Longer 485 Visa Duration– 3 years for master’s/doctoral graduates (PSW stream), 2 years for vocational/older TR holders

That is, if the qualification used to meet the Subclass 485 (PSW stream) requirements is a master’s degree or above, the visa has a 3-year validity period.

The older TR stream, the Graduate Work Stream, applies to vocational graduates and those who held a student visa before 5 November 2011.

485 Replacement Visa

For applicants whose Subclass 485 visa was affected by Australia’s COVID-19 border closures, a replacement visa is available. Applications close on 1 January 2027.

The key eligibility requirements are as follows:

1) The original 485 was granted before 15 December 2021

2) The original 485 was valid on or after 1 February 2020

3) If the original 485 was granted offshore, the applicant must have entered Australia on the original valid 485 (before 15 December 2021) & subsequently departed on the original valid 485 (before 15 December 2021)

4) If the original 485 was granted onshore, the applicant must have been outside Australia on the original valid 485 at some point between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 (inclusive)

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If you meet the requirements for a second 485 visa while holding a 485 replacement visa, you can still apply for a second 485 to extend your stay by a further 1–2 years.

A hard-won opportunity to prepare for Australian PR!

In short, most master’s graduates who previously held a 2-year 485 will now receive a 3-year work visa — including those whose original 485 was affected by COVID-19 and could not be fully used.Graduates from regional areas such as South Australia, Western Australia, and the Gold Coast can even secure 3+1 or 3+2 years on the 485,and if both partners have studied in Australia and both had their 485 visas affected by COVID-19,they can make the most of the secondary applicant pathway, alternating as the primary applicant on each 485 application in turn —significantly extending the total time available to work full-time in Australia!

Before applying, please pay close attention to the following:

A. Check which 485 stream you are eligible for and select the correct one.

B. Double-check your documents carefully, including your health insurance type & dates, and police clearance.

C. If including a secondary applicant, be aware of how to demonstrate a genuine and continuing relationship.

A General Migration Planning Roadmap

Now that your available full-time work window has multiplied, how do you best use the 485 visa to meet the requirements for a PR visa? Here is a suggested framework:

1、Confirm whether you meet the Department of Home Affairs skilled migration threshold requirements(such as EOI points, skills assessment, and employer-sponsored migration requirements), taking into account your ownqualifications & work experienceto determine which visa pathway suits you best.

2、Stay up to date with state nomination and employer-sponsored migration policies and invitation data, which you can follow via each state government’s official website, as well asthe Newstars WeChat Official Account and our consultants’ social mediaand other platforms.

3. After some time,if you find your current profile is still some way from receiving an invitation, revisit your skilled migration options.Options include finding relevant work in Australia to obtain a skills assessment and meet state nomination requirements, or enrolling in a migration-related course to gain a skills assessment & relevant work experience and satisfy state nomination criteria.

On this point, we strongly recommend to anyone considering switching to a vocational course to obtain a skills assessment:make the most of your three-year 485 by completing a one-year vocational course,then working for one year — which can simultaneously satisfy both the skills assessment and state nomination requirements.Courses of this type are generallyvocational (trade) programmes — low cost and with strong employment outcomes.Examples include:

a) Cert III in Commercial Cookery —commercial cook

b) Cert III in Patisserie —pastry chef

c) Cert III in Baking —baker

d) Cert III in Wall and Floor Tiling —tiler

e) Cert III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology —automotive mechanic

f) Cert III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology —diesel mechanic

g) Cert III in Hairdressing —hairdresser

h) Various other one-year trade courses, such ascarpentry, weldingand more

i) Other one-year diploma courses, such as Diploma of Translation (written translation), Diploma of Community Services, and similar programmes.

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