Those graduates who have finished their studies in Australia may apply for a temporary graduate visa – subclass 485. So if you wish to remain in Australia after your student visa expires then you can go for it.
The visa is temporary, but you can apply for a permanent visa after working in Australia for a few years. Depending on your studies, you might have to live in a regional zone in Australia and work in a field that is related to your research.
What Is a Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485?
Upon completing their studies in Australia, an international student wishing to work there is granted a short-term graduate visa- TR 485. Work visas like this one allow you to stay in Australia for a short time and work there, but they can only be applied for once per person.
Streams of this Visa:
There are two streams you can apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 visa:
- Post study work stream. It depends on your degree level whether you will be allowed to stay for two or four years. Your work can be related to your field of study during that time and you can also apply for an additional two-year visa if you wish.
- Graduate work stream. Working in an occupation on the list of skilled occupations qualifies you for this visa stream. However, degrees, diplomas, and trade certificates must be related to the job you wish to work in to qualify for this visa stream.
Checklist for the Visa:
When applying for Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485, make sure you provide the following documents:
Passport
Chiefly you should prepare a copy of all the information details on your passport pages.
Proof your studies
You must provide proof that you have completed your studies. There is a good chance that you will need to submit a letter of completion, including the dates when you started your studies and when you finished them.
Detailed school records.
The school transcripts of all your courses must also be submitted.
Proof of proficiency in English.
Unless you are from the United Kingdom, the US, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland, then you must submit proof that you have successfully completed an international English language test.
Insurance for health care.
If you are a MediCare member or have valid health insurance during your stay there, you must show proof of your coverage.
Documents supporting your character.
Further, documents proving your innocence and your application for a National Police Check must be submitted. For additional information, please also provide form 80 and form 1221
Documents related to skill assessments.
In order to apply for a job, you must undergo a skill assessment for the occupation you have chosen. This assessment must be submitted along with your application. However, post-study work visas do not require a skills assessment. Only graduate stream visas do.
Documents related to partners.
Then the documents you need to provide are copies of your partner’s identification, a copy of your marriage certificate (if applicable), and proof of registered relationship.
Documents related to minor children.
Explicitly taking a minor child with you requires a birth certificate or a family book and a statutory declaration or parental consent form 1229.
Documents regarding dependent children.
The form 47a and proof of dependency are required for adults with dependent children. Therefore be sure to include their identification documents.
Eligibility Criteria:
For a 485 visa, you must meet the following criteria:
- You are under 50 years old.
- Your student visa is valid.
- Before applying for a 485 visa, you held a student visa for six months.
- One of the following degrees awarded to you:
- Bachelor degree
- Bachelor’s degree (Honors)
- Master’s (extended) degree
- Master’s (coursework) degree
- Master’s (by research) degree
- PhD
- You attended an Australian university.
- You have never held a 485 visa or a 476 visa (for a graduate stream).
- You meet the skills requirements
- Your occupation is listed on the skilled occupations list (for a graduate stream).
Applicants must have received their student visa after November 5, 2011 in order to be eligible for a 485 visa. Students with visas issued earlier are not eligible.
Meeting the Study Requirements for Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485
The study program you followed in Australia must meet the study requirement for you to be eligible for a 485 visa:
- The course you took was a part of CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students).
- You held a valid student visa.
- You completed all the course requirements.
- The course you studied was taught in English.
- You studied for at least two years or 92 weeks in total.
- You finished your study program in no less than 16 months.
How Can I Apply For this Visa in Australia?
You can apply for the visa by following these instructions:
- Create an ImmiAccount.
- Please attach your documents.
- Pay the application fee.
- Fill out the application.
Create an ImmiAccount.
You have to apply online for a Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485. If you do not have an ImmiAccount, you must open one in order to submit a successful application. A complete list of the required documents for your visa application is available on the online platform, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to apply.
Make sure you carefully choose the visa stream when applying, you cannot change it once you have submitted your application.
Please attach your documents.
The next step of the application is to attach your documents once you have chosen which visa 485 stream you are applying for. Applicants must upload scanned copies of their original documents or scanned photocopies for online applications. Ensure that your documents are prepared so that they can be uploaded.
Pay the Application Fee
You must submit the application fee in order for your application to be processed. Your ImmiAccount will have the option for you to pay the fee online.
Fill Out Your Application
Once you complete your payment, you submit the application. Be sure to submit your application by the deadline, and remember to follow the Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
What is the processing time for Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485?
Depending on the visa stream, processing times vary. The Post Study Work Stream- subclass 485 visa needs 8-9 months and Graduate Stream- subclass 485 visa requires about 10-9 months to process.
What are the fees for this Visa?
The cost of visa 485 is AUD1,680. For a second postgraduate work stream, you must pay AUD660. Every additional applicant you bring with you will have to pay an additional visa fee.
How long is Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 Valid For?
Depending on your visa stream and your qualifications, your Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 is usually valid between two and four years. Your post-study work stream allows you to stay for two years if you have a bachelor’s degree, and for three to five years if you have a master’s degree.
If you have a Hong Kong passport, this visa will last for 5 years.
Is it possible to stay longer?
This visa does not allow you to stay longer or extend your stay. In addition, you can only apply for this visa once. Nevertheless, you can apply for a second post-study work stream visa if you already had one.
In case you wish to apply for a second work visa post-study, you must apply from the beginning and pay an application fee.
What are the chances of obtaining permanent residency under Temporary Graduate Visa?
Only getting a permanent visa provides you with permanent residency in Australia. If you hold a Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485, you can apply for a permanent work visa as follows:
- Australia temporary skill shortage visa- subclass 482.
- Australia skilled independent visa- subclass 189.
- Australia employer nomination scheme- subclass 186.
- Australia skilled work regional visa- subclass 491.
- Australia skilled nominated visa- subclass 190.
You can apply for several other permanent visas if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Is it possible to bring one’s family on Temporary Graduate Visa?
It is possible to apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 with family members. The family members must be close to you, such as your spouse, partner, children, or grandchildren. Remember that family members aged 16 and older must also meet character requirements.
New rules for Temporary Graduate Visa
COVID pandemic may allow some concessions to this visa. The time you spend during online classes, for instance, will be counted toward your study requirements.
If you were affected by COVID, you must attach this completed form 1545 – your education provider must fill it out.
So, Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 is a short-term visa, and you can apply for it only once. You can apply for it, keeping all the requirements in mind. As stated above, having an immiaccount is the basic criterion for applying for a visa, regardless of the type. Therefore, if you plan to apply for a visa, start making an immiaccount. If you want a better explanation about this visa, you can also watch the video on our Youtube channel. The link is- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZBHZw_D66e5iBgx4ox8U6w. Further, if you want to get an update regarding this visa, then you can visit the official website- https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485