How to get a Working Visa in Australia After Graduation

If you are an international student and have recently graduated from a college or other professional institution, then you can apply for Australia’s Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). The Australian Temporary Graduate visa allows international students the right to work in Australia for between 1 to 4 years. After the completion of this visa, applicants can then apply for permanent residency visas and permanently live in Australia.

This is a great first working visa option for international students and graduates that are interested in living and working in Australia, either temporarily or permanently.

Two types of the Temporary Graduate Visa:

There are two types of visas within the Temporary Graduate visa pathway. Each of the two types have mostly the same requirements, however each type requires slightly different educational training.

Visa Type 1	Post-Study Work Stream
Visa Type 2	Graduate Work Stream

Requirements for the Temporary Graduate Visa:

The requirements for the two types of Temporary Graduate are all very similar. The primary differences in their requirements relate to the specific education and skilled occupation list that applies to the applicant. Otherwise the requirements are as follows below:

Age Requirements:	All applicants must be under 50 years of age.
Previous Visa Requirements:	All applicants must have had a valid student visa before applying for the Temporary Graduate Visa. The most common student visa most would be subclass 500.
Educational Requirements:	Post-Study Work Stream: Applicants under this stream need to have specifically completed high-level academic programs. The requirements for this must be at least a bachelors, masters or doctoral degree. In addition, the applicant must have studied for at least 16 months in Australia and in English. Graduate Work Stream: Applicants under this stream need to have studied in Australia for at least 16 months, obtained at least one degree, diploma or trade qualification, studied in English.
Skills Requirement:	Post-Study Work Stream: There are no specific skills assessment or skills requirement for this stream. Graduate Work Stream: Applicants for this stream must pick a specific occupation from the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and then conduct a skills assessment to prove that they have the skills and experience necessary to perform the nominated occupation.
Health Requirement:	Applicants must meet health requirements and may be required undergo a medical examination and meet minimum health requirement.
Criminal History:	Applicant must be able to prove that they are of ‘good character’. Applicants are required to sign an Australian values statement and provide police certificates and other relevant documents.
English Requirements:	Applicants must prove they have competent English by either passing an English language test or having a passport from any of the following countries: United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland.

Process for Applying to Temporary Graduate Visa:

Step 1 Preparation: Before applying, applicants must have all the necessary documentation and have complied with the applicable requirements as listed in this article. Applicants should have all their documents, proof of graduation, ID, family documents, proof of English skills, and health records for submission, skills assessment (if applicable), etc.

Step 2: Apply for the Visa: Once the applicant has all the documents prepared, the applicant can finally submit the visa application. This process is done by registering an ImmiAccount with the Department of Home Affairs website and attaching all the applicable documents. The cost for the Employer Nomination Scheme visa application, regardless of which one you pick, is AUD $1,680.00.

Step 4: After the Application: Once the visa application has been submitted, it can take anywhere between 7 months to 17 months for the application. Post-Study Work stream applications often finish in less than 12 months, while the Graduate Work stream applications can take up to 17 months. During this processing time, the government of Australia will notify you if there are any mistakes or missing information in the application which can be rectified.

Step 5: Receive the Visa: If the visa is granted, then the applicant will receive a visa grant number, the date the visa expires and the visa conditions. These conditions will relate to your obligations as a visa holder. One received the visa will be digitally linked to the applicant’s passport.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. The information and facts referred to herein may be amended, removed or otherwise changed by the applicable government authority. As such, the information contained herein is provided with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.