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Concessions to the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa (Graduate Work stream)

by | Jun 5, 2022 | Migration

Photo by Chichi Onyekanne on Unsplash

Overseas students who have studied a degree, diploma or trade qualification in Australia may be eligible for a Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa in the Graduate Work stream.

The current requirements for this visa are as follows:

  1. You held a Student Visa within the last 6 months before lodging an application;
  2. You completed your course, or a series of closely-related courses, as a result of at least two academic years (92) weeks study;
  3. The occupation you nominate is on the MLTSSL; and
  4. Have a provisional skills assessment by the relevant skills assessment authority.

While a positive assessment is not required before the application is lodged, it is required in order to be granted the visa as a ‘time of decision’ requirement.

New Concessions

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke announced on 25 November 2021 that various concessions would be made for former and current Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa holders.

These concessions include a temporary increase of to 24 months’ stay for visas granted from 1 December 2021. Prior to this, the general stay period had been 18 months for applicants who are not Hong Kong of British National Passport holders, where the stay is up to five years. Further concessions are to be released and is expected to broaden the eligibility for many international graduates.

Although not specifically announced, or as yet through legislative instrument, from 1 July 2022, those applying for Subclass 485 visas will no longer require a provisional skills assessment for their occupation. This will provide more graduates with the ability to work in Australia for up to two years or five years, depending on individual eligibility. This is a welcomed response to Australia’s post-pandemic economic recovery and is expected to aid in extreme staff shortages nation-wide.

It is expected that these changes will be enshrined in legislation in the coming weeks and will be implemented for future applications. Assessing authorities have now commenced providing this information to stakeholders in response to Minister Hawke’s above announcement and in anticipation for the formal change. Until 1 July 2022, or otherwise advised, a skills assessment continues to be a requirement for Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visas in the Graduate Work stream.

It has also not been advised when these concessions will end, however it is expected to continue while Australia’s economic recovery plan remains in effect.

If you are looking to apply for a Temporary Graduate visa and are not sure of your eligibility for the Graduate Work or the Post-Study Work stream, please don’t hesitate to contact our migration lawyers for an assessment.