Subclass 485 Graduate Work Visa

Most of you will already be familiar with this one, but it is worth covering in detail. The Subclass 485 is an excellent visa option, yet every year many applicants inadvertently miss their chance simply because they do not fully understand the eligibility criteria or timing requirements.

Subclass 485 Eligibility Conditions and Requirements:

Post Study Work Stream (PSW):This stream currently has the highest number of applicants.

After 5 November 2011:those who first applied for an Australian student visa

– Qualification at bachelor’s level or above

– Overall IELTS score of at least 6 (no single band below 5; either Academic or General Training accepted)

– Completion of a CRICOS-registered Australian bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree programme

– The registered course duration must be at least two academic years (92 weeks), with a minimum of 16 months of actual study in Australia; online study completed offshore is currently accepted given COVID-19 impacts;

– Application must be lodged within 6 months of graduation (based on the completion date stated on your Completion Letter)

Graduate Work Stream (GW): also known as the “old TR”

Before 5 November 2011:applicants who had already obtained an Australian student visa

– A skills assessment must be at least pending at time of lodgement;

– The nominated occupation must appear on the MLTSSL;

– The registered course duration must be at least two academic years (92 weeks), with a minimum of 16 months of actual study in Australia; online study completed offshore is currently accepted given COVID-19 impacts;

– The degree, diploma, or qualification must be closely related to the nominated occupation;

– The course studied must be a CRICOS-registered course;

– Overall IELTS score of at least 6 (no single band below 5; either Academic or General Training accepted)

– Application must be lodged within 6 months of completing the course (based on the completion date on the Completion Letter)

Subclass 485 Graduate Work Visa Document Checklist:

– Application fee: AUD 1,680 for the primary applicant

– Passport

– Passport photograph: taken within the last 6 months

– Birth certificate (notarised): required for all applicants.

– English language test results

– Academic transcripts and Completion Letter from your Australian institution

– Skills assessment letter: required for Graduate Work Stream applicants

– Australian National Police Check (AFP clearance)

– If including secondary applicants: proof of relationship, marriage certificate; for de facto relationships, provide a statutory declaration and supporting evidence of cohabitation (e.g. joint tenancy agreement, joint bank account, statement of relationship history)

– Health insurance: applicants must hold Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) for the 485 visa — not Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Subclass 485 Graduate Work Visa

Take note of the following pitfalls:

1. Application timing:The Subclass 485 must be lodged within 6 months of completing your studies. Those 6 months run from the completion date on your Completion Letter — not the award date on your testamur. Check this carefully; if you go by the award date and leave it too late, you will miss your window entirely.

2. English language results:This is another major pitfall that many applicants overlook.After all, the 485 English requirement is relatively modest — an overall IELTS score of 6 with no band below 5, or an overall PTE score of 50 with no component below 36.These scores are easy enough to pass without much preparation — and that relaxed attitude is exactly why so many applicants find themselves with an expiring visa and no English test result. The critical point is that the 485 does not accept English results lodged after the application.If you cannot provide English test results at time of lodgement, your application will be refused.

3. AFP National Police Check:The Australian National Police Check (AFP clearance) must also be included with your application at lodgement — or at minimum already applied for. Without it, you can expect a refusal from the Department of Home Affairs.

4. Two-year Australian study requirement:This is where applicants most commonly run into problems.Applicants must have completed one or more degree, diploma, or trade qualification programmes in Australia and successfully obtained the corresponding qualification.These courses must meet the following requirements:

– CRICOS-registered course

– Delivered entirely in English

– Course duration of at least 2 academic years (92 weeks)

– At least 16 months of study completed in Australia (due to COVID-19 impacts, online study hours are accepted)

5. Health insurance:You must hold OVHC (Overseas Visitor Health Cover) at time of lodgement — and insurance must be maintained for the entire duration of your Subclass 485.

Subclass 408 — COVID-19 Pandemic Stream

The Subclass 408 COVID-19 stream will be familiar to most of you.As long as your visa is about to expire — or has expired within the last 28 days —and you are unable to depart immediately and have no other visa option, you are eligible to apply for the Subclass 408 COVID-19 visa.

And this renewal is free of charge — no application fee.

The Subclass 408 COVID-19 stream was introduced to provide humane options for two groups: those in Australia whose visas were expiring and who could not obtain a return flight home, and those working in a critical sector to help ease Australia’s labour shortages. The first group is typically granted a 2–3 month visa with no work rights — giving applicants more time to arrange their departure. The second group— if working in one of the followingcritical sector industries —— these applicants canbe granted a 1-year visawith full work rights.

Critical sectors include the following:

• agriculture

• food processing

• health care

• aged care

• disability care

• child care, and

• tourism and hospitality

On the 3rd of this month, the government expanded the eligibility criteria once again,meaning applicants not working in a critical sector who applied for the Subclass 408 could only previously access the version with no work rights,which in effect worsened Australia’s labour shortage. The new policy applies to all temporary visa holders currently in Australia or who had previously entered Australia,and even applicants not working in a critical sector can now apply for a 6-month visa with work rights,helping Australia’s economic recovery. For those who need a short-term bridging visa without sacrificing work rights, the Subclass 408 is a solid renewal option.

The new policy applies to Subclass 408 applications lodged on or after 21 February 2022.

Extending Your Student Visa

Who this suits:If you have already used your Subclass 485,your work is not in a critical sector, andsix months is not long enough — you need at least 1.5 to 2 years to prepare your migration pathway,we recommend extending your student visa.

Due to the impact of COVID-19,the Australian government has temporarily lifted the 40-hour-per-fortnight work restriction for international students — a welcome relief for those who need to work full-time. Of course, the removal of the work hour limit is a temporary measure.

Extending your student visa lets you continue studying higher education — whether an additional migration-related programme or another degree — and also provides your spouse or partner with a visa allowing them to work full-time.Enrolling in a master’s degree fits the bill perfectly. Beyond the Group of Eight, many private universities offer very reasonable tuition fees, and strong applicants stand a good chance of securing a scholarship.

Some applicants prefer to choosea more manageable diploma or advanced diploma programme.These courses tend to be considerably cheaper,making them ideal for applicants with busy work schedules.

Student Visa Related Costs:

Visa application fee: $630

Tuition fees:

Diploma: $6,000–$8,000 per year

Private university Master’s: $10,000–$20,000+

Public university Master’s: $30,000–$40,000+

Subclass 407 Training Visa

More and more applicants are now aware of and applying for the Subclass 407. The Subclass 407 Training visa is a temporary visa designed to develop and enhance an applicant’s professional skills through structured training. Depending on the duration of the training,this visa can be granted for up to two years and carries full-time work rights.

Who this suits:

– Applicants wishing to enhance their professional skills in Australia;

– Applicants with 1 year of onshore full-time work experience who want to continue accumulating points and wait for a Subclass 189 or 190 invitation;

– Applicants looking to accumulate 2–3 years of work experience to pursue employer-sponsored migration via the Subclass 482, 186, or 494;

– Applicants whose Subclass 485 has expired or who have previously used a Subclass 485, and who need 1–2 additional years to complete their skills assessment;

Key visa advantages:

1. No upper age limit — applicants must simply be aged 18 or over.

2. Low application fee.

3. Dependants can be included in the application.

4. Full-time work rights.

5. Visa duration of up to two years(given current lengthy processing times, you can continue working full-time during the bridging period, and the Department of Home Affairs fully recognises this work experience for subsequent applications such as the Subclass 482)

6. Wide occupation list — the majority of occupations are covered.

Eligibility requirements:

[For the applicant]

– Must be nominated and sponsored by an eligible Australian organisation;

– Must be aged 18 or over at time of visa grant;

– Must have at least one year of full-time work experience closely related to the nominated position within the past 24 months, or the equivalent in part-time hours (two years);

– Must meet the Functional English requirement — equivalent to no band below 4.5 in IELTS, or an equivalent English level;

– Must hold appropriate health insurance and satisfy health and character requirements;

– Must have no history of visa cancellation or refusal.

[For the nominating employer]

– The employer must be a lawfully established and operating Australian organisation — such as a company, partnership, or non-profit organisation;

– The employer must demonstrate the capacity to fulfil sponsorship obligations, maintain a sound business track record, and comply with Australian law;

– The employer must first obtain sponsorship approval before nominating an employee (i.e. the applicant).

However, the Department of Home Affairs does not impose specific revenue or company size requirements on employers — each case is assessed on its own merits.

Subclass 407 Visa Costs:

The Subclass 407 application process is similar to that of the Subclass 482 and involves three stages:

– Sponsorship approval application (current fee: AUD 420)

– Training programme nomination application (current fee: AUD 170)

– Visa application (current base fee: AUD 330)