485 (Temporary Graduate) visa changes and concessions

Previous update: to be eligible, applicants must:

• currently hold, or have held a Temporary Graduate visa that expired on or after 1 February 2020; and
• have been outside Australia at any time between 1 February 2020 and 1 December 2021.

Latest 485 visa changes and updates:

• List of occupations and qualifications eligible for post-study work rights extension
• Extended Work Rights for Select Occupations and Qualifications
• Extra 1 or 2-year visa for international graduates from regional institutions
• 485 Visa – Secondary applicants not excluded
• COVID-19 Concessions for Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visas
• 485 Visa Processing Time
• 485 visa
  • 485 Graduate Work stream
  • 485 Post-Study Work stream
  • 485 Second Post-Study Work stream (extension)
  • 485 visa replacement stream

Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who have been unable to travel to Australia as a result of COVID-19 international border restrictions will be able to apply for a replacement visa. This will allow current and former Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders whose visas expired on or after 1 February 2020 to re-apply for a new subclass 485 visa of the same duration as their original visa.

• Additionally, the Morrison Government will increase the length of stay on the Temporary Graduate visa from two to three years for Masters by coursework graduates, matching that of Masters by reseach graduates. Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector graduates will also receive a two year Temporary Graduate visa (increase from 18 to 24 months).
• The new visa settings will also extend existing measures for students and temporary graduates to recognise time spent offshore studying online to count towards qualifying for a temporary graduate visa.
• These changes to Temporary Graduate visa stay periods will be implemented from 1 December 2021, and the removal of skilled occupation list requirements from 1 July 2022.

Note: The 12 months COVID concession was only for those students who were both outside Australia between 1 February 2020 and 19 September 2020 and who were also prevented from lodging a subclass 485 visa within 6 months of course completion because there was no offshore lodgement facility.  Regulations and systems changes occurred on 19 September 2020 making offshore lodgement possible.  This means that after this date applicants must lodge within 6 months of meeting the ASR (Australian Study Requirement).  For example a person who was offshore during the specifed period and who completed their course on 1 January 2021 had until 1 July 2021 to make their application.

Note: COVID concessions do not apply to second 485 visa holders.

The new COVID-19 Concessions for Subclass 485 (TR) are to ensure applicants are not disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control, including border closures, restrictions imposed on businesses and the general economic downturn related to COVID-19.

Update: Concessions have been granted to all SC 485 streams, the Graduate Work, the Post Study Work and the Second Post Study Work streams, to allow eligible visa applicants to lodge and be granted their visa while they are outside Australia, if impacted by COVID travel restrictions during the concession period that commenced on 1 February 2020.

Subsequent entrants may also be onshore or offshore for lodgement and grant.

The new changes amend the application requirements and visa criteria for the Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa, to assist international students, by allowing applications for this post-study visa to be made from outside Australia during a concession period. The amendments also allow the visa to be granted to an applicant who is outside Australia. Prior to this amendment, most applicants were required to be in Australia to apply for the visa and to be granted the visa. The amendments provide former international students with the opportunity to obtain a visa to return to Australia when travel restrictions are lifted. The visa period will run from the date of entry to Australia.

The new changes are:

• allow applicants to apply for, and be granted, a Subclass 485 visa while outside Australia during a concession period;
• allow applications to be made outside Australia during a concession period without the usual requirement to have held a student visa within the six month period immediately before making the application; and
• extend the period to meet the Australian Study Requirement (i.e. the period between completing study and applying for the Subclass 485 visa), from six months to 12 months for applicants prevented from returning to Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The amendments are advantageous for Subclass 485 applicants as they provide flexibility to visa holders adversely affected by the COVID-19 associated travel restrictions. Additionally, the amendments support the international competitiveness of Australia’s international education sector at this critical time.

The desired outcome of these amendments is to ensure that Student visa holders who were eligible to apply for a Subclass 485 visa prior to COVID-19 retain their eligibility for a Subclass 485 visa despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

September 2022 update:

The Australian Government will increase the duration of post study work rights of international students to strengthen the pipeline of skilled labour.

Post study work rights for select degrees in areas of verified skill shortages will be increased from:

• Two years to four years for select Bachelor’s degrees
• Three years to five years for select Masters degrees
• Four years to six years for select PhDs.

A working group will be established to advise the Ministers for Home Affairs and Education on the development of this and other relevant issues. The group will report to Ministers by 28 October 2022.

Related: Migration cap increase to 195,000