What Is A Graduate Visa In Australia

So you want to live and work in Australia? Then this post is for you. In this post, I will elaborate on the various graduate visa options available and shed some light on whether grad school really pays off.

If you’re looking to move to Australia, you will likely want to find out about graduate visas. These are described as being for higher education graduates who want to pursue skilled employment in the Australian community.

What Is A Graduate Visa In Australia

A graduate visa allows you to live, study and work in Australia for up to four years. You’ll need to be an international student who has graduated from an Australian university (or equivalent) and be able to speak English.

You may be able to apply for a graduate visa if:

• You have completed an undergraduate degree at an Australian university or other higher education provider
• You have been granted a degree by an accredited foreign institution that is recognised by the Australian Government’s Department of Education and Training as comparable to an Australian bachelor degree
• Your studies were full-time, and you have completed at least one semester of study within the last two years

A Graduate Visa in Australia is a visa for international students who have completed an Australian tertiary qualification.

The Graduate visa allows you to live and work in Australia for up to four years after completing your qualification. After this time, you may be eligible to apply for another visa that will allow you to continue living and working in Australia permanently.

Who is eligible for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485)?

To be eligible to apply for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) you must

• be under 50 years of age
• hold an eligible visa
• have a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course
• meet additional requirements of the relevant stream
• Check the Department of Home Affairs for the list of basic eligibility 

Do I need to complete an English test for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485)?

You may require evidence of your English proficiency as part of your visa application. Take IELTS (The International English Language Testing System), an English language proficiency test for study, work and migration.  As IDP is the co-owner of the IELTS test, you can take an IELTS test at any one of our Australian IELTS test centres. 

Will I need OSHC (overseas student health cover) to support my application for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485)?

At the time of application, if you hold a valid Student visa, you’ll already be covered under an Overseas Student Health Cover policy as a condition of your Student visa requirement. It is recommended to have your Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) start on the day your student visa expires and submit evidence of your OVHC when you apply for a 485 visa. 

How to apply for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485)

Applications can be made online at the Department of Home Affairs. Have all you documents ready to complete the application and payment to ensure you visa application is valid.

Estimated fees and processing time

The cost of applying for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) varies for each type. The processing time will depend on your work stream. The estimated processing time for all student visas can be viewed here.  

COVID-19 Replacement Stream:

NOW AVAILABLE

From 1 July 2022 and before 1 January 2027, current or former Temporary Graduate visa holders who lost time in Australia as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions have the opportunity to apply and obtain a replacement 485 Temporary Graduate Visa.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• hold or have held a Graduate Work stream or first Post Study Work stream Temporary Graduate visa. This visa must have been granted before 15 December 2021 and in effect on or after 1 February 2020.
• have lost time on your visa because of Australia’s COVID-19 travel restrictions. This means:

• if you were in Australia when your original Temporary Graduate visa was granted, you have been outside of Australia while holding this visa between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021
• if you were outside Australia when your original Temporary Graduate visa was granted, you entered Australia on that visa, and departed Australia on that visa before 15 December 2021

You will receive the same grant period as your previous visa, except:

• If you were previously granted a Post Study Work visa for 2 years as a result of your Master of Coursework qualification, you will now receive 3 years
• If you were previously granted a Graduate Work Stream visa for 18 months, you will now receive 2 years. This is a temporary measure.

What you can do with the visa

• Graduate Work Stream stay for up to 24 months (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders)
• Post Study Work Stream stay for up to 4 years (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders)
• Travel, work and study
• Bring your immediate family (spouse, dependants) with you
• For those who study at a regional campus and choose to live and work in regional Australia, the pathway to permanent residency will be available after 3 years. The glittering Gold Coast is designated as a regional area. Click here for more information about possible courses. Visit ASR for information about the MBA/MPA double degree at Holmes

Conclusion

The Graduate visa is not a temporary work visa – it is permanent residence. To obtain residency you must meet four elements. Once you have obtained residency, you can remain in Australia indefinitely and work or study without restriction. You can save many years of Australian experience.