2022 Top 2 Changes to Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) you need to know

​​​​On 18 February 2022, more than 30 000 eligible Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders had their visas extended until 30 September 2022.

NOTE: If you have applied for another substantive visa, you may wish to consider whether it is appropriate to withdraw that application in your circumstances.

If you do not withdraw that application and we grant you another visa before 30 September 2022, your subclass 485 visa will cease.

485 Visa extension eligibility criteria

Your Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa was extended until 30 September 2022,  if you met all of the following criteria on the 18 February 2022: 

• You held a Temporary Graduate visa on 15 December 2021 with an expiry date before 30 September 2022
• the primary visa holder was in Australia at time of the visa grant
• the primary visa holder was outside Australia for any period between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 (inclusive) as the holder of a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa
• the visa has not been cancelled since 15 December 2021
• you had not been granted a further substantive visa since 15 December 2021.

If your Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa expired between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021, then it was enlivened (brought back into effect) on the 18 February 2022 and extended until 31 September 2022, if you met all of the following criteria: 

• your Temporary Graduate visa expired between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 (inclusive)
• the primary visa holder was in Australia at time of grant
• the primary visa holder was outside Australia for any period between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 (inclusive) as the holder of a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa
• the visa was not cancelled
• you had not been granted a further substantive visa.

COVID-19 Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) replacement stream visa

Applications for the COVID-19 Temporary Graduate replacement stream visa open on 1 July 2022.

The Temporary Graduate replacement stream visa will give current and former visa holders impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions the same length of stay as their original visa.

The COVID-19 replacement stream is a replacement for the initial Temporary Graduate visa. It is only available for Temporary Graduate visa holders impacted by the Australian travel restrictions. This means, people who could not stay in Australia for the full period allowed by their previous Temporary Graduate visa.

The replacement Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa will recognise the commitment made by international students to Australia. It will acknowledge the disruption to plans that COVID-19 and the associated travel restrictions caused.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must:

• currently hold, or have held a Temporary Graduate visa that expired on or after 1 February 2020; and
• have been outside Australia at any time between 1 February 2020 and 15​ December 2021.

In normal circumstances, applicants can only be granted one Temporary Graduate visa, and a further visa is only available on the basis of regional work and study.

We are still determining details on the application requirements. It is likely that applicants will need to supply some supporting documents to apply for this visa stream.

Staying in Australia

Applicants will receive the full validity of their initial Temporary Graduate visa. This is determined by the level of their qualification.

Cost

The visa costs AUD1,680 for the primary visa applicant. There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with them.

As successful applicants will be granted the full validity, the full visa application charge will apply.

Whilst holding this visa

​Applicants can live, study and work in Australia temporarily. They must find their own employment if we grant this visa. We are not responsible for arranging employment.

Applicants can include members of the family unit in their application when they apply. This includes family members that weren't included in their original Temporary Graduate visa.