485 Temporary Graduate Visa – who can apply? 

September 27, 2021

485 Temporary Graduate Visa – who can apply? 

If you are an international student and have completed your studies in Australia, you might be eligible to extend your stay and continue to live, work and study in Australia. In general, there are three types of Temporary Graduate visas: 

• Graduate Work stream
• Post-Study Work stream 
• Second-Post Study Work stream  

Let’s have a look, what each of these three options mean and what is the eligibility criteria.  

Graduate Work stream visa 

If you are an international student, who has recently graduated with skills and qualifications that are relevant to specific occupations Australia needs. This is a temporary visa.  

• If you are a Graduate, who was affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions, you are now able to apply for Temporary Graduate visa outside Australia. The condition is you must hold or have held an eligible Student visa.  
• This visa gives you working rights in Australia.  
• You need to have a qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list 
• This visa allows you to also bring your family.  

This visa is usually granted for the period of up to 18 months. Hong Kong passport holders can stay for 5 years.  

Eligibility criteria for Graduate Work Stream visa 

• You must be under the age of 50 
• Previously hold an eligible visa 
• Have held a student visa in the last 6 months 
• Have a qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list 
• Have applied for a skills assessment in your nominated occupation on the skilled occupation list 
• Have an adequate health insurance for all applicants at the time of the application 
• Have evidence that you have applied for an AFP check when you apply 
• Have evidence of the required level of English language when you apply 

Post-Study Work stream visa 

If you have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution, this visa lets you temporary stay, work and study in Australia.  

• If you are a Graduate, who was affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions, you are now able to apply for Temporary Graduate visa outside Australia. The condition is you must hold or have held an eligible Student visa.  
• You have working rights and can bring you family with you 
• You do need a recent degree in a CRICOS-registered course  

You can usually stay between 2 and 4 years, depending on your qualification. Hong Kong passport holders can stay for 5 years.  

Eligibility criteria for Post-Study Work stream visa 

• You must be under the age of 50 
• You have applied for and been granted your first student visa on or after 5 November 2011 
• Hold an eligible visa 
• Have held a student visa in the last 6 months 
• Have a recent degree in a CRICOS-registered course  
• Have an adequate health insurance for all applicants at the time of the application 
• Have evidence that you have applied for an AFP check when you apply 
• Have evidence of the required level of English language when you apply 

Second-Post Study Work stream  

This visa is for holders of a first temporary Graduate visa, who graduated in the post-study stream form an Australian institution located in a regional area. Like Graduate Work stream and Post-Study Work stream visas, this visa also allows you live, work and study in Australia and to bring you family with you.  

How long can you stay on Second Post-Study Work stream? 

1. Usually between 1 or 2 years, depending on the regional location of the educational institution that you graduated form and had your first Temporary Graduate visa granted in the post-study work stream 

1. The 2 year visa depends on the regional area that you live in as the holder of your first Temporary Graduate visa post-study work stream.  

Eligibility criteria for Second-Post Study Work stream visa: 

For this visa, you must: 

• be under the age of 50 
• be in Australia when applying for this visa 
• be currently holding a Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream as the main applicant 
• have a recent degree in a CRICOS-registered course from an education institution based in an eligible designated regional area, upon which your first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream was granted 
• have lived in an eligible designated regional area for at least 2 years before applying for the second Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream 
• have evidence of adequate health insurance for all applicants when you apply 

At E-Help we are qualified to help you with preparing visa documents for the application, advise you about the process and guide you to the best outcome. We have a team of experienced, registered migration agents, so you can rest assured that your application is going to be prepared and lodged with the best chance of success. 

Ready? Simply, give us a call or fill out the enquiry form and let’s get started.