Navigating 485 Visa Requirements In 2024

What is a 485 Visa? 

If you want to stay in Australia after you have completed your graduation, then you may want to acquire the 485 visa, which allows you to stay in Australia for up to six years. This visa is also known as the temporary graduate visa. You can get this visa if you meet the 485 visa requirements. This visa will help you expand your horizons by guaranteeing valuable work experience in Australia. Furthermore, you can acquire skilled visa subclass 189 or 190 later on. This will lay the groundwork for acquiring permanent residency in Australia. 

Who is eligible for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)? 

There are certain requirements to avail of a visa subclass 485. Given below are the temporary graduate visa eligibility requirements: 

1. One must have a valid student visa 
2. Should be less than 50 years old
3. The applicant must have completed a course registered with CRICOS within the last six months. 
4. A visa needs to be applied under one nominated stream. 
5. Moreover, include the appropriate documentation when applying.

Note: once you apply, changing the visa stream is impossible.

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What are the Streams of the 485 Visa? 

1. Graduate work stream: This is the visa stream for graduates who have recently completed their courses with the requisite qualifications for certain occupations that Australia needs. This visa stream allows you to live, work and study in Australia for a short time, i.e. 18 months to 5 years ( for those with Hong Kong and British national overseas passports).
2. Post-study work stream: This visa is for international students who have completed their education at an Australian college or university. It allows you to live, study and work in Australia for 2 to 4 years. 
3. Second post-study stream: If you already have a temporary graduate visa, then this is the visa stream for you. It allows you to reside in Australia for 1 to 4 years, depending on the regional area of the educational institution from which you graduated. 
4. Replacement stream: If you are a temporary graduate visa holder and lost your time due to COVID-19 restrictions, then this is the visa stream you should apply for. It allows you to receive the same grant period as your previous visa.

Understanding the 485 Visa Checklist 

Given below is the 485 visa checklist:

Your Identity Document:

Documents needed for a 485 visa in both the post-study and graduate work streams:

• Page with biographical information on a passport
• Birth certificates with the names of the parents
• A photo the size of a passport (45 mm by 35 mm)

Your Family Relationships

• Certificates of marriage or divorce, whatever is appropriate.
• Independent proof that you have been together for at least a year is required.
• This is needed in a de facto relationship, such as joint bank account statements, billing accounts in one name, or joint ownership of significant assets.
• Certified copies of the adoption documents are required if any dependent children listed on the application are adopted.

Documents about Health and Character

The evidence that each person mentioned in the application has sufficient health insurance in Australia must be submitted with the visa application. Give any one of the following:

• A health insurance company’s signed letter (138 KB RTF).
• Check from the Australian Federal Police (not more than 12 months old)

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Meeting English Requirements for the 485 Visa 

485 visa English requirements for the temporary graduate subclass may require you to take an English proficiency test for your visa application. You must appear for IELTS and obtain the minimum score of 6.0 overall and 5.0 in reading, listening, writing and speaking. Furthermore, the requirement for TOEFL is an overall score of 64 and 4 in reading and listening. Besides that, you are required to have a minimum score of 14 in speaking and writing. 

Additionally, you can also satisfy the English requirements by having a passport of one of the following countries:

• United Kingdom
• Canada 
• New Zealand
• United States of America
• Canada

Exploring 485 Visa Processing Time

The 485 visa processing time varies depending on its visa stream. In the case of a Graduate work stream visa, it can take anywhere between one day and three months. Processing time for the post-study work stream varies between two to eight months. The processing times for the second post-study stream range from 1 day to eight months. 

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Breaking Down 485 Visa Fees

485 visa fees for the temporary graduate visa stream is A$1895, and in case a couple applies for this visa, then the fees for the second application who is at least 18 years of age will be A$950. If the applicant is less than 18 years of age, then their application fee will be A$475. This is for the case when these applications are applied along with the primary applicant. Those eligible for a second post-study work stream extension have to pay A$745; for secondary applicants, the fee is A$950 ( for those at least 18 years of age) and A$475 ( for those who are less than 18 years of age). 

IELTS Requirement for the 485 Visa

The temporary graduate visa applicants have to appear for the IELTS and meet the minimum IELTS requirements for 485 visas, which is to obtain a score of 6.0 overall and 5 in each band. 

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Can I Apply for the 485 Visa Without IELTS?

You cannot be eligible for the 485 visa without IELTS, as a temporary graduate visa requires you to meet the IELTS requirements for a 485 visa. 

Considering the 485 Visa Fee Structure

485 visa fee breakdown is listed below: 

• AUD 1,895 – Base fees
• AUD 950- Additional cost for secondary applicants of more than 18 years
• AUD 475- Additional cost of secondary applicants under 18 years
• AUD 80- Non internet application

The base application fee is A$1895.00, and additional applicant charges of 18 years and above, i.e. $945; for those under 18 years, the additional charges are $475. 

Calculating the Overall 485 Visa Cost

The initial fee for the Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 Visa stands at A$1895 for the primary applicant, while the secondary applicant, aged 18 and above, incurs a charge of A$950.

Dependent Visa Fee for 485

In the case of an independent application by the secondary applicant, the 485 visa fee amounts to A$1895. For secondary applicants aged 18 or older, the individual fee is A$950, and for those below 18, the cost reduces to A$475 when applying jointly with the primary applicant.

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Conclusion 

In this blog, we covered the requirements for a 485 visa, the visa entrant checklist, the cost of a 485 visa and more. You can contact the Department of Home Affairs officials to get more information about visa processes and a smoother transition for migration. 485 visa requires you to appear for IELTS and, meet the minimum requirements for the score and be cognizant while paying the application fees.