Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) can be divided into two steams: Graduate Work stream and Post-Study Work stream
- Post-Study Work Stream / PSW
This stream is only applicable to international students who have applied for and been granted their first student visas on or after 5 November 2011, had a bachelor’s degree or above, and obtained a completion letter from the school within 6 months before submitting the visa. PSW visa does not require an occupational assessment and has no restriction on the majors studied. This type of visa is valid for different periods of time according to the degree obtained, with a maximum of 4 years. Those who have a bachelor degree or a masters by coursework degree in Australia are eligible to apply for a 2-year PSW visa; graduates who have a masters by research degree or doctoral degree are eligible to apply for a 3 or 4-year PSW visa.
This stream is also known as the traditional 485 visa. It is for international students who have a qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list. This type of visa is valid for 18 months. During these 18 months, the visa holder will have the opportunity to apply for permanent residency if he or she has been able to work full-time for 12 months, or studied Professional Year if he or she previously majored in accounting, IT, engineering, etc., and been assessed by a relevant assessing authority.
Differences between the two visa streams
Item | ||
Time Limit | Applied for and been granted their first student visas on or after 5 November 2011 | N/A |
Course Length Requirements | 2 years of study | 2 years of study |
Course Requirements | Any eligible major at degree-level or above | Must be on the SOL list |
IELTS | Overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts | Overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts |
Visa Submission | Within six months of graduation | Within six months of graduation |
Length | Bachelor degree (including honours): 2 years Masters by research and Masters by coursework: 3 years Doctoral degree: 4 years | 18 months |
Applicable Group | International students who have applied for and been granted their first student visas on or after 5 November 2011 | International students who have a qualification relevant to an occupation on the the skilled occupation list |
Age | Under 50 years of age | Under 50 years of age |
Difficulty | Easy | Difficult |
Eligibility
The applicants must be under the age of 50, meet 2 years of full-time study requirement, and submit their visa applications within 6 months after completing their studies in Australia. IELTS overall score is at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts.
In addition, the Graduate Work Stream requires that the applicant’s major must be on the SOL, and the applicants must be assessed by the relevant occupational assessing authority and hold a valid substantive visa.