New Rules for Graduate Stream Applicants under the Temporary Graduate Visa
The requirement to nominate an occupation from the skilled occupation list and obtain a skills assessment has been removed for Temporary Graduate visa Graduate Work stream applications. Starting from 1 July 2022 and ending on 30 June 2023 this requirement will no longer be required when applying for the visa.
This means that in short, the Temporary Graduate Visa 485 no longer requires a skill assessment!
The Temporary Graduate 485 visa or the Post Graduate Visa as it also known, allows international students to live, study and work after you have finished your studies.
However, note that with these changes you must meet other key requirements;
- Taken an English exam and passed the required level
- Two academic years equals 92 weeks of study that contribute to one or more acceptable qualifications.
- You must have completed your studies in Australia for a total of no less than 16 calendar months while holding a study visa.
- Your course or courses must be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) and instruction must be completed in English.
- Those studies must meet the Australian Study Requirements (see below)
- You must have completed your study in more than 6 months before making an application
- Other requirements around character, health and health insurance coverage
We’re very excited by this news as it gives so many students the possibility to potentially further their stay in Australia
Announcement and COVID Concessions
Minister Hawke’s announcement of November 25, 2021 stated that as a concession during the COVID-19 pandemic, the stay period on the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) Graduate Work Stream visa would be risen from 18 to 24 months.
Minister Hawke also announced that the application requirements would be streamlined by removing the requirement for graduates to nominate an occupation from the skills occupation list.
Presently, applicants for the Graduate Work stream need to:
- nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List;
- have a degree, diploma or trade qualification closely related to that occupation; and
- be assessed by a relevant assessing authority as having skills suitable for that occupation.
The Department has advised that by removing these requirements more international vocational education and training (VET) graduates will be encouraged to stay and work in Australia for a longer period. It will also open up the visa stream to a broader range of graduates with diploma and trade qualifications that are not closely related to occupations on the skilled occupation list.
VET course graduates are now eligible for the Graduate Visa
The changes mean that those international students studying in Australia will simply need to meet the key requirements to be eligible to apply for the Subclasses 485 Temporary Graduate Visa.
Please take note that English Language Proficiency Courses or enabling programs cannot be used to meet the Australian study requirement.
Only study that has resulted in the completion of a degree, diploma, or trade qualification can be counted towards meeting the Australian study requirement.
Good News for the Post Graduate Visa
With the removal of this requirement graduates will have far more choices of jobs to apply for while waiting for their visa application to be reviewed. This is great news!
You will be able to work in your occupation, gain full time experience and potentially be able to validate your occupation or earn enough experience to be sponsored by an employer. A career path is always beneficial, and developing one in Australia can be personally enriching. Overall, removing this requirement is a great step toward getting international students into the workforce quicker and more job opportunities for graduates.
If you found this information useful and are interested in applying, please feel free to contact us by email at info@mirandamigration.com.au
