As an international student about to graduate from a university in Australia, you may wish to continue staying in the country a little longer. Now that you’ve completed your studies, you might want to gain some work experience. Furthermore, you may want to travel across the country to explore it and discover what you couldn’t while you were committed to your study program.
To gain this flexibility, you can apply for the subclass visa 485. This post will give you a comprehensive outlook on things you need to know about the Subclass 485 visa or TR visa.
This visa is divided into four streams, depending on your intention to stay longer, and other factors.
The Graduate Work Stream Visa / Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
This visa is relevant for international students who have recently graduated from a university in Australia. Their skills and qualifications are pertinent to the occupations specific to working in Australia.
The visa allows you to live, study further and work in Australia temporarily, usually for up to 18 months. You can request to extend your visa stay duration up to 24 months for visas granted from December 2021. That said, applicants who are Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders can extend their stay for 5 years. The cost of applying for this TR visa is $1,730.
The processing time for this visa can take anywhere between 5 to 15 months, depending on the information you submit, and other factors.
The Post-Study Work Stream Subclass 485 visa
If you are applying for a post-study work stream, then you may be allowed to stay between two to four years. Again, this depends on your qualification. applicants who are Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders can extend their stay for 5 years. The cost of applying for this TR visa is $1,730.
The processing time for this visa can take anywhere between 4 to 14 months, depending on the information you submit, and other factors.
The Second Post-Study Work Stream Subclass 485 visa
This visa stream is for student visa holders who have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian university.
You can stay for one to two years, depending on:
- The regional location of the educational institution from which you graduated that led to being granted your first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream.
Or,
- The regional area where you live as the holder of your first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream. Or, as a Temporary Graduate visa holder in the replacement stream
The visa application cost is $680, while the processing time is not currently specified. This visa allows you to work in Australia and also bring your family to Australia for the limited period specified in your second post-study work visa granted.
The Replacement Stream Subclass 485 visa
Applying for the Replacement Stream visa involves holders of a Temporary Graduate Visa (first Post-Study Work stream or Replacement stream). This means that these international students have graduated with a degree from a university located in regional Australia.
You can stay in Australia between 18 months to five years.
Upon successfully clearing your application, you will receive the same grant period as your previous visa. However, there are a few exceptions, which include:
- You were previously granted a post-study work visa for two years due to your Master’s qualification, so you will now receive three years.
- You were granted a Graduate Work Stream visa for a period of 18 months. In this case, you will now receive 2 years. Please note that this is a temporary measure, which means that you must consistently check the current period that applies when you lodge your application.
- You are a Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holder, which means you may be allowed to stay for 5 years.
The visa application cost is $680, while the processing time is not currently specified. This visa allows you to work in Australia and also bring your family to Australia. You can bring your spouse or children through the application.
The latest updates with the TR visa or Temporary Subclass 485 visa
The Australian Government has recently introduced new updates for the 485 visa. The effect of these updates is yet to be announced.
- The duration of stay for some Temporary Graduate visas (subclass 485) will increase. This refers to graduates who select a bachelor’s and higher-level degree in two years. The select degrees will be in an area of skills shortage and will be determined by a working group.
- Also, the requirement to nominate an occupation from the skilled occupations list has been removed.
- Additionally, the skills assessment has also been removed for the Temporary Graduate visa. This is in effect for the Graduate Work stream applications that were submitted between 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.
Applying for a Permanent Resident Visa after staying on the Subclass 485 visa
The Subclass 485 visa offers you the opportunity to build your eligibility for General Skilled Migration (GSM) Visas. These visas include 189, 190, and 491 which lead to permanent residency.
What you need to do to improve your chances of being granted a PR in Australia.
- Improve your English proficiency score – Enrol in a PTE preparation course to maximise your scores for the points tested GSM visas.
- Attempt for the NAATI CCL – Attempt as many as you can for NAATI CCL to score 5 bonus points for passing.
- Enrol for a Professional Year (PY) – If you have studied Accounting, IT, or Engineering, you can complete a Professional Year course in Australia while on the 485 visa. You can complete the Professional Year whilst on the 485 visa, and add another 5 bonus points to your score for the General Skilled Migration visa. This route will make it easier for you to pass the skills assessment.
The PY also includes an internship, which improves your chances of finding a job in Australia. And this helps you score more points for gaining Australian work experience.
- Expand your work skills and experience in Australia – As you work in Australia for a minimum period of one year, you may gain 5 points for GSM visas. Moreover, you also stand a chance to get employer-sponsored visa opportunities such as TSS (Subclass 482), ENS (Subclass 186), and SESR (Subclass 494).
- You can fulfil Residence Requirements for Regional Visas – Many state or regional visas such as 190 or 491 require that you meet minimum residence requirements. This includes 6 to 12 months in the state or regional areas before they nominate you. You can use the stay period on your 485 visa to visit different states and regional areas, and fulfil the residence requirements for these visas. Furthermore, receiving a job offer in a regional area can lead you to acquiring a permanent residence pathway via 494 visa.
We hope this comprehensive guide helps you understand the requirements connected to Subclass 485 visas.
FAQs
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What is the difference between a Temporary Visa and Permanent Residency in Australia?
A temporary visa permits you to stay for a limited duration in Australia until you complete your studies. Some temporary visas provide a period for working for a specific duration in Australia after completing studies. A permanent visa, on the other hand, allows the visa holder to live and work in Australia permanently. This visa holder can also apply for Australian citizenship, if they meet the eligibility requirements.
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Can a 485 visa holder apply for PR?
You may apply for skilled work visas if you are a 485 visa holder. Temporary graduate visa holders from Hong Kong can apply for permanent residency after five years.
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What is the 485 visa extension period?
Except for the Graduate Work Stream, all other 485 subclass visas have a provision for extension based on specific conditions. Applicants on the Post-Study Work Stream, the Second Post-Study Work Stream, and the Replacement Stream visa holders are eligible for a two-year extension based on a select degree.
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What makes me eligible for the 485 visa extension?
The eligibility criteria for a 485 visa extension depends on the degree you choose to pursue. Also, if you have a post-study work visa subclass 485 and are eligible for additional 2 years with a select degree, you can lodge your application on ImmiAccount. Applicants can only apply once for this extension; any further applications will be deemed invalid.