About Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485):
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) allowing recent international graduates from an Australian educational institution who have completed higher studies in Australia to live, study and work in Australia for a period varying 18 months to 6 years, depending on the type of studies that have been completed. The applicant needs to be onshore at the time of application and visa decision.
There are 3 eligibility streams:
Extension of the Temporary Graduate Visa (485) Post Study Work Rights for Higher Education Students
From 1 July 2023 Graduates with a Bachelor, Honours or Masters degree will be eligible for a visa with a further two year validity if their qualification is listed on the Department of Education’s ‘Eligible Qualifications List (EQL)’.
All doctoral graduates will be eligible for a further two year validity.
More details on eligibility and how to apply for the extended Temporary Graduate Visa will be available closer to 1 July 2023.
Transitional arrangements are also in place to support other graduates.
Temporary Graduate visa holders in Australia whose visas expired or will expire between 1 September 2022 and 1 July 2023, or Temporary Graduate visa holders who were in Australia throughout the pandemic period and are therefore not eligible for the TGV Replacement stream, may be eligible for the COVID-19 Pandemic Event (subclass 408) visa with a 2-year stay period. You must be working in Australia or have an offer of employment.
If you are granted a 408 Pandemic Event visa, you will not be eligible to then apply separately for an extended TGV. You should evaluate your options carefully before you apply. Read more information on these transitional arrangements.
Removal of occupation nomination and skills assessment requirements for Graduate Work stream applicants
The requirement to nominate an occupation from the skilled occupation list and obtain a skills assessment for Temporary Graduate visa Graduate Work stream applications has been reomoved. This applies to applications lodged between 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.
COVID-19 Concession: Offshore Appplicant
Eligible prospective subclass 485 visa applicants can make their visa application outside Australia during the concession period and be granted the visa while they are outside Australia.
COVID-19 Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) replacement stream visa
This stream will be available for new applications from mid-2022. Continue to check back for updates. See more about the COVID-19 Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) replacement stream visa.
Visa extensions for COVID-19 affected Temporary Graduate visa holders
Certain Temporary Graduate visa holders who are eligible for a COVID-19 Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) replacement stream visa will have their visa extended to 30 September 2022. See more about about visa extensions for Temporary Graduate visa holders affected by COVID-19.
What is Graduate Work Stream?
Graduate Work stream visa is for international students who have recently graduated with skills and qualifications that are relevant to specific occupations in Australia needs. This visa usually let you live, study and work in Australia temporarily usually for up to 18 months.
Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years.
Eligibility of Graduate Work Stream:
To be Eligible for this visa you must have the followings:
- Under 50 years of age.
- You granted your first student visa to Australia on or after 5 November 2011.
- Successfully completed at least one degree, diploma or trade qualification (CRICOS-registered course) within 6 months before you lodge your application.
- Meet the Australian study requirement.
- Nominate 1 occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
- Have a degree, diploma or trade qualification closely related to that occupation.
- Suitable skills assessed by a relevant assessing authority for that occupation. Removing this requirements has been proposed and may implemented through to 1 July 2022 "Source".
- You held an Australian study visa that allowed you to study (but not one supported by the Defence or Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister).
- If you are in Australia, You held a student visa within the past 6 months before your application and you now have a Bridging Visa A /B.
- If you are in Australia, you held a student visa within the past 6 months before your application and you now hold a substantive visa.
- If you are outside Australia and you hold or have held an eligible student visa (but not one supported by the Defence or Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister).
- Have not previously granted a subclass 485 or a subclass 476 visa as a primary visa holder.
- Your study was in English.
- English language requirement (IELTS overall 6 with no less than 5 on each band or equivalent score in other acceptable English test).
- Have no debt to the Australian Government.
- Have adequate health insurance in Australia.
- Meet the health and character requirements of the Australian government.
- Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused.
What is Post-Study Work stream?
Post Study Work Stream is for international students who have recently graduated with a Bachelor, Masters degree or PHD from an Australian institution. This visa usually let you live, study and work in Australia temporarily between 2 and 6 years, depending on your qualification.
- From 1 July 2023 Graduates with listed qualifications (‘Eligible Qualifications List (EQL)’) will be eligible for 2 years extra visa validity.
- All doctoral graduates will be eligible for a 6 year validity.
- From 1 December 2021, Masters by course work graduates will be granted with a 3 years visa "Source".
- Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years.
Eligibility of Post-Study Work stream ?
To be Eligible for this visa you must have the followings:
- Under 50 years of age.
- Successfully completed a Bachelor/Masters or Doctoral Degree (CRICOS-registered) course within 6 months before you lodge your application.
- Meet the Australian study requirement.
- You held an Australian study visa that allowed you to study (but not one supported by the Defence or Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister).
- If you are in Australia, you held a student visa within the past 6 months before your application and you now have a Bridging Visa A/B.
- If you are in Australia, you held a student visa within the past 6 months before your application and you now hold a substantive visa.
- If you are outside Australia and you hold or have held an eligible student visa (but not one supported by the Defence or Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister).
- Have not previously granted a subclass 485 or a subclass 476 visa as a primary visa holder
- Your study was in English.
- English language requirement (IELTS overall 6 with no less than 5 on each band or equivalent score in other acceptable English test).
- Have no debt to the Australian Government.
- Have adequate health insurance in Australia.
- Meet the health and character requirements of the Australian government.
- Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused.
What is Second Post-Study Work stream?
Second Post - Study Work Stream visa is only available for First Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) holders in the post-study work stream. This visa is usually granted for 1 or 2 years, depending on the categories of designated regional areas you resided in for at least 2 years immediately before applying for this visa + Study location while on your student visa.
This stream is only available for first Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) holders in the post-study work stream. Applicant must continue to hold a valid first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream when applying for the second Temporary Graduate post-study work stream visa.
Designated regional areas:
Most locations of Australia outside major cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane)are classed as designated regional areas for migration purposes. Designated regional areas included two categories.
Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centers' of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong, and Hobart.
International students residing + graduated with a bachelor or higher qualification from a category 2 regional campus of a registered institution will be eligible to access an additional 1 year in Australia on a post-study work visa.
Category 3 –Regional Centre's and Other Regional Areas.
International students residing + graduated with a bachelor or higher qualification from a category 3 regional campus of a registered institution will be eligible to access an additional 2 years in Australia on a post-study work visa.
You may check the list of postcodes that specify designated regional areas for migration purposes.
Eligibility of Second Post - Study Work Stream:
To be eligible for this visa you must have the followings:
- Under 50 years of age.
- Hold a valid first Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) in the post-study work stream.
- Must have lived only in a designated regional area for at least 2 years immediately before applying for this visa.
- Have no debt to the Australian Government.
- Have adequate health insurance in Australia.
- Meet the health and character requirements of the Australian government.
- Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused.
You can include your partner and dependent children with your visa application if they are in Australia on a valid visa at the time of application (Covid – 19 concessions apply). Your offshore members of the family unit can also apply to join you in Australia after your visa is granted.
You can add your children to the application until a decision on your application is made. You can't add any other member of the family unit to your application during that period.