The 485 visa was originally called the Skilled – Graduate visa in September 2007. It was amended in March 2013 to accommodate new post-study work arrangements. The visa was renamed the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa.
The VC-485 visa does not require the support of an employer sponsor, an Australian relative sponsor or a nominating State/Territory. Successful applicants do not have any study or work restrictions.
Regulatory requirements
Schedule 1 item 1229 valid application requirements
Schedule 2 Part 485 criteria for visa grant
To be eligible to be granted a VC-485, the applicant must first make a valid application by meeting the requirements in Regulations Schedule 1 item 1229.
Among other things this means that the applicant:
- must hold one of the visas specified in 1229(4)(a) in the circumstances specified (if relevant) and
- if seeking to satisfy VC-485 primary criteria:
- must be less than 50 years old at time of application (1229(4)(b))
must nominate only one stream to which the application relates (1229(3)(j)) and
if nominating for the Graduate Work stream, must have nominated a skilled occupation as specified in the legislative instrument made for 1229(3)(k) purposes.
The primary applicant for the VC-485 visa must choose to apply for one of its two streams:
Applicants cannot change the stream they have selected after their application has been made.
Graduate Work stream
The Graduate Work stream is open to graduates with an eligible qualification, including those from the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector who graduate with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation that is considered in demand in the Australian labour market, as indicated in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
Post-Study Work stream
The Post-Study Work stream is only open to overseas students who have recently graduated with an eligible higher education degree from an Australian educational institution, regardless of their field of study. This stream is available only to persons who applied for, and had been granted, their first student visa on or after 5 November 2011 – Regulations schedule 1 item 1229(3)(l).