485 Graduate Temporary Visa

The 485 visa is primarily designed for students who have completed their studies in Australia. It serves several purposes: Firstly, for students who wish to apply for permanent residency (PR) but do not currently meet the requirements, the 485 visa provides them with sufficient time to gain additional points through work experience, language skills, and other criteria. This allows them to eventually qualify for PR. Secondly, for students who do not intend to apply for PR but still want to continue their journey in Australia for travel or work purposes, the 485 visa offers them much more freedom and ample time compared to a tourist visa. Lastly, for students who are unsure about their future direction, this visa provides them with a significant amount of time to contemplate and make decisions regarding their next steps in life.

485 visa has 3 streams: Graducate Work (GW), Post Study Work (PSW) and Replacement.

1. Graduate Work Stream: 2 years

This stream is suitable for students studying vocational courses in Australia or those who arrived in Australia for studies prior to November 5, 2011. The specific requirements include:

Age below 50 years.
Nominated occupation on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
Holding a valid visa at the time of application.
Meeting the Australian study requirement of at least two years of study.
Achieving an overall IELTS score of 6 with no individual band score below 5.
Successfully completing the skills assessment (or pre-assessment) for the nominated occupation.
Meeting the health and character requirements.

2. Post Study Work Stream: 2-4 years

This stream is suitable for most students who have completed higher education studies in Australia and obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher, as long as they ensure that they applied for their first Australian student visa after November 5, 2011. The specific requirement include:

Age below 50 years.
Meeting the Australian study requirement of at least two years of study at the bachelor’s degree level or higher.
Achieving an overall IELTS score of 6 with no individual band score below 5.
Meeting the health and character requirements.

3. Replacement Stream:1.5-4 years

This stream is designed for students who were unable to utilize their 485 visa due to border restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The specific requirements include:

Age below 50 years.
Currently holding a 485 visa or previously held a 485 visa but currently holding another valid visa (including Bridging Visa A or B).
The current or previous 485 visa was granted before December 15, 2021, and was valid from February 1, 2020.
If the 485 visa was granted while in Australia, you must have stayed outside Australia with that visa between February 1, 2020, and December 14, 2021.
If the 485 visa was granted while outside Australia, you must have entered Australia with that visa before December 15, 2021.
Applications can be submitted until January 1, 2027.
Meeting the health and character requirements.

In addition, the PSW (Post-Study Work) stream allows for a second application after meeting specific requirements. The specific requirements include:

Age below 50 years.
Completion of a higher education degree (bachelor’s degree or higher) in a regional area and obtaining the first 485 visa.
Residing, studying, and working in a regional area throughout the duration of the first 485 visa.
Meeting the health and character requirements.

The application for the first 485 visa must be made within six months of receiving the course completion letter, and individuals only have one opportunity in their lifetime. The visa duration for the Graduate Work (GW) stream is 18 months (currently temporarily extended to 2 years). The duration for the PSW stream varies based on the degree obtained: generally, it is 2 years for a bachelor’s degree, 3 years for a coursework/research-based master’s degree, and 4 years for a doctoral degree. Applicants holding a Hong Kong passport can obtain a 5-year visa under both the GW and PSW streams.