485 Visa Requirements – A Simplified Compilation of the 485 Document Checklist
For international students in Australia, securing a Subclass 485 visa once they complete their studies is a major milestone. Commonly called the TGV visa, the Temporary Graduate visa gives applicants a chance to work in Australia for a limited time, with stays ranging from 18 months to 6 years. In this article, we are simplifying 485 Visa Requirements for easy understanding.
The Subclass 485 visa has three streams: the Post-Higher Education Work stream, the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, and the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. The first stream allows a stay of two to four years, the second up to eighteen months, and the third one to two years, depending on the applicant’s qualification and study location.
The Temporary Graduate visa does not require the applicant to work in a role linked to their qualification. The applicant must find employment independently. A skilled role may help the applicant qualify for other skilled visas later. Family members included in the application may live in Australia and can work and study.
In the 2023–24 financial year, 145,032 Temporary Graduate visa applications were lodged, 37.9 percent more than the 105,146 lodged in 2022–23. During the same period, 110,468 visas were granted, 38.2 percent fewer than the 179,017 granted in 2022–23. Close to 24 percent of applications did not succeed. A key reason is missing documents. When essential documents on the 485 visa checklist are absent, the Department of Home Affairs sends a request for information; if the applicant fails to reply or supplies incomplete details, the application may be refused. Some documents must be prepared before the application is lodged. If these documents are dated prior to the lodgment date, the department is required to refuse the application.
Understanding the 485 visa requirements before lodging a 485 visa application is important. Here is a summary of the Subclass 485 visa document checklist:
485 Visa Document Checklist | 485 Visa Requirements
Post-Higher Education Work Stream Checklist
|
Document Category |
What to Provide |
|
Identity Documents |
-Passport (photo, personal details, issue/expiry date) – National ID card (if available) – Proof of name change (e.g. marriage/divorce certificate) |
|
Study Documents |
– Certified completion letter showing course dates, mode of study (e.g., full-time/part-time), campus location, instruction language, transcripts, and credit details if applicable Course completion date should be before lodging visa |
|
English Language Requirement |
One of the following: – Passport from UK, USA, Canada, NZ, Ireland OR Valid test score within 12 months (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, OET, Cambridge). Check the English language requirements for various visa subclasses. |
|
Health Insurance |
– Overseas workers’ health policy purchased from the health insurer – Other proof of adequate health insurance |
|
Character Documents |
– Australian Federal Police (AFP) check applied before the date of lodgment – Overseas police certificate (if applicable) – Military records (if applicable) |
|
Assistance Notification |
– Form 956A (if appointing someone to receive correspondence) – Form 956 (if appointing a migration agent or legal practitioner) |
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream Checklist
|
Document Category |
What to Provide |
|
Identity documents |
– Passport pages showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates – National identity card (if available) – Proof of any name changes |
|
Study documents |
– Certified copy of course completion letter showing start and end dates, course completion date, campus location, study mode (full-time/part-time), language of instruction – Certified transcripts – If credit was granted, this must be mentioned in the completion letter
Course completion date should be before lodging visa |
|
English Language |
One of the following: – Passport from UK, USA, Canada, NZ, Ireland OR Valid test score within 12 months (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, OET, Cambridge). Check the English language requirements for various visa subclasses. |
|
Skills assessment |
– The occupation needs to be in the MLTSSL List – If not yet received, provide evidence of application submission to the authority |
|
Health insurance |
– Overseas workers’ health policy purchased from the health insurer – Other proof of adequate health insurance |
|
Character documents |
– Australian Federal Police (AFP) check (complete disclosure certificate only) – Overseas police certificates, if applicable – Military service records or discharge papers, if applicable |
|
Authorised help |
– Form 956A to nominate someone to receive correspondence – Form 956 to appoint a registered migration agent or legal representative |
Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream Checklist
|
Document Category |
What to Provide |
|
Identity documents |
– Passport pages showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates – National identity card (if available) – Proof of any name changes |
|
Residence documents |
– Proof of residence in a designated regional area for at least 2 years immediately before lodging your application – Documents such as driver’s license, utility bills, mortgage or tenancy agreements, bank statements, and children’s schooling documents |
|
Work and study documents |
– Evidence of work and/or study completed in a designated regional area while holding a Temporary Graduate visa under the Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work, or Replacement stream |
|
Health insurance |
– Letter from your health insurance provider – Medicare card or proof of enrolment with Medicare – Evidence of adequate health insurance in Australia |
|
Character documents |
– Australian Federal Police (AFP) check (complete disclosure certificate only) – Overseas police certificates, if applicable – Military service records or discharge paper,s if applicable |
|
Authorised help |
– Form 956A to nominate someone to receive correspondence – Form 956 to appoint a registered migration agent or legal representative |
Language requirements for Post-Higher Education Work stream
|
Test Name |
Overall Score |
Minimum Score per Band |
Notes |
|
IELTS (General or Academic) |
6.5 |
5.5 in each of the 4 components |
|
|
TOEFL iBT |
83 |
Listening: 7 Reading: 8 Writing: 18 Speaking: 16 |
Not accepted if taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024 |
|
PTE Academic |
57 |
Listening: 43 Reading: 48 Speaking: 42 Writing: 51 |
|
|
Occupational English Test (OET) |
B in each part |
B in all 4 components |
|
|
Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly CAE) |
176 |
Minimum 162 in each component |
|
|
Exempt (No test required) |
— |
— |
Valid passport from UK, USA, Canada, NZ, or the Republic of Ireland |
485 Visa Partner and Dependants Document Checklist
|
Document Category |
What to Provide |
|
Partner Documents |
– Partner’s identity documents – Partner’s character documents – Evidence of other family members (if applicable) – If married, provide a marriage certificate or proof of a valid marriage in Australia – If in a de facto relationship, provide proof of the relationship (e.g., shared finances, living together, mutual commitment) |
|
De Facto Relationship Proof |
– Proof that you have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before applying – If applicable, evidence that the relationship is registered by a participating Australian state or territory |
|
Dependants Under 18 Documents |
– Birth certificates or a family book showing both parents’ names – Adoption papers (if applicable) |
|
Parental Responsibility Docs |
– Consent for any applicant under 18 years of age to migrate to Australia – Form 1229 (Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18) – Statutory declaration of consent, Australian court order, or proof of home country laws allowing migration – Identity document of the person giving consent (passport, driver’s license, etc.) |
|
Dependants Over 18 Documents |
– Birth certificate to prove the relationship to you – Proof of dependency if they are under 23 and dependent on you or your partner – Completed Form 47a (Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 or over) – Proof of financial dependency (e.g., bank statements, money transfers, rent receipts) – If aged 23 or turning 23 during application processing, provide a medical report proving dependency due to disability |
Get expert assistance to meet the 485 Visa Requirements.
The Australian government requires applicants to disclose if they are receiving assistance with their visa application to ensure that they are being guided through the process by qualified professionals. This is to guarantee that the applicant’s case is being handled by experts who understand the complexities of Australian immigration laws. A MARA registered migration agent can provide valuable support, offering expert advice, helping you gather the necessary documentation, and ensuring that all the requirements are met correctly.
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