Skilled occupation concessions
As of 1 July 2022, the requirement for Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants in the Graduate Work stream to nominate an eligible skilled occupation and to obtain a skills assessment will be temporarily removed. This change will allow applicants who have studied in Australia for occupations that are not on the skilled occupations list to live and work in Australia for a further temporary period.
This concession will be in place for applications made between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023 (inclusive).
Replacement stream
On 1 July 2022, a new stream for the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa applications will commence for those Subclass 485 visa holders who were unable to stay in Australia for the full period of their Subclass 485 visa due to COVID restrictions that were in force from 1 February 2020 to 14 December 2021.
The new stream will be available for current and former Subclass 485 visa holders, including the secondary visa holders, if they:
were outside Australia when the original Subclass 485 visa was granted and entered Australia on the original visa before 15 December 2021, departed Australia after this entry but before 15 December 2021 while holding the original visa;
OR
were in Australia when the original Subclass 485 visa was granted and were outside Australia at any time between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 while holding the original visa.
The Subclass 485 replacement stream will be available until 1 January 2027.
There will be restrictions applying for the Subclass 485 replacement stream for Subclass 485 visa holders in the Post-Study stream who hold a second Subclass 485 visa; and for applicants, who have had their Subclass 485 and any subsequent visa cancelled (some exceptions apply).
If you wish to discuss your eligibility for the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) replacement stream with us, then please book a Migration Consultation to speak to our principal Registered Migration Agent Kristi Georgeson (MARN 1793357).