Skills Assessment Is No Longer Required for Subclass 485 Visas
Skills Assessment Is No Longer Required for Subclass 485 Visas
Announced on 25 November 2021, significant changes will be made for Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa Graduate Work stream.
Under current law, an applicant for Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa Graduate Work stream must select a skilled occupation which is eligible from the skilled occupation list on LIN 19/051, and have either applied for assessment or been assessed suitable for that occupation by a relevant assessing authority, during the last 3 years immediately prior to the application.
Upon the changes being implemented from 1 July 2022*, the skilled occupation list will be removed, and the new application is on longer required to nominate an occupation at the time of application nor to provide a suitable skills assessment.
In addition, the stay period on the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa Graduate Work stream will increase from 18 to 24 months.
These changes are welcome by the Vocational Education and Training (VET) graduates. Those VET graduates who are not eligible for a skilled occupation can now benefit Australian economy with the 24-month Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa Graduate Work stream.
Other changes have been or will be implemented to Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders progressively from 1 December 2021 through to 1 July 2022 including:
On 18 February 2022, eligible visa holders have been notified by the Department of Home Affairs of the extension of their visas.
Those visa holders who have been unable to travel to Australia as a result of COVID-19 international border restriction (currently hold, or have held a Temporary Graduate visa that expired on or after 1 February 2020; and have been outside Australia at any time between 1 February 2020 and 15 December 2021) will be able to apply for a replacement visa from 1 July 2022.
The stay period on the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa for Masters by Coursework graduates, will increase permanently from two to three years, to match the stay period for Masters by Research graduates.
*Not yet officially made through legislative instrument