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If you are an international student who has recently completed your studies and is looking to gain work experience in Australia, then 485 visa is probably the best Australian visa category that you can opt for. This visa provides you with an excellent opportunity to extend your stay and kickstart your career in this vibrant country. 485 Visa Australia allows you to work, study, and live in Australia temporarily, providing a valuable transition from student life to the professional world. The duration of this visa may range from 18 months to 5 years depending on the visa stream you choose. However, each of the streams has got their own requirements, costs, and benefits.

What is Subclass 485 Visa Australia?

Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 Visa Australia is a Type of Work Visa for international students that allows you to remain in the country temporarily after completing your studies. If you’re an international graduate, visa 485 is designed to provide an opportunity to gain practical work experience and improve your skills related to your field of study. You’ll have to complete at least two years of study in Australia to apply for this visa.

And if you’re the primary applicant for a 485 visa Australia then you must be present in Australia at the time of application and must have had a valid student visa within the six months before applying. Subclass 485 visa has four streams: Graduate Work stream, Post-Study Work stream, Second Post-Study Work stream, and Replacement stream. The duration of this visa typically ranges from 18 months to 4 years, depending on the work stream you apply for. Although 485 visa Australia is a temporary visa, you can get Permanent Residency in Australia by fulfilling certain criteria.

Temporary Graduate 485 Visa Streams

Temporary graduate visa 485 has four streams: Graduate Work stream, Post-Study Work stream, Second Post-Study Work stream, and Replacement stream. Each of these streams has its own eligibility requirements and benefits. You can choose one of the streams depending on your individual circumstance and qualification.

Graduate Work Stream

Visa 485 graduate work stream is for international students who have completed an Australian qualification taking at least 2 academic years in a field that is on the skilled occupation list. This stream allows you to work and study in Australia for at least up to 24 months however, Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay up to 5 years.

Requirement for Subclass 485 Graduate Work Stream

• You must be under 50 years of age
• You must have met the Australian study requirement before applying for this visa
• Health insurance requirements: You will need to demonstrate that you have suitable health insurance arrangements when your 485 visa is approved. While OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) is acceptable at the time of application, you will need Working Visa cover for your 485 visa to be approved.
• Health requirement: You and any family members applying for the visa must meet the health requirement specified by the Australian Department of Home Affairs
• You and the family member applying with you must meet the character requirements specified by the Australian Department of Home Affairs
• English language requirements: You will need to show English language competency. You can either show the English language proficiency test results(IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, OET) or you must have held a passport from countries like the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada or New Zealand.
• You must successfully complete a skills assessment for your nominated occupation
• You must have fulfilled the Australian study requirement within the six months before applying for this visa.

Cost of 485 Graduate Work Stream

The cost of a 485 visa graduate stream for the primary applicant is AUD1,895.00.

Post-Study Work Stream

Visa 485 post study work stream is for international students who have completed a higher education degree(Bachelor, Masters or Doctorate level) in Australia taking at least 2 academic years. The duration of this visa stream is usually between 2 and 4 years, depending on your qualification.

Requirements for 485 Visa Post Study Work Stream

1. Australian Study Requirements
   You are required to finish a course or series of courses in Australia that lasts at least two academic years. There are several requirements such as:
• The two years of study must be at the Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral level
• The studies must be submitted to CRICOS for registration, and the total registered study time must be at least 92 weeks
• If you received exemptions for studying abroad, those may be taken into account when determining whether you've met the 92-week requirement
• If each course satisfies the above-mentioned standards and completes two academic years of study, you may count more than one course
• You are allowed to take a break between classes
2. You must be under 50 years of age
3. You must have applied for and been granted your first student visa on or after 5 November 2011
4. You have been enrolled in a degree-level course with an Australian education provider that is listed on CRICOS
5. English language requirements: You will need to show English language competency. You can either show the English language proficiency test results(IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, OET) or you must have a passport from the countries like UK, Ireland, USA, Canada or New Zealand.
6. Health requirement: You and any family members applying for the visa must meet the health requirement specified by the Australian Department of Home Affairs
7. You and the family member applying with you must meet the character requirements specified by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Cost of 485 Visa Post Study Work Stream

The Cost of 485 visa post study work stream for the primary applicant is AUD1,895.00.

Second Post-Study Work Stream

This visa is available to those who received their degree from an Australian university in a regional area and currently hold a Temporary Graduate visa (first Post-Study Work stream or Replacement stream). The duration of this stream is between 1 to 4 years which depends on the criteria set by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Requirements for Second Post-Study Work Stream

• You must be under 50 years of age
• You be in Australia at the time of applying for this visa
• You must have completed your degree from an Australian education provider that is registered on CRICOS and offers degree-level programs in order to be granted your first Temporary Graduate visa under the post-study work stream. You needed to have attended a campus located in a designated regional area
• You must have resided in an eligible designated regional area for at least two years before submitting an application for the second Temporary Graduate Visa in the post-study job stream
• Health requirement: You and any family members applying for the visa must meet the health requirement specified by the Australian Department of Home Affairs
• You and the family member applying with you must meet the character requirements specified by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Cost of Second Post-Study Work Stream

The Cost of Second Post-Study Work Stream for the primary applicant is AUD745.00.

Replacement Stream

485 Replacement stream visa is for Temporary Graduate visa holders who lost time on their initial visa as a result of COVID-19 travel limitations, including current and previous visa holders. The duration of this stream is usually between 18 months and 5 years which depends on the criteria set by the Australian Department of Home Affair

Requirements for 485 Replacement Stream Visa

• You must be under 50 years of age
• You must submit an application before January 1, 2027
• You must have held a relevant Temporary Graduate visa that was issued before 15 December 2021
• You must have lost time on your visa due to COVID-19 travel limitations in Australia
• Your temporary graduate visa or any other visa issued after it shouldn’t have been cancelled, unless you specifically requested its cancellation
• Health requirement: You and any family members applying for the visa must meet the health requirement specified by the Australian Department of Home Affairs
• You and the family member applying with you must meet the character requirements specified by the Australian Department of Home Affairs

Cost of Visa 485 Replacement Stream

The Cost of Visa 485 Replacement stream for the primary applicant is AUD1,895.00.

General 485 Visa Requirements for all Streams

Although the specific visa 485 requirements are distinct on the basis of different 485 visa streams, the general requirements are as follows:

• You must have been under 50 years of age
• You must have lodged for the visa within 6 months of receiving the results
• You hold a valid student visa and have held it 6 months before you applied for a 485 visa
• You must be inside Australia when applying for visa application
• You must meet the Australian study requirements
• You must meet the Australian health and character requirement
• You must meet the 485 visa English requirements
• You must meet the skills requirements and your occupation must be listed in the skilled occupation list

485 Visa Document Checklist

The following is the 485 Visa Australia checklist for the documents that you need to gather while applying for the visa:

1. Identity Documents:
   • Passport bio-data page
   • Birth Certificate
   • Proof of name change such as marriage or divorce certificate
   • Passport-size photo
2. Proof of your finished studies: You need to submit a letter of completion which should include facts such as dates when you started and when you finished your study program, the language in which you were taught, etc
3. Copy of your original academic transcripts including all your course grades
4. Proof of English language proficiency: You must provide evidence that you passed an international English language test(IELTS, TOEFL, etc) unless you are from the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland
5. Health insurance: You must provide evidence that you have valid health insurance while you are in Australia or that you are covered by Medicare
6. Your character documents: You must submit evidence that you applied for a National Police Check as well as additional documents demonstrating your lack of criminal activity. You also need to be sure to submit form 1221 and form 80 as well for additional information
7. Skill assessment documents: You must complete a skill assessment for your nominated occupation, and you must submit the results along with your application. However, it is only required for a graduate stream visa
8. Partner documents: You need to provide copies of your partner's or spouse's identification documents, your marriage certificate (if required), evidence of a registered relationship, and other similar documents
9. Dependants under 18 documents: If a dependent under 18 years of age is applying along with you then, you need to submit their birth certificate or a family book, and either a parental consent form 1229 or a statutory declaration
10. Dependants over 18 documents: In case a dependent over 18 years of age is applying with you then, you need to submit their identification documents. You also need to submit proof of dependency, and form 47a

485 Visa Application Process

You can go through the following process to lodge the 485 visa application:

Create your ImmiAccount

A 485 visa requires an online application submission. You must have an ImmiAccount in order to submit a successful application. If you don’t have the account then you can create a new ImmiAccount from the Australian Department of Home Affairs site. You will find the instructions for how to apply, and a complete list of the essential documents you must submit for your visa application on the site. However, you have to carefully select the visa stream while applying as you cannot change the visa streams once you have applied.

Attach and Submit the Necessary Documents

You need to attach the required documents with your application after you’ve chosen the 485 visa stream you are applying for. You will need to submit scanned copies of your original documents or scanned photocopies if you are applying online. You need to make sure to prepare your documents in a way that allows them to be easily uploaded as files.

Paying the Application Fee

You must pay the application fee to get your application processed. If not, your application won’t get processed. You must pay the fee online from the payment options in the ImmiAccount.

Submit Your Application

You can proceed to submit your application once you’ve made the payment for the application. You need to submit your application on time, taking into consideration the Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Wait for the Visa Outcome

After all the above process is completed, all you need to do is to wait for the result from the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Benefits of Visa Subclass 485

The following are the 485 visa benefits:

• You have the freedom to work for any employer and in any occupation, providing flexibility in exploring different career opportunities
• You can further your studies in Australia
• You are allowed to live and work in Australia for up to 18 months to 4 years, depending on the stream you apply for
• You will have the right to travel, stay, study, and work in Australia on a temporary basis
• This visa subclass can serve as a stepping stone for you to get permanent residency in Australia
• You may be eligible for the medicare
• Your eligible family members can join you
• Your family member can live, work or study along with you

485 Visa to PR (Permanent Residency)

The temporary graduate visa 485 provides an opportunity for you to transition to permanent residency. Although the 485 visa is a temporary visa, it can serve as a pathway towards permanent residency through various immigration programs. However, you would need to plan ahead to obtain a PR. The following are the ways through which you can get Permanent Residency in Australia

Skilled Migration Pathways

The work experience gained during the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa can help you to increase the points for the points-based visas, such as the Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa subclass 491 and State Sponsored 190 visa.

Employer-Sponsored Visa

The Employer Sponsored 186 visa is a permanent visa that requires an employer willing to sponsor you. At least three years of work experience relevant to the particular occupation will be required, which you can gain with a 485 visa.

State or Territory Nomination

Some permanent residency programs, such as the subclass 190 visa, require nomination by an Australian state or territory government. Having Australian work experience through the subclass 485 visa can increase the chances of receiving a nomination.

Points-Based System

Australia's permanent residency programs use a points-based system to evaluate you on the basis of factors such as age, education, work experience, English language proficiency,etc. Thus, work experience gained during the subclass 485 visa period can contribute to the overall points score and improve the chances of obtaining permanent residency. Also, if you are an accountant, engineer, or IT professional, you can do a professional year, which will add 5 points to your points test and can also help with your skills assessment.

Visa 485 Processing Time

The 485 visa processing time varies according to different visa streams. However, the Australian Department of Home Affairs can change the processing time as per their priorities. The following is the processing time for subclass 485 visa as specified by the Australian DHA:

485 visa Graduate Work Stream Processing Time

1. 25% of applications: Less than 1 Day
2. 50% of applications: 28 Days
3. 75% of applications: 32 Days
4. 90% of applications: 77 Days

Visa 485 Post Study Work Stream Processing Time

1. 25% of applications: 6 Days
2. 50% of applications: 21 Days
3. 75% of applications: 42 Days
4. 90% of applications: 3 Months

Second Post-Study Work Stream Processing Time

Processing times are not available yet for this visa stream.

Replacement stream Processing Time

Processing times are not available yet for this visa stream.

Subclass 485 Visa Fee

The Subclass 485 visa fees depending on the different circumstances are as follows:

Fee for Primary Applicant

The 485 visa fee for a primary applicant is A$1895.

Graduate 485 Visa Fee for Additional Applicants aged 18 and above

Additional applicants who are at least 18 years old need to pay a visa fee of A$950.

485 Visa Cost for Additional Applicants under 18 Years of Age

Additional applicants below 18 years of age need to pay a visa cost of A$475.

Subclass 485 Dependent Visa Fee

The 485 visa cost is A$1895 for secondary applicants who lodge an independent application. A$950 for secondary applicants at least 18 and A$475 for applicants less than 18 if applying as combined applicants with the primary applicant.

Second Post Study Work Stream Visa 485 Extension Fee

• A$745 for eligible subclass 485 visa holders
• A$950 for secondary applicants of at least 18
• A$475 for applicants less than 18 if applying as combined applicants with the primary applicant.

485 Subsequent Entrant Visa Fee

A Subclass 485 Subsequent Entrant Visa must be filed if a dependant family member of a visa 485 holder desires to join them in Australia. The application fee will be A$1895 for the primary applicant, A$950 for those who are at least 18, and A$475 for those who are under 18.

Conclusion

485 Temporary Graduate Visa opens doors of opportunity for you after you’ve completed your studies in Australia. This visa allows you to gain valuable work experience, enhance your skills, and explore career prospects in your field of study. You’ve got several streams to choose from when you apply for 485 visa, as per your relevant qualifications. Whichever visa stream you apply for, the Subclass 485 visa provides a bridge between your studies and potential pathways to permanent residency. By taking advantage of the benefits and opportunities offered by the Subclass 485 visa, you can make the most of your time as a skilled worker in Australia and set yourself on a path to a bright and prosperous future.

However, you need to fulfil various 485 visa requirements in order to be eligible to apply. For this matter, if you need any professional assistance then CDR Writer Australia is always ready to assist you with professional services and guidance. CDR Writer Australia has got a diverse team of experts who can guide you throughout the 485 visa application process.