Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

For both streams, the main applicant must:

1. Be under 50
2. Provide evidence that they have competent English, usually by providing IELTS Results with an overall score of 6.0 and at least 5.0 in each individual band of the test. Other English language tests are also acceptable if the applicant achieves an equivalent score, on for example, the OET test, the PTE Academic Test, the TOEFL iBT Test or the CAE test. Certain passport holders are exempt from providing evidence of English language ability.
3. Meet the 2 year “Australian Study Requirement” (see below) and have completed their Australian educational qualification within 6 months of applying for the visa. Your course completion date is the date you were notified of your results, not the date of your graduation.

Australian Study Requirement

To meet the Australian Study Requirement:

1. You must complete a degree (including Masters, graduate diplomas and PhD’s), diploma or trade qualification.
2. Your course must be registered on Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
3. Your course must have comprised at least 92 weeks of study.
4. Your course must take at least 16 months of study in Australia from the beginning of the course till completion.
5. All course instruction in your course must have been in English.

You can count more than one course you have completed in Australia as long as the combined length of your study in Australia was at least in 92 weeks.

If were granted exemptions due to overseas studies, this must be calculated for when working out whether you have studied in Australia for 92 weeks. 

The extra eligibility criteria that apply are that you:

1. Can count studies at the diploma level or higher, and also Certificate III courses in trade occupations, to satisfy the Australian Study Requirement. This would include diplomas, advanced diplomas, bachelor degrees, graduate diplomas, masters, and PhDs.
2. Must select a “nominated occupation” which is contained on the “Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List” that matches your educational qualifications.
3. Must have studied a course that is “closely related” to your nominated occupation.
4. Must pass a “skills assessment” in your “nominated occupation”. The skills assessment must be lodged prior to your visa application, though need not be completed at the time of lodgement. Each occupation has a separate assessing body for Temporary Graduate Visas. You can make your Graduate Work stream application prior to the skills assessment being finalised, though to be granted your visa, the skills assessment must be finalised and you must obtain a positive result.

The extra eligibility criteria that apply are that you:

1. Need to complete studies at a Bachelor Level or higher (e.g. Masters or Doctorate) to be eligible under this stream.
2. Can only be granted a visa under this stream if you were granted your first student visa on or after 5 November 2011.

You do not need to nominate an occupation under this stream or complete a skills assessment.

Graduate Work Stream visas are valid for 18 months from the date you are granted the visa.

Post-Study Work Stream visas will have a validity period that will vary according to what sort of qualification you have completed in Australia. If you completed a:

1. Bachelor’s Degree (with or without honours), Masters by coursework or Masters (Extends), the visa will be valid for 2 years
2. Masters by Research, the visa will be valid for 3 years
3. Doctorate, the visa will be valid for 4 years

Our experienced immigration lawyers have handled many successful applications for a Temporary Graduate Visa. We will ensure your application is given the best prospects of success.

We offer all our prospective clients an initial meeting, during which we will thoroughly explain the law surrounding this visa to you and inform you of the process moving forward.

To organise an initial consultation with us, please contact one of our experienced immigration lawyers on (02) 9590 3987.