The Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 is for international candidates who have recently cleared their graduation and possess qualifications and skills relevant to specific Australian occupations. The visa allows individuals to live, work and study in Australia temporarily, usually for up to 18 months.
The stay period has been temporarily increased to 24 months for visas granted from December 1, 2021. A Temporary Graduate Visa 485 holder can also bring his/her family to Australia, provided the relevant terms and conditions are met.
What Is the Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 Extension?
The Australian Government has announced the Temporary Graduate Visa 485 Extension for eligible visa holders who lost their time in Australia due to the international COVID-19 restrictions. The visa holders will have their visas extended or enlivened to September 30, 2022. A COVID-19 Temporary Graduate replacement visa stream has also been announced, which will act as a replacement for the initial Temporary Graduate 485 visa.
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Here Are the Most Commonly Asked Questions
1. I’m not sure if I’m eligible, so how can I find out?
The Temporary Graduate 485 visa extension eligibility is as follows:
- The visa holder must’ve held a Temporary Graduate 485 visa on December 15, 2021
- The current visa’s expiry date is before September 30, 2022
- The visa hasn’t been cancelled since December 15, 2021
- The primary visa holder was present in Australia when the visa was granted
- The primary visa holder was outside Australia for any period between February 1, 2020, and December 14, 2021 (inclusive)
- The visa holder hasn’t been granted any further substantive visa since December 15, 2021.
The eligibility for visa is:
- The visa holder must’ve held a Temporary Graduate visa which expired between February 1, 2020, and December 14, 2021 (inclusive)
- The primary visa holder was staying in Australia when the visa was granted
- The primary visa holder was outside Australia for any period between February 1, 2020, and December 14, 2021 (inclusive)
- The visa wasn’t cancelled
- The visa holder hasn’t been granted any further substantive visa.
2. How much does it cost to submit an application?
The Temporary Graduate 485 visa extension fee is zero, and the extension will occur automatically. You don’t have to contact the Department of Home Affairs. The visa extension will also include your family members who were initially included in your original Temporary 485 visa.
3. In light of COVID-19, is the Australian Government breaking some rules?
In view of the impacts of the international COVID-19 travel restrictions, the Australian Government has made some significant changes in the Temporary Graduate 485 visa stream. The 485 visas of candidates will be extended to September 30, 2022, fulfilling the Temporary Graduate visa 485 extension requirements.
The interim measure lets eligible Temporary 485 visa holders enter, or remain in, Australia to work, live and study until they can apply for and are granted a COVID-19 Temporary Graduate visa.
4. Can family members be included in the COVID-19 replacement Temporary Graduate visa application?
You can include your family members in your replacement Temporary Graduate visa application when you apply. It also includes any new family members since the granting of your original temporary Graduate visa.
5. What about a 485 visa Australia replacement stream?
- The Australian Government has announced the COVID-19 Temporary Graduate 485 replacement stream visa for former and current Temporary Graduate 485 Subclass visa holders.
- It has been announced to compensate for the time visa holders lost due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
- The visa will allow individuals to stay in Australia for the same length as their original Temporary Graduate 485 visa.
- Individuals will only be eligible to apply for this visa if they were outside Australia between February 1, 2020, and December 14, 2021 (inclusive).
- Applications can be submitted from both onshore and offshore and must include the full Visa Application Charge, which is AUD 1,680 for the primary applicant.
- Additional charges will be applicable for each family member included in the application.
- Applications for this visa can be made from July 1, 2022.
Note that the COVID-19 Temporary Graduate replacement visa is only a replacement for the initial Temporary Graduate 485 visa. So, this visa is not the same as the Second Post Study Work visa, which is at present only available for eligible regional applicants.
6. My graduate visa 485 expired while I was outside Australia. What are my options?
- You may be eligible for a replacement Temporary Graduate visa if your Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 expired while you were outside Australia.
- Usually, eligible graduates are entitled to only one temporary Graduate visa, although you can receive an extra year of post-study work rights if you study and live in a regional area such as Adelaide.
- Before the Australian Government announced the new regulations, if your visa expired while you were outside Australia, you’d not have the opportunity of working in Australia after your graduation on this visa.
- However, to ensure that COVID-19 does not have negative impacts on graduates, the Government of Australia has announced a new COVID-19 Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) replacement stream.
- You will only be eligible to apply for this visa if you were outside Australia between February 1, 2020, and December 15, 2021.
- Applications for this visa stream will be open on July 1, 2022.
7. How much rebate was announced on the 485 visa extension?
The Temporary Graduate subclass 485 visa extension is free, so there is no room for a rebate. The extension will occur automatically, and eligible candidates will be informed by the Department of Home Affairs.
However, a rebate of AUD 630 will apply for fully vaccinated Student Visa holders and working holidaymaker visa holders who arrive in Australia between January 19, 2022, and March 19, 2022.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs will publish a form that individuals will have to fill in to receive the rebate as a refund. The refund applications will only be open for submission until December 31, 2022.
8. What if my family members were not included on my original Temporary Graduate visa 485?
It is not necessary for your family members to have been included on your original Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 visa to include them in your new replacement visa application.
9. I pursued a Master’s degree through coursework. Before December 1, 2021, I was awarded a 485 visa. Will my visa be extended from two to three years?
No, the new visa length is only applicable for Post Study Work Stream visa holders who were granted their visas after December 1, 2021.
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