What is Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) – All you need to know about 485 Visa!

Topic:

Why Australia is the attractive destination for international students around the globe? One of the answer is the opportunity after the graduated, including jobs, visa and migration opportunity.

Australian government has offered the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) for international students who are graduates of an Australia institute if they satisfy certain requirements.

What is Temporary Graduate Visa ?

Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) is the temporary visa that allows an international students to stay, work and/or undertake further studies in Australia from 2-4 years.

There are two streams for the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485), including the Graduate Work Stream, and the Post-Study Work Stream which both streams have different requirements.

What is the difference between two streams of the Temporary Graduate Visa?

Temporary Graduate Visa – Graduate work stream

A visa duration for Graduate work stream is 18-24 months. To be eligible to apply Gradate work stream, students need to meet these criteria.

  • Finished 2 years course of study in Australia.
  • The course need to be related to the nomination occupation. Your nominated occupation must be on the Medium- and Long-term Strategic Skilled List (MLTSSL).
  • Student need to pass a skills assessment in your nominated occupation to be granted a visa.

*During the COVID-19, nominating occupation & skills assessment are no longer required for Graduate Work Stream for the application lodge between 1st July 2022 to 30 Jun 2023.*

 

Post-study work stream

To be eligible to apply for a Post-study work stream, students who have:

  • Hold an Australia student visa after 5th November 2011
  • Finished two years studies in Australia
  • Recently graduated from Bachelor, Master or Doctorate degree from an Australian institution.

Who is eligible to apply for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485)

To be eligible to apply for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) student must

  • be under 50 years of age
  • have held a student visa in the last 6 months
  • have completed your study in the last 6 months
  • meet the Australia Study requirements
  • meet the English requirements
  • provide evidence of adequate health insurance
  • meet the character requirements

How long can I stay in Australia with the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485)?

  • If you recently completed a Bachelor by course work, you will get 2 years
  • If you completed a Master by course work or research, you will get 3 years
  • If you completed a Doctoral degree, you will get 4 year

Can I work by having Temporary Graduate Visa in Australia?

  • Temporary Graduate Visa holders are allowed to work with no limitation.

Can I include my family members in 485 Visa application?

You can include:

  • Spouses, de facto partners
  • Dependent children

How long for the Temporary Graduate Visa process?

The processing time for the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) is depends on the stream.

According to the immigration of home affairs, for the Graduate Work Stream application will take around 10 – 13 months, and the Post-Study Work stream is takes between 7 – 14 months.

How much for the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) ?

Fees for a Temporary Graduate Visa for Financial Year 2022/23

  • Base application charge A$1730
  • Additional application charge (18 and over) A$865
  • Additional application charge (under 18) A$435

Do I need an English test for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) ?

You may require an evidence of your English proficiency to submit your visa application.

  • IELTS 6.0 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts.
  • PTE or Pearson Academic overall 50, no band less than 36.
  • TOEFL iBT total 64, with minimum 4 in Listening and Reading, and at least 14 in Writing and Speaking.
  • Cambridge CAE total 169, with at least 154 each band.
  • OET B Pass in each band.

What is the criteria to apply Second Post-Study Work Stream?

If you are an international students who graduated from regional institutions in Australia and live in a regional area, you may be eligible to get extra 1 or 2 years Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) under the Post Study Work Stream.

To be eligible for the 485 visa extension, students need to

  • Completed your studies a regional institution with a higher education or postgraduate qualification; and
  • Stayed in the regional area for at least two years before applying for their second Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485).
  • The regional definitions is comprised of 2 categories as below:
    • 1 year additional if you study and live in Category 2 area – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart.
    • 2 years additional if international student study and live Category 3 area – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’ 11,200 regional places.
      You can check a list of postcode here

The second Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) will require ongoing residences in a regional area.

Not sure if you are eligible to apply for a second Temporary Graduate Visa, please contact SOL Edu & Migration for eligibility check

Do I need an insurance to support my Temporary Graduate Visa application ?

  • You must have a health insurance (OVHC) before lodging for a visa application.
  • If you have your family members, you require an appropriate insurance for you family members.

What documents do I need to support my application for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485)?

Here is checklist for Post Study Work stream applicants

  1. Essential forms
  2. Identification documents
  3. Evidence of skills and qualifications
  4. Health cover

All documents need to be translated to English by NAATI

If you not sure about what documents need to submit with visa application, feel free to contact SOL Edu & Migration for free consultation.

Visa changes and concessions for 2022

  • COVID-19 concessions for Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) holders who lost the time due to pandemic
    • Temporary Graduate Visa holders who have been outside Australia due to the border restrictions will be able to apply for a replacement visa. This concession allow Temporary Graduate Visa holders whose visas expired on or after 1st February 2020 to re-apply a new subclass 485 visa of the same duration as their original visa.
  • 25 June 2022 Update: The Skill Assessment requirement have temporary removed for students who want to apply the Graduate Work Stream. This exemption for application made. between 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.