Graduate Temporary Subclass 485 Visas

If you are one of the international students who graduated from an Australian educational institution, you are eligible to make an application for Australia graduate temporary (subclass 485) visa. It is a temporary permit for the students holding a student visa for the past 6 months. It allows the students to work, live and study in Australia after they have completed their studies. Unlike any other migration visa to Australia, this visa has a simple process for assessing the applicants, as most of these students already spend a significant amount of time in Australia.

the 485 visa is one of the excellent opportunities for the international students who completed studies in Australia in order to gain work experience and apply potentially for the permanent residency. It allows the applicants to stay in the country for up to 6 years and work there, part-time or full-time. The visa is also a pathway for the other visas, including subclass 189 and 190.

If you are willing to find out more about the 485 visas in terms of eligibility, processing time, application process and estimated fees, the below-mentioned information will be helpful. Give it a read before consulting any professional to help you.

Subclass 485- Different Streams

Subclass 485 has four streams, including,

• Graduate Work Stream
• Post Graduate Works Stream
• Second Post-study Work Stream
• Replacement Stream

The length of the applicant’s stay and the visa cost would depend upon the stream for which the application is made. Further, there are certain basic Eligibility requirements that the candidates are required to fulfil. They are,

• The applicant must be below the age of 50 years.
• Applicants must hold an eligible visa.
• The applicant must have had a recent qualification in a course (degree, diploma or trade qualification) registered under CRICOS, and it was completed in English.
• The applicant must have held the student visa in the past 6 months.
• The applicant must have nominated only one stream (it isn’t possible to change visa streams after the application).
• The applicant or any family members must not owe any money to the Australian government. The applicant or the family members must have either paid the same back or arranged the amount to make back the payment.
• Provide the evidence for the application for AFP check when making the application.
• If the applicant is 18 years or above, they must have either read or understood the Life in Australia booklet and signed the Australian values system.
• If previously the visa has been cancelled or refused by the end of the authority, the applicant will remain not eligible for making the visa application again.

Graduate Work stream

The graduate work stream visa allows the applicant to stay in Australia for 18 months. It was temporarily increased to be 24 months from 1st December 2021. It allows the British National Overseas passport holders and Hong Kong visa passport holders to stay in Australia for 5 years. They can have pathways for permanent residency after completing 5 years in Australia.
The validity of the visa begins from the date when visa gets granted. Further, the visa allows the applicant to,

• Study, live and work in Australia temporarily.
• Bring their family members.

The application can be made with applicants in Australia but not in the immigration clearance when they are making the application and when the application is granted.
Eligibility
Apart from the basic eligibility requirements, the below-mentioned is applicable,
Having the Visa
The prospective visa applicants for subclass 485 who are eligible can make the visa application from outside Australia during the concession period. They will be granted a visa when they are outside the country. Further application will only be processed if, the applicant holds the substantive visa while making an application and must fulfil other requirements.
Skills and Qualifications needed in Australia
Applicants must have a qualification that is relevant to the occupation present on the skilled occupation list. For the applicants who got their application lodged by 30th June 2023, this requirement is not to be met.
The applicant will be required to,

• Have a diploma, degree, or any trade qualification which is closely related to the occupation.
• Apply for the skills assessment in the nominated occupation on the skilled occupation list (MLTSSL). The applications that would get lodged till 30th June 2023, this requirement is not to be met. The nominated occupation cannot be changed after application.
• Get assessed by the relevant assessing authority concerning having the skills that remain suitable for the occupation.

Passport/English Proficiency Test
The applicants will have to provide evidence of required English proficiency within the application. If not, they will be required to show that they are holding the visa that has been issued from either New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland.
To prove English proficiency, either of the below-mentioned scores is required,

• IELTS – a minimum of five score bands is required with 4 score in each section.
• TOEFL- a total of 64 scores is required, with a minimum score of 14 in writing, 14 for speaking, 4 for reading and 4 for listening.
• PTE Academic- at least an overall score of 50 will be required, with a minimum of 36 scores for each of the four sections.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced Test- in total, 169 scores are required, with a minimum of 154 in each of the four components.
• OET- B for each section is required.

Health Insurance
Applicants will be required to provide evidence for adequate health insurance for every applicant when they make the application. One must have adequate health coverage for themselves during the stay after the grant of a visa. If needed, one can check out the reciprocal health agreements that some of the countries have with Australia.

Overseas Student Health Cover is the acceptable help insurance if the applicant remains on a student visa when submitting or sending a 485 Visa application. If needed, make sure to provide all the documents asked by the authorities.
Cost & Processing Time
The applicants are required to make a payment of AUD 1,730 for this visa type. The processing time of the visa is generally dependent upon different factors. However, in certain cases,

• 25% of the applications get processed in 72 days.
• 50% of the applications get processed in 5 months.
• 75% of the applications get processed in 10 months and
• 90% of the applications get processed in 13 months.

Including family
The applicant can include the family members in the application while applying. They must all be able to satisfy the character (applicant and family members above the age of 16) and health requirements for the visa.

For the character documents, the applicant must provide evidence that they have applied for the Australian federal police check in the last 12 months before applying for the visa. Further, the following forms are to be provided or submitted,

• Form 80 Personal Particulars for Character Assessment
• Form 1221 Additional Personal Particulars Information
• Any other documents or forms as asked.

Children can also be added to the application after the decision on the application is made. The family can make individual applications for joining the applicant in Australia as the subsequent entrant after the visa gets granted.
Application cost

• The cost of a visa for the primary applicant is AUD 1,730.
• Every single family member applying for the visa with the applicant is required to make the visa payment too.
• The subsequent entrants will be required to make the payment of the full visa application charge.
• The applicant will also be required to make some other payments, including the charges for health check costs and biometric and police certificates.
• Subsequent 485 remains exempt from subsequent temporary application charges.

Application Process
Step 1
Before the application, ensure to have a valid passport and check for all the visa conditions. If the applicant is the current visa holder with “no further stay” condition 8503 or 8534 on the current visa, the applicant will not be able to apply for the visa online. There will be an additional requirement wherein the applicant will be required to apply for and get the condition waived through form 1447, No Further Stay Waiver and then submit the ImmiAccount Technical Support Form.

Apart from the above, the applicant will be required to organise the health examinations and skills assessment. Further, if any help is needed with the application, it is better to appoint someone you can offer the immigration assistance. The appointed individual can either be a registered migration agent or a legal practitioner, or any exempt person.

By appointing them, one gives them the right to receive the documents on the applicant’s behalf in relation to the visa matter.

Step 2
Gather the relevant documents that can provide proof of study, skills assessment, qualifications, identity and the relationships. Additional documents will also be required to be provided for the family members making the application. Make sure that all the information provided is completely accurate, in specific the below-mentioned documents,

• Identity documents- passport pages copy, national ID card, name change proof, etc.
• Study documents- certified transcripts copy, completion letter from education provider, etc.
• English proficiency proof
• Partner documents (de facto or spouse)- ID, character documents, marriage certificate, etc.
• Dependent documents- parental responsibility documents, birth certificate, character document, etc.

Step 3
This is the step where the application for the visa is made online. Make sure that all the provided information is accurate, or the VISA will be delayed unnecessarily.
To make the application,

• Create ImmiAccount and log in to the same.
• Attach the relevant documents required.
• Get the family documents and applications processed together. Every single family member will be required to pay for the application and attach all the necessary documents.
• Lastly, pay the application charge. Without it, the application will not be processed and will not be valid.

Note: Choose the visa stream carefully as it wouldn’t be possible to make the changes after the application.
Step 4
After the application, the department keeps the applicant informed about the receipt of the application and documents and provides the application’s status through ImmiAccount.
The dependent child to the application can only be added before the decision is made. Further, if any changes occur, within the provided information to the authorities, provide,

• Changes within the phone number or passport, or address of the child.
• Changes within the relationship status of the child.
• Childbirth.
• If the withdrawal of the application is to be made.

Step 5
This is the visa outcome stage, and the applicant can either be in Australia or outside the country but not within the immigration clearance when the decision for the visa application is made. However, being the subsequent entrant, the applicant can be either outside or in Australia when the decision on the application gets made.
The decision about the visa application is provided in writing, and the below-mentioned information is provided along with it,

• Visa conditions
• Date on which the visa starts
• Visa grant number.

Any refusal made for the visa will be informed to the applicant along with the information of whether or not they can get the application reviewed. No refund gets issued for the applicable charges if the application gets refused.

Post-study Work Stream

The visa is for international students who recently graduated and received a degree from an Australian institution. The visa allows the applicant to temporarily live, work, and study in Australia.
With this visa, the applicants can stay between 2 to 4 years based on their qualifications. Hong Kong and the British National Overseas passport holders might get allowed to stay for 5 years.
This temporary visa allows the length of stay in Australia based on the level of Australian study qualification the applicant has.

• Applicants with bachelor’s degrees, including the honours, can stay for 2 years.
• Applicants with a master’s by research and master’s by coursework are allowed to stay for three years.
• Applicants with extended masters are allowed to stay for three years.
• Applicants with a doctoral degree are allowed to stay for 4 years.
• The holders of BNO and Hong Kong passports who successfully completed their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees are allowed to stay in the country for 5 years.

The applicants cannot stay in Australia for a longer period by extension of this visa. However, they will be eligible for making an application for a Second Post-study Work Stream visa. One might be eligible for the other skilled visas too. Check to find the right option.
Cost & Processing Time
The applicants are required to make a payment of AUD 1,730 for this visa type. The processing time of the visa is generally dependent upon different factors. However, in certain cases,

• 25% of the applications get processed in 79 days.
• 50% of the applications get processed in 4 months.
• 75% of the applications get processed in 10 months and
• 90% of the applications get processed in 15 months.

Including family
With respect to including family, the same law applies as in the case of a graduate work stream visa. Even for the cost involved for the entire visa process and the required assessment and health and police checks, refer to the Graduate Work Stream Visa.
Eligibility Requirements
Most of the eligibility requirements of this visa stream remain similar to the Graduate Work Stream visa. However, there are certain changes that are explained below.
Having this Visa
This visa stream only remains applicable if the applicant had their first student visa for Australia on or after 5th November 2011. In case they held their first student visa before this date, even being a child on the parent’s student visa, the applicant will not be eligible for applying to this stream.

The stream only remains available to the applicant if they were,

• Granted their first temporary Graduate Visa in the Post-study work stream or
• Provided Temporary Graduate Visa in the Replacement Stream based on the holding of the First Temporary Graduate Visa in the Post-study Work Stream.

The applicant must continue to hold the valid Temporary Graduate Visa in Post-study Work Stream or Temporary Graduate Visa in Replacement Stream when they are applying for the second Temporary Graduate Post-study Work Stream visa.
Eligibility Qualification- Degree level or above
Post-study Work Stream visa remains for international students who have eligible qualifications in respective study fields. Applicants must also have met Australian study requirements in the last six months.
As a part of this qualification, the applicant must have completed the,

• Bachelor’s degree or Bachelor (Honors) degree
• Masters by coursework degree or master’s (extended) degree
• Doctoral degree

If the applicant studied the standalone diploma or the trade qualification, they wouldn’t be eligible to receive the visa within this stream. Further, the holder of a temporary graduate visa remains exempt from subsequent temporary application charges.

Apart from the above, all the above documents and requirements remain the same like the graduate work stream visa.
English proficiency proof

• IELTS – a minimum of 6 score bands is required with 5 scores in each section.
• TOEFL- a total of 64 scores is required, with a minimum score of 14 in writing, 14 for speaking, 4 for reading and 4 for listening.
• PTE Academic- at least an overall score of 50 will be required, with a minimum of 36 scores for each of the four sections.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced Test- in total, 169 scores are required, with a minimum of 154 in each of the four components.
• OET- B for each of the four components.

Application Process
Refer to Graduate Work Stream Visa, as the entire application process remains the same.

Second Post-study Work Stream

The visa allows the student to live, work and study in Australia for between 1 to 2 years based on,

• Regional location of the educational institution that the applicant graduated from and which led to the grant of the First Temporary Graduate visa in Post Study Work Stream.
• Regional area where the applicant lives being the holder of the First Temporary Graduate visa in Post Study Work Stream or Temporary Graduate visa within the Replacement Stream.

Cost & Processing Time
The applicant is required to make a payment of AUD 680 for this visa type. The processing time of the visa is generally dependent upon different factors. However, in this case, the processing time isn’t available.
Visa Requirements
Applicant must, apart from fulfilling the basic eligibility requirements, must,

• Hold the temporary graduate visa in Post Study Work Stream or hold the Temporary Graduate Visa within the Replacement Stream and must have held the Temporary Graduate Visa in Post-study Work Stream being the main applicant.
• Have the degree in the registered course under CRICOS from the educational institution that is based in the eligible designated regional area that leads towards the grant of the First Temporary Graduate Visa in Post-study Work Stream.
• The applicant must have lived in the eligible designated regional area for 2 years at least before making an application for Second Temporary Graduate Visa within Post-study Work Stream.
• Applicants must have evidence of adequate health insurance for all the applicants when they make the application.

Stay in Australia
The temporary visa stay length in Australia will be dependent on where the applicant has studied and graduated from being the holder of the student visa and where they are living as a holder of a First Temporary Graduate Visa in the Post-study Work Stream or in the Temporary Graduate Visa in Replacement Stream.

• If the applicant has studied and lived in a category 2 area (cities and major regional centres)- 1 year.
• If the applicant has studied and lived in category 3 area (regional centres and other regional centres)- 2 years.
• If the applicant moves in between these categories, they will be considered for a shorter visa. The stay within this visa cannot be extended.

Others
With respect to adequate health insurance, health requirement and character requirement, Australian values statement, no debt to the Australian government, and not having cancelled or refused a previous application for a Visa remain applicable like the other two categories of visa discussed above.
Application Process
Step 1
All things remain the same like the other two categories of visa discussed above, apart from,
Before making the application make sure that the applicant begins the steps as soon as possible after residing for two years at least in the designated regional area while they still hold the Temporary Graduate Visa in Post-study Work Stream or Replacement Stream. Further, the applicant must be in Australia in order to make the application for this visa.

Step 2
Everything remains the same, like the other two categories of visas discussed above, apart from the additional requirement for resident documents.

The applicant must show that they have left for 2 years at least immediately before lodging the application in the designated regional area. In order to show that, the evidence must ensure that,

• Applicants lived in a designated regional area for 2 years at least before lodging the application for Second Temporary Graduate Post-study Work Stream Visa.
• That the applicant lived in a designated regional area all throughout that period of 2 years.
• The applicant continues to live in the designated regional area.
• With respect to providing the evidence of the residence, copies of the documents wherein the name of the applicant is mentioned are to be provided. The documents herein include,
• Utility bills
• Drivers licence
• Mortgage documents or the tenancy agreements
• Document associated with children’s schooling
• Bank statements

Step 3

All things remain the same like the other two categories of visa discussed above, apart from it,

• The applicant must remain in Australia when they are making the application for the visa.

Further, the subsequent entrants, apply for a Second Temporary Graduate visa, it cannot be made through ImmiAccount. While submitting the application, that applicant will be required to attach information including,

• Evidence of their current and the last two years’ residence in a designated regional area.
• Evidence of the relationship for the family members that have been included within the application, along with the adequate health insurance for all of them.

Steps 4 and 5
All things remain the same, like the other two categories of visas discussed above.

Replacement Stream

This visa is a temporary visa. It allows the applicant to stay between 18 months to 5 years, and it is received like the previous visa but with the exception of,

• If the applicant previously was granted a Graduate Work Stream visa for 18 months, the applicant will be receiving two years only. This remains to be just a temporary measure, and applicants must check the current period that applies when they lodge an application.
• If the applicant had previously been granted a Post-study Work visa for 2 years as part of their master’s qualification, now they will receive the visa for 3 years.
• The British National Overseas passport holders and Hong Kong passport holders might be allowed to stay for 5 years.

To make an application for a replacement stream visa, the applicant must,

• Make their application before 1st January 2027.
• Had the relevant Temporary Graduate Visa granted before the 15th of December 2021.
• Have lost the time of the visa due to covid-19 travel restrictions to Australia.
• Not have the Temporary Graduate Visa or any of the other granted visas granted after holding the Temporary Graduate Visa getting cancelled unless otherwise the same was cancelled as asked by the applicant.

Staying Longer
The applicant cannot stay in Australia by extending the visa. A replacement stream got created to assist the temporary graduate visa holders who were impacted by the covid-19 travel restrictions.
One might be eligible to make the application for the Secondary Post-study Work Stream visa. To remain eligible, one must have studied on their student visa within the regional area or worked or lived in the regional area while holding the replacement stream visa. The applicant might also be eligible for the other type of skilled work visas. Research well to find out more.
Including Family
The family members could be included in this application if they weren’t included in the application for the original temporary graduate visa.
Cost & Processing Time
The applicants are required to make a payment of AUD 1,730 for this visa type. The temporary graduate visa remains exempt from subsequent temporary application charges. The processing time of the visa is generally dependent upon different factors. In general, the processing time isn’t available.
Having the Visa
The stream only remains available to the former or the current applicants who did lose time in Australia because of covid-19 travel restrictions.

In order to make an application for this visa, the applicant must either,

• Hold the temporary graduate visa being the main holder or
• Must have held the temporary graduate visa as the main holder and currently holds the other substantive visa or the bridging visa A or bridging visa B.

The applicant will be eligible for making the application being the main holder if,

• They held the Graduate Work Stream or First Post-study Work Stream Temporary Graduate visa, which was granted before the 15th of December 2021 and was in effect on or after the date 1st of January 2020.
• They lost time on the visa due to covid-19 travel restrictions.
• Have not had the Temporary Graduate visa or any of the visas granted after they held the temporary Graduate visa which got cancelled unless otherwise it was cancelled because of the applicant asking for the same, or the decision for cancellation of the visa was set aside by the end of the tribunal.

Others
Apart from the above, all the above documents and requirement remains the same like the graduate work stream visa.
Application Process
All the steps remain the same apart from step one, where the applicant must ensure to apply for this visa before the date of 1st January 2027 and step 2, wherein the applicant will be required to provide the previous Temporary Graduate visa information that will include,

• Application ID
• Transaction reference number or the current number of the original Temporary Graduate visa
• If needed, provide all the other information regarding the original Temporary Graduate visa.

In order to understand and apply for the right stream amidst the four different types, the applicant must take help from the professionals if needed. It will increase the chances of submitting the application as needed and on due dates while reducing the chance of getting the visa rejected due to delays in application or submission of any document asked, etc.

Make sure to consult professional consultants on time to ensure ease within the entire application process and to have a hassle-free process while you plan your future ahead.