485 Temporary Graduate visa (TGV)

 

The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa allows international students who have recently graduated from an Australian institution to live, work, and study in Australia temporarily. 

 

A 485 visa holder can gain work experience in Australia, complete an additional qualification, and/or live in a specified area of Australia for a prescribed minimum period to enable them to qualify for a further visa, such as a skilled permanent residency visa (PR), or put them on a pathway to PR in Australia.

 

What are the pathways to permanent residency from 485 visas:

 

  1. Skilled migration: Under this pathway, you can apply for a skilled migration visa, such as the Subclass 189 or 190 visa. It is s essential to have the relevant skills, meet the points test, and have your occupation listed on the skilled occupation list.

 

  1. Employer sponsored PR: If you secure a job in Australia and your employer is willing to sponsor you, you may be eligible for employer-sponsored PR through the Subclass 186 or 494

 

  1. Family sponsored PR: Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens can sponsor you for PR under certain family visa subclasses.

 

  1. Regional PR: You can access PR by living and working in a designated regional area under the Subclass 191 visa.

 

Eligibility Criteria for 485

 

  • be under 50* years of age
  • be in Australia when they apply for this visa
  • hold an eligible visa at the time of application
  • have held a Student visa in the last 6 months
  • have a Degree or above, or have qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list
  • have applied for a skills assessment in your nominated occupation on the skilled occupation list (for Graduate Work stream)
  • provide evidence of adequate health insurance for all applicants when you apply
  • provide evidence they have applied for an AFP check when you apply
  • provide evidence of the required level of English with the application

 

(*Please note that there is currently a proposal to decrease the age of applicants to 35 years old only. 

Further note, that the extension of this visa will be abolished in the near future, as per Department of Home Affairs updates)

 

Study requirements

  • A student must have attained either a single qualification requiring at least two academic years study or multiple qualifications resulting in a total period of at least two academic years study; 
  • A student must have undertaken this study in no less than 16 months;
  • A student must have lodged their application within six months of completing their course. 

 

To meet this requirement, the course/courses must also:

  • be registered on CRICOS register (http://cricos.education.gov.au)
  • have been successfully and fully completed
  • have resulted in an eligible qualification
  • have had all instruction in English
  • have been completed while physically in Australia
  • have been completed while holding a visa allowing study in Australia

(Please note: The important date is the day when they received their results, not the graduation ceremony)

English language requirements

  • The minimum score required for a TGV from IELTS test score increases from 6.0 to 6.5 (or equivalent), with a minimum score of 5.5 for each component of the test (reading, writing, speaking and listening).
  • The test validity window for a TGV decreases from 3 years to 1 year. TGV applicants now need to provide evidence that they have completed an English Language test within 1 year immediately before the date of the visa application.