As of 1 July 2022, temporary changes have been made to the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa Graduate work.
Changes to the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa Graduate Work Stream include the removal of the skilled occupation list, allowing Vocational Education and Training (VET) graduates who were not previously eligible for the skilled occupation to now be eligible. In addition, the Gradate Work stream has been extended from 18 months to 24 months and removed the requirement of a skills assessment. This extension allows the subclass 485 visa holders to extend or enliven their visas upon additional benefits such as the satisfaction of the two-year work experience post qualification period for those who wish to apply for the work sponsorship temporary 482 visa. The extension of the (subclass 485) visa was actioned on 18 February 2022 automatically to those eligible and free of cost.
The subclass 485 includes extension and enlivening if the requirements are satisfied.
To be eligible for the visa extension the following must be satisfied:
- on 15 December 2021 visa holder must have held a Temporary Graduate visa
- the expiration of the visa is before 30 September 2022
- at the time of the visa grant the visa holder was in Australia
- between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021, the visa holder has been outside Australia for any period of time (inclusive)
- the cancellation of the visa has not occurred since 15 December 2021
- since 15 December 2021 the visa holder has not been granted a further substantive visa
To be eligible for visa enlivening the following must be satisfied:
- visa holders must have held a temporary Graduate visa that expired between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 inclusive
- at the time the visa was granted the visa holder was in Australia
- between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021, the visa holder has been outside Australia for any period of time inclusive
- the visa was not cancelled
- the visa holder had not been granted further substantive visa
In addition to the changes to the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa Graduate Work, the opportunity to replace visas that were impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions is now available for visa holders to stay the same length as their original visa which expired on or after the 1 February 2020; and between 1 February 2020 and 15 December travelled outside of Australia for any period of time. Applications opened 1 July 2022.
Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders for Master by Coursework graduates are now granted to stay for three years instead of two. This is a permanent change that now matches the stay period for Master by Research graduates.
The purpose of these changes is to allow skilled VET students to contribute to the economy and provide greater opportunities for VET graduates. It also recognises the disruptions caused by COVID-19 and its effect on students as well as the valuable contribution of temporary visa holders to the economy by working and living in Australia.