consequences.

Before your visa expires, we can help you understand:

• Your current visa status
• Your visa expiry date
• Your current visa conditions
• Whether you may be eligible for another visa
• Whether an onshore application is possible
• Whether a No Further Stay condition applies
• Whether bridging visa arrangements may apply
• What evidence may be required
• Potential longer-term migration pathways

Our Further Stay Assistance

As an OMARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2619282) and Member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MMIA™), we can provide professional immigration assistance including:

• • Visa status and condition assessment
  • Assessment of potential further stay options
  • Visa pathway advice
  • Eligibility assessment
  • Application preparation
  • Supporting evidence review
  • Application lodgement

• Assistance with requests for further information

• Communication with the Department of Home Affairs where authorised
• Advice regarding potential future visa pathways

Don’t Wait Until Your Visa Expires

Your options can become more limited if you leave your visa arrangements until the last moment.

If your Australian visa is approaching expiry, we recommend obtaining professional advice early so that your circumstances and available options can be properly assessed.

Important Information

There is no single visa extension pathway that applies to all Australian visas. Eligibility for a further visa depends on your individual circumstances, current visa, visa conditions and the requirements of the proposed visa.

A Visitor visa, for example, cannot simply be extended; an eligible applicant may need to apply for another visa, and certain conditions may restrict further onshore applications.

The Department of Home Affairs makes the final decision on all visa applications. Applying for a further visa or receiving professional migration assistance does not guarantee that a visa will be granted.