It is a great achievement to complete your graduate, undergraduate, master’s, or PhD degree in Australian universities withholding student visa Australia. But it’s not enough for your study abroad journey.
You mustn’t stop here by receiving a graduate degree. A new chapter awaits you and opens its door to start your professional life in a foreign country like Australia!
The route that can lead you to your career heights is Temporary Graduate Visa Australia (subclass 485). Now, with the help of this Subclass 485, you can grow your career in Australia with your prior Temporary graduate visa streams.
What is a 485 Temporary Graduate Visa Australia?
Temporary Graduate Visa Australia is designed for international students who have recently completed their graduate degrees from Australian institutes. This visa stream lets you live, work, and study in Australia for a temporary period of time. A temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) offers multiple entries to the country within the specified period.
After graduation, the Subclass 485 visa stream provides students with an opportunity to gain invaluable experience in their relevant fields in Australia. This visa stream also allows international students to add their family members and dependents to their application form, but each member must pay the application fee separately. With this visa subclass 485, students can also gain permanent residence in Australia after fulfilling the eligibility criteria.
What are the Different Visa Streams of Subclass 485?
A temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) is divided into three different categories, which are replaced in the following (from July 1, 2024):
- The Post Vocational StreamWork Stream (Formerly Graduate Work stream)
- The Post Higher Education Work Stream (Formerly Post Study Work stream)
- The Second Post Higher Education Work Stream ( Formerly Second Post Work Stream)
The Post Vocational Education Work Stream
The post-vocational education work stream, previously known as the graduate work stream, is designed for international students who have graduated in Australia and possess relevant skills and qualifications required to meet the skills shortage in specific fields in Australia. According to the new changes in migration strategy, the maximum eligible age for this stream is reduced to 35 years.
To apply for a post-vocational education work stream, applicants must hold an associate degree, diploma, or trade qualification closely related to their nominated occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
Note: Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders may be able to stay for up to 5 years
This is a temporary visa stream that allows the students to:
- Live and work in Australia for up to 18 months.
- Bring their family members to the country with this stream.
The Post-Higher Education Work Stream
The Post-higher education workstream, replaced with a post-study work stream, is designed for overseas students who have just received their degree from an Australian university. This visa stream lets those students live, study and work in Australia temporarily after completing their studies.
According to the recent changes, applicants must submit a recent degree in CRICOS-registered courses , and the minimum eligible age is reduced to 35 years. However, Hong Kong and British national passport holders must be under 50 while applying.
With post-higher graduate work streams, depending on the qualification level, applicants can:
- Bring their parents to Australia.
- Live and work for approximately two to four years.
- A bachelor’s degree (including honours) will last up to 2 years.
- For masters (coursework and extended), the stay will be up to 2 years.
- For Master’s (research) and doctoral degrees (PhD), the stay will be up to 3 years.
The Second Post Higher Education Work Stream
The second post-higher education work stream is designed for certain overseas graduates (holding a Post-Higher Education Work and Post-Study Work) who have completed their studies in regional Australia. This visa allows me to live, study, and work in Australia temporarily. The applicant must be under the age of 35 when they apply. However, Hong Kong and British national passport holders must be under 50 while applying.
With this stream, overseas students can:
- Study, work and stay in Australia temporarily (1 to 2 years).
- Extend their stay to gain work experience in Australia.
- Bring their parents or dependents to Australia.
Eligibility Criteria for a Temporary Graduate Visa 485
As per the changes effective from July 1 2024, the eligibility criteria for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) include:
Average Age Requirements
According to the New Migration Strategy, the age requirement has decreased from 50 to 35. Now, candidates (applications submitted after March 23, 2024) must be under 35 to apply for this visa.
However, the exceptions apply to Master’s (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) graduates, as well as Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, who must be under 50 years of age while applying for SC 485.
Financial Capacity Requirement
The new financial requirement applicable to visas lodged on or after May 10, 2024, will be $29,710 for both individual student and student guardian visas in Australia.
Genuine Student Requirement:
From March 23, 2024, the new Genuine Student (GS) requirement has replaced the previous Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement for the students, which was listed with target questions. This is effective for the student visa applications that are lodged on and after March 23, 2024.
English Language Requirements
Students must be proficient in the English language to apply for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485). The Australian Government has recently increased the English proficiency requirements for overseas students. However, these requirements will not be implemented for Hong Kong and British National Overseas visa holders.
The following table summarises the new English proficiency requirements for subclass 485;
| Language Test | Overall Score | Minimum Scores for Each Component |
| IELTS | 6.5 | Minimum 5.5 for each of the 4 parts |
| TOEFL (IBT) | 83 | 7 for listening, 8 for reading, 18 for writing, 16 for speaking (Accepted if taken on or before 25 July 2024) |
| PTE Academic | 57 | 43 for listening, 48 for reading, 42 for speaking, 51 for writing |
| Occupational English Test | B for each part | – |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced test | 176 | Minimum 162 in each of the 4 test components |
Note: The validity period of the English Language Proficiency test score has been reduced from 3 years to 1 year.
Health & Character Requirements
International students must meet specific health and character requirements that the Department of Home Affairs sets. To apply for SC 485, you must ensure that you have not engaged in any criminal activity in the past and must hold a police clearance certificate to demonstrate good character. Moreover, you must not be suffering from any medical illness that can affect the Australian community.
Overseas Student Health Cover Insurance
The applicants must enrol in an adequate health insurance program to cover their medical expenses in Australia. The Australian Government has designed a health insurance plan to support overseas students with medical costs. It covers many healthcare services, including hospitalisation and other medical expenses.
What is the Application Process for a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)?
The application process of subclass 485 visa is:
Check Your Eligibility
Before applying for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485), international students must check whether they are eligible for this visa. This is the initial step in the Australian student visa application process. Included in the requirements and eligibility criteria for each subclass 485 stream may be different.
Check Visa Conditions
The students must check the visa conditions that the Department of Home Affairs has imposed on this visa. For this purpose, the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) is an efficient way to check Australian visa status and associated visa conditions. The students cannot apply for this visa if they hold a visa subjected to “No further stay” conditions 8534 and 8503.
Graduate from a CRICOS-registered Course
Please ensure that you have completed a course registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
Gather Your Necessary Documents
Collect and organise all the required documents before applying for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485). These may include evidence of your qualifications, English language proficiency test scores, Australian study requirements, health insurance, and character requirements.
Lodge Application to Apply for Visa
Submit your application online via ImmiAccount or by paper using Form 1409 application for a prior Temporary Graduate Visa Australia.
Visa Outcome
Once your application for SC 485 is lodged, the next step is to wait for the decision on your visa application. The Department of Home Affairs will notify you of the final outcome.
Overview of the Latest Changes to the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 482) in Australia, Effective July 1, 2024
Temporary graduate subclass 485 has marked a new era for overseas students with its new changes. You can leverage the above streams that are relevant to your qualifications and skills. It will help you to grow your career in Australia and contribute to the economic prosperity of Australia. Further, the recent changes represent the Australian Government’s efforts to nurture international talent to fill Australia’s skill shortage.
Let’s have an overview of the recent changes that occurred in SC 485:
Re-alignment of visa streams
- The graduate work stream is now renamed the post-vocational education work stream.
- The post-study work stream is replaced with the post-higher education work stream.
New Age Limit
The maximum eligible age for applicants has been reduced to 35 years at the time of application, except for Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, who are still eligible if they are under 50 while applying.
Duration of Stay
The stay duration for the temporary graduate visa has been reduced based on the qualification level. For example, bachelor’s degree holders can stay for two years, while master’s and PhD graduates can stay for three years in Australia within the temporary graduate stream.
English Language Requirements
The English language requirements for a temporary graduate visa have increased from IELTS 6 to 6.5. As well, the validity of the English Language Proficiency Test has been reduced from 3 to 1 year.
Post-Study Work Rights
The 2-year extension for the Select degree has also ended, and there will be no further extension opportunities.
Replacement Stream Ended
In the 485 stream, the Post-Study Work stream is for applicants with a degree level or higher qualification. According to the new changes, the ‘select degree’ 2-year extension has ended, which means there are no further opportunities for extension.
The Migration – Your Trusted Partners in Your Subclass 485 Visa Journey!
If you are career-oriented and looking for opportunities to pursue your career in Australia, the Temporary Graduate Visa is a suitable option for you!
So, this is the perfect place to work and switch careers. Apart from this, you will have a chance of getting PR in Australia. If you need help applying for any of the above-mentioned streams, count on the migration. Our team of migration agent and visa processing consultants are at your back to assist you in any way they can.
Consult with us via online consultation or by visiting our office located in Harris Park, Sydney, Australia.
FAQs
Q: 1 What is the average cost for 485 Temporary Graduate visas?
The average cost for the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) in Australia is as follows:
- For Main Applicant: AUD 1,650
- For Spouse or Partner: AUD 825
- For Children under 18: AUD 415
Q: 2 What is the Average cost of a temporary graduate visa in Australia?
The average cost of a temporary graduate visa may vary based on each stream. Although the estimated cost for the Post-Vocational Education Workstream and Post-Higher Education Workstream ranges from AUD1945.00 while for the Second Post-Higher Education Workstream is starts between AUD765.00 and above
Q: 3 What are CRICOS-registered courses in Australia?
CRICOS-registered courses in Australia are educational programs offered by Australian institutes that are approved to accept student visa holders overseas students. These courses are listed on the official Australian Government’s Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).