This blog will discuss the latest updates about the Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485 and the Covid Pandemic Visa subclass 408.
The Government has extended post-study work rights to give eligible international higher education graduates with select qualifications an additional two years on their Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).
Post-study work rights for select degrees in areas of verified skill shortages will increase from:
• Two years to four years for select Bachelor's degrees
• Three years to five years for select Master's degrees
• Four years to six years for all doctoral qualifications
Through a mapping process undertaken by Jobs and Skills Australia and the Department of Education have developed the lists of occupations in demand and related qualifications d to implement the extension.
All doctoral studies are considered eligible for the measure, regardless of the field of study, and are not listed individually.
Check it here: https://www.education.gov.au/extended-poststudy-work-rights-international-graduates
Please note that these targeted skills will be considered annually and updated as needed in response to the labour market.
The 485 extension stream will maintain the existing regional and remote Australia settings, where relevant, will be eligible for the additional two years.
Department has advised that they will provide more details on eligibility and how to apply for the extended Temporary Graduate Visa closer to 1 July 2023.
There are Transitional arrangements in place to support other graduates.
Temporary Graduate visa holders in Australia whose visas expired or will expire between 1 September 2022 and 1 July 2023, or Temporary Graduate visa holders who were in Australia throughout the pandemic period and are therefore not eligible for the 485 Replacement stream, may be eligible for the COVID-19 Pandemic Event (subclass 408) visa with a 2-year stay period. You must be working in Australia or have an offer of employment to be eligible for this visa.
You must apply 90 days before your 485 visa expires or 28 days after your 485 visa expires to be eligible for a Pandemic event visa.
You cannot apply separately for an extended Temporary Graduate visa if your 408 Pandemic Event visa is granted.
There is some more information on the Department of Home Affairs website under the 408 Pandemic visa page:
It mentions that If you are a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa (TGV) holder in Australia, you may apply for and be granted a Pandemic event visa with two years of stay instead of a 485 extension if:
Your TGV expires before 1 July 2023
You are not eligible to apply for a 485 extension on 1 July 2023
You currently have an unfinalized 408 Pandemic event visa application, and you held a TGV while you made that application.
It will be interesting to see if there will be an application fee for the 485 visas, as the 408 Pandemic visa has nil Application fees. Some graduates might be eligible for both 408 and 485 visas and may want to pick and choose the type of visa they would like to lodge, depending on the application fees.
The current arrangements for a one-year 408 visa will still be in place. So if you already have a Covid visa and want to get another one for one year, that option is still available.
If you are considering applying for a Covid visa, please book a consultation with us https://www.sumandua.com.au/service-page/408-covid-visa-consultation?referral=service_list_widget
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