If you are an international student prepared to earn your degree from an Australian university, you may desire to prolong your stay in Australia. You may gain some work experience once your education is complete. After completing their education, international students may temporarily live and work in Australia because of the Graduate Skilled Visa (subclass 485), which is the best way to migrate to Australia. Depending on the degree(s) pursued, this visa may be issued for up to 4 years (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders*). Your understanding of the Subclass 485 visa, often known as the TR visa, will be broadened by contacting a registered migration Agent in Perth.
Visa Subclass 485
For recent international graduates who have finished at least two years of study at an Australian educational institution, the Australian government launched a post-study work visa in Australia known as a temporary graduate visa.
If you are an overseas student who wishes to stay longer in Australia, take advantage of the opportunity. You can apply for a visa on behalf of your qualified family members. It gives you and your family members permission to enter and exit Australia and the ability to live, study, or work in Australia for visa 485.
Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 Visa Streams (Subclass 485)
Visa subclass 485 has the following work streams:
Graduate Work Stream
Students who have taken a course about a profession that Australia requires are eligible for the visa. The applicant may stay and work in Australia for up to 18 months after receiving approval for a visa 485. The applicant must have completed at least two years of study in Australia, be nominated in a profession listed on the strategic skill list, and satisfy all other requirements to be granted this visa.
Post-Study Work Stream
Those who have completed their bachelor’s degrees from a recognised Australian university are eligible for the Post-Study Work Stream. Students may stay in Australia for 2 to 4 years per their degree level and type.
Second Post-Study Work Stream
The visa is open to holders of Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 from rural areas who attended an Australian university. With this visa stream, they can live and work in Australia for one to two years.
Replacement Stream
The visa is intended for Temporary Graduate Visa holders who have lost status on their initial visa subclass 485 due to COVID-19 travelling restrictions, both present and former. For 18 months to 5 years, they are permitted to reside, study, and work in Australia thanks to the visa.
Eligibility Criteria For Subclass 485 Visa
Below are the eligibility standards required for visa subclass 485, which you must meet to apply. So you:
- Must be a graduate of a programme offered by an Australian institution
- Must possess a valid passport from one of the following countries: the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland. Must meet the English language requirements using the IELTS, Pearson Tests, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced test, or Occupational English Test.
- Must meet Australian Health conditions
- Must have a Skills assessment done by the appropriate assessing authority
- Must have adequate health insurance
- Must meet the character requirement
Must Read: A Complete Guide To Australia Student Visa And Entry Requirements!
Requirements Of Visa Subclass 485
1. Requirements For Character And Health
You and the dependent family members in your application must undergo medical exams to meet the health standards.
Before you lodge for a visa, you must demonstrate proof that you have applied for an Australian Federal Police check (with a 12-month validity) and that it has been approved.
2. 485 Visa Study Requirements
You can only complete the Australian study requirement if your course(s) are:
- Registered at CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students)
- carried out in English
- Include a term of at least 16 months or 92 weeks, whichever comes first.
- undertaken in Australia while on a current student visa
- Not connected to enabling programmes or English language proficiency
3. Requirements For Health Insurance
To cover your family’s medical expenses throughout your stay in Australia, you must obtain an adequate health insurance level.
Your health insurance may be provided by Australia or by your home country.
Before submitting a visa application, you must have active health insurance if you wish to obtain a temporary graduate visa in Australia.
Latest Blog: Visa 485 Opportunities For International Students Based In A Regional Area!
Documents Required For Visa Subclass 485
You must contain the following documents for the Australian Temporary Resident Visa 485:
- Identification documents, such as a passport, birth certificate, or divorce or marriage certificate, as proof of a name change.
- Provide documentation, such as marriage certificates, divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents, or statutory declarations, to prove that you are or have been married, widowed, divorced, or permanently separated.
- If you were a member of the armed forces of any nation, please provide an overseas police certificate—including your own—where you spent 12 months or more in the ten years before turning 16, as well as any military service documents or discharge papers.
- Photos the size of a passport.
- Overseas Student Health Cover is a requirement for all applicants.
- Health-related evaluations.
- All academic transcripts and certificates.
- Letters of employment recommendation, if any.
- Any licence or registration document for a profession.
- Your curriculum vitae(a resume) should contain all relevant dates and positions from the last ten years of your job and educational experience.
- Course completion letter of the most recently completed course in Australia.
- Evidence of application for Australian Federal Police clearance.
- Evidence that skills assessment (if appropriate) application has been lodged.
Before attaching all these documents to your visa application, please recheck them to ensure everything is correct.
Read This Blog: 10 Common Refusal Reasons For Temporary Graduate Visa 485
Procedure To Apply For Graduate Work Visa 485
The visa application process for international graduates and step-by-step instructions for obtaining a 485 Visa Australia is provided below:
Step 1: You can start the visa application process when your education provider confirms that you have finished your course. Select the 485 Visa type you want to apply for.
Step 2: You must attach the required documentation of your training, credentials, skill assessment, identification, and connections listed on the Document checklist for the Subclass 485 visa application. Additionally, you’ll need to submit documentation for your family members as part of the process.
Step 3: Verify the data you’ve entered again.
Step 4: Submit a 485 visa application for an Australian Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) and wait for a response.
The course you choose affects the time it takes to process a short-term 485 visa from other factors. Fees need to be paid together with the application for it to be processed; otherwise, the visa subclass 485 processing time would lengthen. The processing time for the Graduate work-stream is typically between 9 and 13 months, while the Post-Study work-stream takes between 8 and 10 months.
485 visa new rules 2024
Effective 1 July 2024, the tax changes include:
- Reducing the 19% tax rate to 16%.
- Lowering the 32.5% tax rate to 30%.
- Raising the income threshold for the 37% tax rate from $120,000 to $135,000.
Wrapping Up
International students can apply for an Australian student visa extension through a temporary graduate visa. It allows them to stay in Australia after completing their graduation.
Australia has complicated immigration regulations, and every situation is unique. Before applying for any visa, including the subclass 485 temporary graduate visa, we advise you to get professional advice. Being fully informed about the procedure, step-by-step requirements, and 485 visa application fees and processing times will prevent you from getting caught out when you submit your application and give you the best chance of succeeding.
You can have your qualifications evaluated by an immigration agent in Perth, who can also explain the requirements and processes associated with applying for a subclass 485 visa.
FAQ
Can an existing 485 visa be extended?
To extend your 485 visa for an additional two years, you must submit a new application as the process is not automatic for current visa holders. The extension is currently free of charge. You will need to provide the same documents required for the 485 visa, along with a recent AFP check and an updated policy statement from your health insurance provider.
