485 Visa Australia: Your Pathway to Extend Your Stay

First thing’s first - you’ll need to apply for a visa! There are plenty of options, but let’s start by taking a look at one of the most popular - the subclass 485 visa. 

Who is eligible for the 485 visa in Australia?

The Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485 is available to international students who have recently graduated. It allows you to live and work in Australia temporarily, for a length of time depending on your qualifications. This visa is a great opportunity to gain valuable work experience in Australia, while developing your employable skills.

In order to apply, you must have a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course, hold a current eligible visa, and be under 50 years of age. 

Under the 485 visa, there are two streams: the Graduate Work Stream and the Post-Study Work Stream.

The Graduate Work Stream is designed for students who have completed qualifications in occupations that are in high demand in Australia. These occupations include engineering, accounting, healthcare, and IT, among others. 

This stream allows you to live and work in Australia for up to 18 months. You won’t be able to extend the visa, but you might be able to apply for a skilled worker visa after your 485 expires. We’ll talk more about skilled worker visas a bit later in the workshop.

The Post-Study Work Stream is for graduates who have completed a Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral degree in Australia. The duration of your visa will depend on the level of qualification you have achieved. 

So, if you have a Bachelors, you can currently stay up to two years; a Master’s degree will let you stay for three, while a Doctoral degree will give you working rights in Australia for up to four years. 

Those who receive eligible qualifications from regional institutions and have successfully obtained a Post-Study Temporary Graduate visa can apply for a second one. On this second 485 visa, you can stay in Australia for an additional one to two years. To apply for this second visa, you must have lived in an eligible designated regional area for at least 2 years before applying.

In exciting news, there are a few changes to the Post-Study Work Stream coming into effect very soon! If you graduate with qualifications in certain in-demand industries on or after the 1st of July 2023, you’ll be able to stay and work in Australia for an extra two years. The Australian Department of Education website has a full list of current in-demand sectors.

An important part of the visa application process is being able to prove your proficiency in English. This can be done through a variety of tests. 

For example, PTE is an English language proficiency test that assesses your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.

PTE is accepted by the Australian government for all visa categories and helps you prove your English proficiency as part of the  485 visa application requirements. Keep in mind that you’ll still need to meet other eligibility criteria, including holding a valid student visa, having Australian health insurance, and providing your qualifications and proof of study in Australia.