If you’ve recently completed your studies in Australia and wish to stay and work, the Graduate Visa allows international students to stay in Australia for up to 2-4 years, depending on your qualification. This visa provides an opportunity to gain practical work experience related to your qualification.
The Graduate Visa (subclass 485) offers two streams: the Graduate Work Stream for international students who have recently completed a qualification that relates to an occupation on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List, and the Post-Study Work Stream for students who have completed higher education in Australia.
This visa allows you to live, study, and work in Australia after you complete your studies, giving you the flexibility to gain valuable Australian work experience.
There are two main streams available under the Graduate Visa:
This visa allows you to stay and work in Australia for up to 18 months after completing a qualification that relates to an occupation on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List.
This stream allows international students who have completed higher education qualifications in Australia to stay and work for a period of 2 to 4 years, depending on the level of qualification.
Before applying for the Graduate Visa, make sure you meet these primary requirements:
You must have completed a qualification that is eligible under the Graduate Work or Post-Study Work stream in Australia.
You must apply for the Graduate Visa within 6 months of completing your course in Australia.
There are some additional requirements that may apply depending on the Graduate Visa stream you're applying for:
You must meet the required level of English language proficiency as part of your visa application process.
If applying for the Graduate Work Stream, you must undergo a skills assessment in an occupation listed on Australia's Skilled Occupation List.
The processing time for the Graduate Visa (subclass 485) can vary, but on average, it may take up to 4 months to process the application. However, the actual processing time may depend on factors such as the completeness of your application, your location, and the stream you apply under.
While the application is being processed, applicants under the Post-Study Work Stream can stay in Australia for up to 4 years, and applicants under the Graduate Work Stream can stay for 18 months.
The Graduate Work Stream allows recent graduates in an eligible occupation to stay and work in Australia for up to 18 months while gaining relevant work experience.
The Post-Study Work Stream allows international graduates who have completed a higher education qualification to stay and work in Australia for up to 4 years, depending on the qualification.
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