The 485 Visa is available to international students on completion of an Australian qualification after at least 2 academic years of study. Other requirements include age restrictions, having obtained a qualification that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and have a nominated occupation that is classified as either a 50 point or a 60 point occupation.
The 485 visa allows international students to remain in Australia for a further 18 months and there are no restrictions on work or study rights. It is designed to give recent graduates who do not satisfy the points test for Skilled–Independent (Overseas Student) 885 & 886 Visa, an opportunity to gain work experience or complete a professional year or undertake further studies or improve their English skills to acquire extra points in the test, necessary for an Australian Permanent Residency Visa.
The graduate must lodge their application within six months from when they have received the their completion certificate, diploma or degree they have been studied for. This means the date they have been notified of their results ie/ handed the results by hand, post or notification on a bulletin board and Not the date of their ceremony that they would be awarded your certificate or qualification.
