Temporary Graduate visa - Subclass 485

If you're an international student who has completed two years of study at an Australian educational institution registered with CRICOS, you may qualify to apply for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) to further enrich your skills and experience in Australia.
This visa comes with three different streams:

1. Post-Vocational Education Work stream
2. Post-Higher Education Work stream
3. Second Post-Higher Education Work stream

Those submitting visa applications must fulfill the specific eligibility criteria for their chosen stream. Each stream has its own set of requirements. For instance, in the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, applicants must select a nominated occupation and obtain provisional skill assessment. In the Post-higher Education Work stream, candidates must have completed either a bachelor's degree, a master's degree by coursework, a master's degree by research, or a PhD. Applicants need to satisfy the Australian Study Requirements.

Post-Vocational Education Work stream - TR 485 Basic Eligibility criteria

1. This visa is designed for international students who have recently completed qualifications that are relevant to skilled occupations in Medium and long term strategic skills list.
2. To apply, you need to be physically present in Australia and must also be under the age of 35. *Exemptions apply.
3. To be eligible for the visa, you should have a valid student visa when you apply. Alternatively, if you're on a BVA, BVB visa at the time of application, you must have held an eligible student visa within the last 6 months.
4. You must fulfill the Australian study requirement, meaning you must have finished a trade qualification, diploma, or degree program that involved at least 92 weeks of study and completed within a minimum of 16 months in Australia.
5. Usually, the visa is granted for up to 18 months for this stream. Hong Kong and British National Overseas Passport holders may stay for 5 years.

Scenario: Applicant has completed 2 years of studies (Certificate III in Commercial Cookery + Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery + Diploma of Hospitality Management). Upon completion of Diploma, applicant can apply for the Provisional Skill Assessment (PSA) in the nominated occupation and lodge the Temporary Graduate Visa – Subclass 485 in Post-Vocational Education Work stream.

Post-Higher Education Work stream - TR 485 Basic Eligibility criteria

1. This visa is designed for international students who have recently completed a degree from an Australian institution. To apply in this stream, you are not required to nominate an occupation.
2. To apply, you need to be physically present in Australia and must also be under the age of 35.*Exemption apply
3. To be eligible for the visa, you should have a valid student visa when you apply. Alternatively, if you're on a BVA, BVB visa at the time of application, you must have held an eligible student visa within the last 6 months.
4. You must fulfill the Australian study requirement, meaning you must have finished a trade qualification, diploma, or degree program that involved at least 92 weeks of study and completed within a minimum of 16 months in Australia.
5.Usually, the visa is granted for 2 to 3 years depending on your qualification. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport Holders may stay for 5 years.

Scenario: If you've finished a two-year Masters Degree or a three-year Bachelor Degree at an Australian Institute, and the course was registered under CRICOS, you'll need to apply for Subclass 485 under the Post-Higher Education Work stream.

Second Post-Higher Education Work stream - TR 485 Basic Eligibility criteria

1. This visa is for individuals holding a Temporary Graduate visa (first Post-Study Work stream or Replacement stream) who have completed their degree from an Australian institution located in a regional area
2. To be eligible, you must have obtained the qualification that led to your initial Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream from an Australian education provider registered on CRICOS, offering degree-level programs. Additionally, the campus where you studied must have been located in a designated regional area.
3. You must have resided solely in a designated regional area for a minimum of 2 years immediately prior to applying for the second Temporary Graduate post-study work stream visa.
4. Applicants holding specific degrees might qualify for a visa extension of an additional 2 years.
5.Usually, the visa is granted for 1 to 4 years depending on your qualification.

Scenario: If you've finished a two-year Masters Degree or a three-year Bachelor Degree at an Australian Institute located in Designated regional area, and the course was registered under CRICOS, you may for apply for Subclass 485 extension under this stream.

Replacement stream - TR 485 Basic Eligibility criteria

(You can no longer apply for a Temporary Graduate (Replacement stream) visa (subclass 485) as a primary applicant. It was closed to new applications from 1 July 2024.)

1. This visa is for individuals who currently hold or previously held a Temporary Graduate visa and lost their time overseas due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
2. To apply for this visa, you must meet one of two conditions: either you currently possess a Temporary Graduate visa as the primary holder, or you have previously held a Temporary Graduate visa as the main holder and currently hold another substantive visa, or a Bridging visa A or Bridging visa B.
3. You are eligible to apply if you, as the primary holder, have previously held a Graduate Work stream or the first Post Study Work stream Temporary Graduate visa. This visa must have been granted before December 15, 2021, and must have been in effect on or after February 1, 2020.
4. Your visa must be affected by Australia's COVID-19 travel restrictions, it implies the following scenarios: If you were in Australia when your initial Temporary Graduate visa was issued, you have spent time outside Australia while holding this visa between February 1, 2020, and December 14, 2021. Alternatively, if you were outside Australia when your original Temporary Graduate visa was granted, and subsequently entered Australia on that visa, you must have departed Australia on the same visa before December 15, 2021.
5. You need to apply this visa before 01 Jan 2027. The length of the visa can range from 18 months to 6 years, contingent upon your level of qualification.

Scenario: If you currently have or previously held a subclass 485 visa and found yourself outside of Australia or unable to return due to COVID-19 restrictions, you might qualify for this particular stream.

English Requirement for Subclass 485

If you are the passport holder of the following country, you do not need to provide the English Test. You will be exempted from English Test Requirement

1. United Kingdom
2. United States of America
3. Canada
4. New Zealand or
5. Republic of Ireland

IELTS:     Overall score of at least 6.5 band with the minimum score in each component 5.5 band
OET:    Score at least ‘B’ in each component
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic:    Minimum overall score 57 with at least score of 43 in English, 48 in reading, 42 in speaking and 51 in writing.
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE):    Minimum overall score 176 with at least score of 162 in each component
Validity:    English test is only valid for 12 months

Other basic Eligibility Criteria for subclass 485

Valid Visa – The applicant should hold an eligible visa such as a student visa at the time of application lodgment or must held an eligible student visa within 6 months before lodging the application.
Australian Study Requirements – The applicant needs to ensure to meet the Australian Study Requirements and, which has been completed within 6 months prior to the lodgment of the application
Age – The applicant must be at the age of less than 50 years at the time of lodging the application
Health – The applicant must undergo the medical examination, if your previous medical examination is over 12 months old and you are not from a country which has any reciprocal health care agreement with Australia.
At the time of grant – The applicant can be In or Outside Australia. However At the time of Visa Lodgment applicant who is satisfying the primary criteria must be in Australia. The applicant needs to ensure that he/she stays in Australia while waiting for the decision on the application.
At the time of application – Subsequent applicants can submit their application from outside of Australia, but only after the primary visa holder's visa has been granted. If the primary visa holder is currently in Australia and the secondary applicant is outside of Australia, a combined application cannot be submitted.
At the time of application – Applicants are required to obtain an Australian Federal Police check (to be provided to the Department of Home Affairs) at least one day before lodging the application and within 12 months prior to the application date.

Visa Fee for subclass 485 - Post-Vocational Education Work Stream and Post-Higher Education Work Stream

1. Base application charges - $1945
2. Secondary applicant over 18 - $975
3. Additional applicant under 18 - $490

Visa Fee for subclass 485 - Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream

1. Base application charges - $765
2. Secondary applicant over 18 - $385
3. Additional applicant under 18 - $195

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter.