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The Australian Government has introduced further concessions for eligible skilled visa holders in the hopes of filling critical labour and skills shortages to aid economic recovery efforts. The most recent concessions allow for more opportunities to a broader range of students seeking access to the Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa. These changes commencing on 1 July 2022 include:

1. The removal of certain eligibility requirements

Amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 include temporary concessions for all prospective persons applying for a Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa in the Graduate Work stream by removing the following eligibility requirements:

• having a nominated occupation on the medium and long-term strategic skills list;
• having a degree, diploma or trade qualification closely related to that occupation; and
• be assessed by a relevant assessing authority as having skills suitable for that occupation.

This concession is currently available for the financial year of 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.

2. Opportunity for a replacement visa

New measures have also been introduced benefiting approximately 30,000 current and former temporary graduate visa holders who lost time on their visa stay period due to COVID-19 international travel restrictions and border closures.

This measure effectively removes the limitation for applicants being granted one initial Subclass 485 visa to allow eligible visa holders to be granted a ‘replacement stream visa’ with the same or additional length of stay as their original visa. The following requirements must be met:

• the applicant holds a valid temporary graduate visa or held a temporary graduate visa that expired on or after 1 February 2020; and

• the applicant has been offshore between 1 February 2020 and 15 December 2021.

The opportunity to apply for this replacement stream visa is available until 1 January 2027.

Applicants must also meet all the remaining criteria for the Subclass 485 in their respective streams despite any concessions that apply.

If you are a graduate who would like advice on applying for a Subclass 485 or related visas to work and live in WA, give us a call today at (08) 9328 7525 to book in a consultation with one of our experienced migration lawyers. We can do our part to help find the best pathway for your migration journey to Australia.