The Australian government has established a unique initiative tailored for recent graduates from designated universities, named Australia 476 Work Visa. This program offers the opportunity to reside and work in Australia for a temporary period of 18 months. Subsequently, following either 18 months or 12 months of active employment, individuals become eligible to apply for an Australian skilled visa. This particular authorization is referred to as the Subclass 476 Visa.
Nonetheless, the process of obtaining an Australian Visa is a time-consuming endeavour that necessitates the submission of various documents, including a copy of your passport and an IELTS certificate. Acquiring some of these documents may entail weeks, or in certain cases, even months of processing through universities or colleges.
What is the Australia 476 Work Visa
The Australian government has introduced a special program designed for recent graduates in engineering from selected universities. This program allows them to live and work in Australia temporarily for 18 months using the Subclass 476 Visa. After this period, they can apply for an Australian skilled visa. This visa also serves as a pathway to Australia Permanent Residency. Let us look into some important details about this program:
Eligibility Criteria for Australia 476 Work Visa
– You should be below 31 years of age.
– You must complete an engineering course for which you were awarded a degree or higher qualification in the last 2 years. Now this could be a:
- bachelors degree
- masters degree
- doctoral degree
- postgraduate diploma
These are the engineering disciplines in which you should have a qualification:
- civil engineering
- structural engineering
- chemical engineering
- environmental engineering
- electrical and electronics engineering
- mechanical, production, and plant engineering
- mining and material engineering
– You must have obtained education from a recognized university. Now you can ask which are these recognized universities. Then any institution that is offering an Engineering qualification accredited under the Washington Accord is a specified institution.
– You should not have previously held a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) or a Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476) as the main applicant unless you were included as a family member.
– And clear an English proficiency test, either IELTS, PTE or TOEFL.
These are the scores you should have for these tests-
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | Overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) | Total score of at least 64 with a minimum score of 4 for listening, 4 for reading, 14 for writing and 14 for speaking **(TOEFL iBT – only accepted if taken on or before 25 July 2023) |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | Overall score of at least 50 with a minimum score of 36 for each of the 4 parts |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | At least B for each of the 4 parts |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced test | Overall at least 169 with a minimum score of at least 154 in each of the 4 test components |
– And rest are the same requirements like those of other visas like meeting the health and character requirements, signing the Australian values statement, having paid back your debt to the Australian Government, and not having a visa canceled or an application refused.
Steps to apply for Australia 476 Work visa:
STEP 1-
Before you apply, check your passport because you need a valid passport for this visa, and see if you have any existing visa conditions. If you plan to get a new passport, do it before applying for this visa. Then organize your health exams.
In case you need help with your application, then only some people can help you with it. They can either be a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner, or an exempt person.
If you want to know more about this exempt person, you can click on this link- https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/who-can-help-with-your-application/exempt-person
STEP 2-
The next step is to gather the documents and prepare them. You should provide accurate information. You need to submit identity documents, qualification documents, evidence of English language, and character documents. If there is a partner along with you, then partner documents; if there is a dependant under 18 years, then Dependants under 18 documents.
STEP 3-
The third is to apply for a visa online. If the Home Affairs Department grant your visa, they will inform you in writing that they have received your application and documents.
STEP 4-
When the decision is made on your application, then you must be outside Australia. The outcome of your visa application will also be sent in writing. If it is granted, then you will be given a visa grant number, the date your visa starts, and your visa conditions.
The Home Affairs Department will inform you about the possible reasons in the event of a refusal of the visa. And also, if you have a right to review the decision. Do note that the application charges are non-refundable if rejected.
Visa Processing Time:
The official processing time for this visa is around 10-12 months. However, if you have a well-documented application, you can get quicker approval within a year itself.
Visa Fees:
The cost for the Subclass 476 visa is 405AUD$ for the primary applicant, along with an additional fee for dependents.
Application Location:
You and your family members included in the application can submit it from within or outside of Australia. However, if you apply while you’re in Australia, you won’t be eligible for a Bridging visa that allows you to stay in Australia while the application is being processed.
As already mentioned, when the visa approval is there, you must be outside of Australia. The same applies to family members included in a combined application – they should also be outside Australia during the visa-granting process.
And if you currently hold a Special Category, subclass 444 visa, you can lodge your application while in Australia. They can grant you a Bridging Visa to stay in Australia while awaiting a decision. This is because subclass 444 visa holders are eligible for a visa grant while being in Australia.
Including Family Members:
While the visa primarily intends for engineering graduates. However, it can also include eligible family members such as spouses and children.
Job Opportunities:
For skilled workers with job offers from Australian employers, immigration can quicken up. Fresh engineering graduates looking for job opportunities under the Subclass 476 visa can rely on their skills and performance in job interviews.
Possibility of Extension:
If your Australia Work Visa is about to expire after 18 months and you are aiming to extend your stay or pursue permanent residency, then you must plan in advance and apply for its extension.
Recent Rules for Australia 476 Work Visa
Recent rules for the Subclass 476 visa include an age requirement below 31, obtaining an engineering degree from a recognized university within the last 2 years, and not having held a Subclass 476 or 485 visa previously. English proficiency, health clearance, and police certificates are also necessary.
CONCLUSION
Therefore, the Subclass 476 Visa program in Australia offers a remarkable opportunity for recent engineering graduates from recognized universities to gain valuable experience and potentially pursue permanent residency in the country.