English Australia has today released a Fact Sheet on its official website regarding the English-language requirements for the 485 and 500 student visas — changes overview.

Ps. What is English Australia?

The Fact Sheet mentions one new piece of news:

The validity of English test results used for Subclass 485 (TGV) applications will be reduced from the current 3 years to 1 year — meaning eligible English results must be obtained within the 12 months before submitting the 485 application.

This change is tentatively scheduled for early 2024; the exact date is yet to be confirmed

It will apply to 485 visa applications lodged on or after the effective date; applications already lodged will not be affected.

The Fact Sheet also mentions what we already knew:

The English test score required for a Subclass 485 (TGV) application will rise from 6.0 to 6.5

This is also tentatively set for early 2024

Changes to the Student visa English requirements are also mentioned, and remain consistent with what has been known previously

The 485 Temporary Graduate visa has truly seen more changes than any other visa over the past year and a half — successfully turning the 485 into one of the most complex visas available…To stay grounded and keep up to date, we will once again summarise the key 485 changes over this period, along with the current classifications!

Confirmed changes under Migration Strategy

Early 2024:

485 English requirement rises to 6.5

485 English-test validity reduced to 1 year (new)

Mid-2024:

– Coursework Bachelor/Master visas revert to a 2-year term

– The 485 Replacement stream is abolished

– The 2-year extension for specified disciplines is abolished

– The maximum age drops from 50 to 35

Effects brought by the end of the COVID-19 Concession Period

New rules for 485 lodgement and grant location:

–All 485 primary applicant first visas, 2-year qualification-based extensions, and Regional extensions must be lodged onshore, onshore

– 485 Subsequent (adding secondary applicants after the 485 is granted) and Replacement may still be lodged from outside Australia

– All 485 streams can be granted either onshore or offshore — there is no location restriction on grant

Online study during COVID-19 — confirmed it can still count towards the Australian Study Requirement (ASR):

– If online study was undertaken during the Concession Period (1 February 2020 to 25 November 2023) while offshore, and held a Student visa at the time, then the study can meet the Australian Study Requirement (ASR) and will not affect 485 applications or Australian Study points

– If you are currently studying online from offshore after the Concession Period, it can no longer count towards the ASR

The core 485 landscape

Which 485 categories are still available to apply for

Graduate Work Stream (GW)

To be retained, renamed later

Primarily for trades and TAFE/diploma graduates — Migration Strategy states that mid-year this stream will be renamed the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, better reflecting its applicant cohort

– The most recent qualification before the 485 application must be a diploma or trade qualification

– Meets the 2-year Australian Study Requirement

– Held a Student visa within 6 months prior to applying

– Application lodged within 6 months of completing studies

– Requires a skills assessment, with the nominated occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) (from 1 July this year, the GW stream has reinstated its skills-assessment requirement)

– Current English requirement is IELTS overall 6.0 with sub-scores of 5.0 (PTE accepted); this rises to 6.5 in early 2024

– Australian police clearance

Post Study Work Stream (PSW first visa)

To be retained, renamed later

Broadly for Bachelor/Master/Doctoral graduates — Migration Strategy states that mid-year this stream will be renamed the Post-Higher Education Work stream, also to better reflect its applicant cohort

– Hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Meets the 2-year Australian Study Requirement

– Held a Student visa within 6 months prior to applying

– Application lodged within 6 months of completing studies

– Current English requirement is equivalent to IELTS overall 6.0 with sub-scores of 5.0; this rises to 6.5 in early 2024

– Australian police clearance

2.1 Subsequent 485 (to be abolished mid-2024)

From 1 July 2023, Bachelor and Master graduates in specified disciplines, as well as all Doctoral graduates, may receive an additional 2 years on the 485

– Specified disciplines primarily cover IT, engineering, education, healthcare, agriculture and sciences

– If this is your first 485 application as the primary applicant on or after 1 July 2023, the extended validity is granted directly in one step

– If you already held a 485 PSW stream visa (485 first visa), a Replacement, or a 485 second visa before 1 July 2023 (visa must still be held at the time of application), you may apply for an additional 2-year extension with no visa application charge

Second Post-Study Work Stream（regional）(PSW second visa)

This extension will remain available

Broadly for Bachelor/Master/Doctoral graduates from regional areas

An extension offered to students who have studied and lived in regional Australia — extending the 485 visa validity by 1 or 2 years. Available only to PSW first-visa holders.

– Must hold:

a. A 485 visa on the PSW stream, or

b. A 485 visa on the Replacement stream, granted on the basis that your first 485 visa was on the PSW stream

– Completed your qualification in a regional area

– Held the 485 first visa and, during that time, lived and worked in a regional area for 2 years

* The regional area where you completed your qualification may differ from the regional area in which you held your 485 first visa

Replacement Stream

To be abolished mid-2024

Broadly understood as providing additional time to compensate 485 holders stranded overseas during the pandemic

Students who need assistance lodging a 485 application

are welcome to contact our consultants below to learn more

The 1.5-year Mastercan also lead to a 485

If you are studying a 1.5-year Master, you can add a short additional course to meet the 2-year study requirement for a 485

Just how short can it be?

Take Kaplan’s MBA as an example:

The standard load is 12 subjects across six trimesters, with 2 subjects per trimester

Applicants with a business background can, in the best case, receive credit for up to 8 subjects

Leaving only 4 subjects — 2 trimesters including breaks — which can be completed in about 8 months

Graduates from a Group of Eight Master with a GPA of 65 or above may also receive a Kaplan scholarship — a 30% tuition discount

So 4 subjects over 8 months — around AUD 12,000 — can get it done!

Course prices are current at time of writing; future changes cannot be ruled out.

Previous articles worth revisiting

2024 is the “golden era” for this work-migration visa! The core points you must know!

Multiple early-2023 190 and 491 grants issued; 189 continues clearing December 2022!

Skills assessment with no English or work-experience requirement after graduation, invitations from 65 points — a hidden-gem study-and-migration pathway!

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485 Visa English Test Validity to Become 1 Year — Taking Effect Early This Year! Submit Now!

English Australia has today released a Fact Sheet on its official website regarding the English-language requirements for the 485 and 500 student visas — changes overview.

2024 is the “golden era” for this work-migration visa! The core points you must know!

Multiple early-2023 190 and 491 grants issued; 189 continues clearing December 2022!

Skills assessment with no English or work-experience requirement after graduation, invitations from 65 points — a hidden-gem study-and-migration pathway!

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