Australian Short Time Graduate Visa is an excellent pathway for those who have recently been studying in Australia.

This is a work visa for international students who have completed 24 months of study in Australia. The period of this visa is 18 months and 48 months depending on your location and qualifications. Within the validity of this visa, the student can stay, study work, and travel in Australia.

Candidates who have no longer had a student visa of Australia, but if they have been affected by CovId-19 travel restrictions and unable to travel to Australia to apply for a temporary graduate visa are still eligible to apply for the visa.  The only condition is that they have obtained a student visa in the last 1 year.

This is a multiple entry visa and the visa holder can move in and out and re-enter Australia as much time as he wants. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​Graduates impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions are now able to apply for and be granted a Temporary Graduate visa outside Australia. But for applying, it is mandatory for them that they must hold or have held a Student visa in the past 12 months. There are two main streams for Australian short time graduate visas:

• The Graduate Work Stream     
• Post Study Work Stream 

1. The Graduate Work Stream

The Graduate work stream visa is for students who have recently graduated with skills and qualifications that are relevant to a specific occupation in Australia needs. The minimum level of this qualification is a Diploma. This visa is for staying, studying, and working in Australia.

2.   Post Study Work Stream 

Post Study Work Stream visa type is for students who have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution with at least a Bachelor’s or above. This visa is for stay, study, and travel in Australia for a short period of time, with the addition that the applicant has a recent degree in a CRICOS-registered course.

1- The Graduate Work Stream (subclass 485)

The first candidate should be in Australia when making an application for this visa and have a student visa within the half-year period prior to lodgment. Graduated international students with special skills and qualifications related to specific occupations in Australia can obtain this temporary graduate visa. This allows:

• to work in Australia
• to get any professional qualification on the skilled occupation list
• to bring the family to Australia

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for applying for the visa, the candidates must:

• not be over 50 years of age
• have held a student visa in the last six months.
• have a qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list 
• have applied for a skill assessment in their nominated occupation on the skilled occupation list
• have adequate health insurance for them and their family members at the application time
• have applied for an AFP
• provide evidence of the required level of English with the application

What is the level of English proficiency for eligibility?

You can showcase your valid passport from the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland, or prove your English Proficiency.

Australian study requirements

The applicant can obtain this visa if has at least one degree, trade qualification, diploma and

• the study language was English
• the course consisted of 2 years time period
• the applicant has complete all the course needs successfully
• the course was a CRICOS-register course
• the completed course was not less than sixteen moths
• the applicant obtained an Australian study visa for study permissions

Applying for this visa from outside Australia

One can also apply for the subclass 485 visa while not being in Australia during the concession period and the visa can be granted outside of Australia. In such a case, the visa processing will be done only if:

• the candidate is the main holder of the current student visa (not supported by the secretary of defense or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and trade)
• the candidate obtained a student visa within 6 months prior to your application and now has a bridging visa A or bridging visa B, granted on the basis of a valid application for a visa
• candidate has got a student visa within 6 months prior to  application and now has a substantial visa
• candidates who have no longer had a student visa of Australia, but if they have been affected by CovId-19 travel restrictions and unable to travel to Australia to apply for a temporary graduate visa are still eligible to apply for the visa.  The only condition is that they have obtained a student visa in the last 1 year.
• candidates who have previously obtained a Subclass 485 or Subclass 476 visa as a primary visa holder, the application will be rejected

Get proper Health Insurance

Visa applicants must have proper health care for their entire stay in order to get this visa. This should cover medical needs including transportation. 

Character certificate for visas

You must have a good character to go or live in Australia. You have to pass the character test, and live with the good. This is necessary for an Australian visa and citizenship. The Minister of a delegate can refuse your application or cancel your visa if you do not pass your character requirements.

Sign the Declaration of Australian Values

To sign the declaration of Australian Values mean that you will obey Australian laws and the Australian way of life. 

Paying back the loans

If you or a family member owes money to the Australian Government, you or they will have paid it or arrange for a refund. If the applicant has had a visa canceled or refused while he was in Australia he will not be able to obtain this visa.

How to apply for the visa?

You must apply for this visa online, Authorities will notify and see what you can and should do when your request and documents are received. Begin these steps as soon as your education provider has confirmed that you have successfully completed your course.

Arrange your documents and provide proof of your

• Studies
• Qualifications
• Skills assessment
• Identity
• Relationship
• Family member’s documents

Visa outcome

If the applicant is granted a visa, he will be told the visa grant number, visa conditions and the date of his visa starts. Subsequent entrants can be in or outside of Australia. The applicant and his family member should be in Australia if he is a primary applicant. Graduates impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions can be granted this visa outside Australia. If your visa refused you will be told the refusal reason and whether you have a right to a review of the decision.

Answers to important questions for graduate visa subclass 485

Visa extension

You cannot stay longer in Australia on this visa, which means you cannot obtain a visa extension, you might be eligible for skilled work visas.

What is VEVO?

VEVO stands for “Visa Entitlement Verification Online”. It allows visa holders, employers, education providers, and other organizations to check visa details and conditions, it provides information relating to your current in-effect visa, like visa type, expiry date, must reach within time, visa period, and conditions. VEVO is unable to provide detailed visas that are ‘ not in operation’  like if you have a bridging visa but your substantive visa has not yet expired.

What if your occupation has been removed from the list?

If you already have a skilled visa, you will not be affected by these removed occupations unless there is a change in your circumstances that requires a new application for nomination. This effect can occur when you are changing your profession or employer, and your occupation is not included in the common list of qualified skilled occupations.

Adding a family member

You can include your children in the application until your application is decided. You cannot add another family unit member to your application during this period, family members applying for a visa must meet health and role requirements.

Visa expenses

The cost of a primary visa is AUD1,650 and the fee is nonrefundable in case of visa refusal. There is also a charge for each family member who applies for a visa with you. Later entrants will pay the full visa application charge. You may also have to pay for health checks, police certificates, and other biometrics. The subclass 485 visas are exempt from the subsequent temporary application charge.

Visa sticker

Authorities will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not find a label on your passport.

Multiple entry visa

Candidate can travel outside of Australia and return as many times as you wish once your visa is valid, the visa does not extend to the time you spend outside Australia.

Job in Australia

keep in mind you will have to create opportunities for your employment. Australian Authorities will not be responsible to provide you the work. 

Are your skills and qualification matching Australian needs?

The candidate will nominate his occupation when he applies, he will not be able to change occupation once submitted. In the sight of Australian skills and qualification requirements see the following points:

• The applicant will need a degree, trade qualification, and diploma related to that occupation
• Assessment of  the appropriate skills for the profession by the relevant assessing authority
• He will nominate one occupation on the (MLTSSL) Medium and Long term strategic skill list

If want to make your case strong your qualification level must be closely related to that occupation. You can understand this by Following exampled acceptable qualification and occupations:

• ‘Air-conditioned and Mechanical Services Plumber’ as you skilled occupation and having certificate 3 in plumbing and a diploma of plumbing and services in Australia.
• ‘Physiotherapist’ as your skilled occupation and a degree in physiotherapist in Australia.

The following points are the unacceptable combination of the study of qualification and nominated occupation:

• The candidate’s designated profession is a registered nurse, but he/she met the ‘Australian Study Need’ on the basis of completing a Bachelor of Commerce.
• Your abilities should be assessed by the relevant diagnostic authority as appropriate for the designated profession. For example, if you are a designated Speech Pathologist the option you need to choose is Speech Pathology Australia
• The candidate will provide proof that he has applied for a minimum skill assessment.

2- Post-Study Work Stream

Post Study Work Stream visa type is for students who have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution with at least (Bachelor or above). This visa is for stay, study, and travel in Australia for a short period of time, with the addition that the applicant has a recent degree in a CRICOS-registered course. There are only two differences between the graduate visa and a post-study graduate visa which are:

• stay permission duration in Australia which is more on this visa
• the applicant has a recent degree in a CRICOS-registered course

Eligibility Criteria, visa fees, other documents requirements remain the same for this as in graduate visa subclass 485.