Temporary Graduate Visa
(subclass 485)
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa is tailored for international students who have successfully completed a minimum of two years of study in Australia. This visa offers an extended stay, ranging from either 18 months for Vocational study or 2-3 years for Higher Education studies. It serves as a valuable opportunity for student graduates to work and extend their time in Australia, thereby enhancing their chances of qualifying for future permanent residency pathway. You can apply for this online through the ImmiAccount.
To meet eligibility criteria, the main applicant must be physically present in Australia when submitting the 485 Visa application and should have held a qualifying student subclass 500 Visa within the six months before lodgment of the 485 Visa application.
Revamped Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) in 2024: Tailoring to Workforce Demands
Effective from 1 July 2024, Australia has implemented significant changes to the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) as part of its revamped migration strategy. These modifications aim to align the visa program more closely with the needs of Australian employers, focusing on international graduates with sought-after skills. The changes made include a reduction in the length of stay for these graduates, preventing them from transitioning back onto student visas, and ensuring that international graduates without skills in demand do not overstay in Australia. Furthermore, the age eligibility for the graduate visa will be reduced from 50 to 35 years, increased English language proficiency requirements and removal of specified Higher Education qualifications that were eligible for a 2-year extension period of the 485 Visa. These adjustments reflect Australia’s commitment to optimizing its migration system to meet the evolving demands of the workforce.
Effective from 25 November 2023, online study requirements for the Subclass 485 visa have reverted to pre-COVID settings. Notably, online study undertaken during the COVID concession period from 1 February 2020 to 25 November 2023 will continue to be considered as part of the Australian Study Requirement (ASR).
It is important to highlight that, in response to requirements set by TEQSA (Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency), all students were mandated to return to in-person study by July 2023. This adjustment aims to provide clarity regarding the announcement made by the previous government in November 2021. Moreover, as of 25 November 2023, the Subclass 485 visa can now be granted, regardless of the applicant’s location at the time of grant.
Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 Visa: Two Eligibility Streams
The Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 Visa offers two distinct eligibility streams:
- Post-Vocational Education Work stream (formerly known as Graduate stream): Tailored for international students who have recently graduated in Australia (at least Diploma level) and possess skills and qualifications aligned with specific occupations listed as in demand under the MLTSSL Occupation list. This stream essentially enables temporary residence for 18 months, allowing individuals to live, study, and work in Australia as they contribute to occupations essential to the Australia’s needs.
- Post-Higher Education Work stream (formerly known as Post-Study stream): This stream is designed for international students who have recently completed a degree (at least a Bachelor level or above) at an Australian institution. This stream allows individuals to temporarily live for up to 2-3 years, work, and study in Australia, providing valuable post-study work opportunities.
Both the Post Vocational stream and the Post Higher Education stream share common eligibility criteria, ensuring a standardized application process. Here are the key requirements:
1. Age: The primary applicant must be 35 years or under when you apply, unless you hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders must be aged under 50 years when they apply. Exceptions apply for Masters (research) or Doctoral Degree Graduates, who must be aged under 50 when they apply.
2. English Proficiency:Â Applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency, either through holding specific types of passports or by successfully completing an English language test. Evidence of meeting the threshold English requirement must be provided at the time of lodgment, for example, IELTS Overall score of at least 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 for each of the 4 parts.
3. Study in Australia:Â To qualify, individuals must fulfill the two-year study requirement and have completed their qualifications within six months before applying for the 485 Visa.
4. Provisional Skills Assessment: You must have at least applied for a Provisional Skills Assessment before lodgment of the subclass 485 Visa if you are applying in the Post-Vocational Education Work stream. Those applying under the Post-Higher Education Work stream do not require a Skills Assessment.
5. Must be MLTSSL Listed Occupation: For those applying under the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, they must have their nominated occupation listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Applicants applying under the Post-Higher Education Work stream only require a bachelor’s degree or higher to apply.
6. Apply From: You must be in Australia (but not in immigration clearance) when you apply for this visa. Subsequent entrants (dependent family members) can be in or outside Australia when they apply.
7. Must maintain Health Insurance: You must maintain Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) health cover for the duration of the 485 Visa. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is not deemed adequate health cover for the purposes of this 485 Visa.
Inclusion of family members
For both the Post Study Work Stream and the Graduate Work Stream, the updated English language requirements are as follows:
Passport from Designated English-Speaking Countries:Â Holders of passports from the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, or New Zealand meet the English language proficiency requirement.
English Language Proficiency Tests:
- IELTS (Academic or General Training):Â Overall average of 6.5, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each of the 4 parts.
- Occupational English Test (OET):Â Achieve at least B in each of the 4 parts.
- Pearson (PTE Academic): Achieve an overall average of 57, with a minimum score of 43 for listening, 48 for reading, 42 for speaking and 51 for writing.
- TOEFL iBT (Internet Based Test):Â Obtain a total score of at least 83, with a minimum of 7 in Listening, 8 in Reading, and at least 18 in Writing and 16 for Speaking.
- Cambridge (CAE):Â Achieve an overall score of at least 176, with a minimum of 162 in each of the 4 test components.
These requirements ensure that applicants can effectively communicate in English, contributing to a successful and fulfilling experience during their stay in Australia under the Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 visa.
DURATION AND CONDITIONS OF THE 485 VISA
The validity of the 485 visa hinges on individual circumstances, with the Vocational Work stream having an 18-month duration from the application’s grant date.
For the Post-Higher Education stream, the duration varies based on the qualification (regardless of your field of study) and whether the study was completed in a regional area of Australia. If studying in Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane, the duration is as follows:
- 2 Years:Â Completion of Bachelor Degree, Bachelor with Honours, Masters by Coursework, or Masters (Extended).
- 3 Years:Â Masters by Research and Doctoral degrees (PhD).
The length of stay for Indian nationals under the Australia India – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), is as follows:
- 2 Years: Bachelor degree (including honours).
- 3 Years: Bachelor degree (with first class honours in STEM, including ICT).
- 3 Years: Masters (coursework, extended and research).
- 4 Years: Doctoral degrees (PhD).
Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay up to 5 years.
While holding a 485 visa, individuals enjoy unrestricted work rights in Australia. It is mandatory to maintain private health insurance during the visa period.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE REGARDING REQUIREMENTS
Several crucial considerations apply to the English requirements for the 485 visa:
Skills Assessment Authorities:Â Certain assessment authorities, such as Accounting Professional Bodies, necessitate English testing for the Graduate Work skills assessment. Any potential changes to these requirements are yet to be indicated.
OET Scores:Â For those opting for the Occupational English Test (OET), the required scores remain unchanged.
Discontinuation of subclass 476 Visa:Â Effective from 1 July 2024, the subclass 476 Visa was permanently closed to new applications.
TEMPORARY GRADUATE VISA (SUBCLASS 485) - DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS FEES
For the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), the Department of Home Affairs fees are structured as follows:
- Application Fee:Â $1,945
- Additional Applicant Charge:Â $975
- Additional Applicant Charge (Under 18):Â $490
Please be aware that these fees are subject to change, and it is recommended to check the latest fee schedule on the official Department of Home Affairs website or contact the department directly for the most up-to-date information.