Another exciting news for Temporary Graduate (SC 485) visa holders!

To clarify the new SC 485 Replacement stream requirements, the Department has introduced Migration Amendment (Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) Visa Replacement Stream and Other Measures) Regulations 2022 – F2022L00845.

Applicants for the new SC 485 Replacement stream can now apply from inside or outside Australia starting 1 July 2022.

Current and former Temporary Graduate visa holders who lost time in Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions can get another SC 485 visa of the same duration as their original visa if they:

• were outside Australia when the original SC 485 visa was granted and entered Australia on the original visa before 15 December 2021, departed Australia after this entry but before 15 December 2021 while holding the original visa,
  or
• were in Australia when the original SC 485 visa was granted and were outside Australia at any time between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 while holding the original visa.

If the primary visa holder is eligible, secondary visa holders who were granted visas on the basis of being a member of the family unit of the primary visa holder will also be eligible for the Replacement stream.

Applications for the Replacement stream will close on January 1st 2027.

Temporary Graduate visa holders who were already on their second SC 485 visa in the Post-Study Work stream during the period of international travel restrictions cannot apply for this Replacement stream.

Except for those who requested in writing that the Minister cancel their visa, or whose visa cancellation decision was set aside by the Tribunal; people who have had an SC 485 visa, or a visa granted after the applicant held an SC 485 visa, were cancelled – cannot also apply for this Replacement stream.

Second Post Study and Replacement Stream Visas!

Holders of SC 485 Post Study stream visas who were required to live in regional areas for the grant of a second SC 485 and were disrupted by the COVID arrangements, may now meet this requirement if they have studied on a student visa and lived on their Replacement stream SC 485 visa in a regional area.

This Instrument applies to applications for SC 485 visas made on or after 1 July 2022.

The information provided is for general use only and should NOT be taken as Migration Advice. For information about your circumstances, please contact Milestone Migration for immigration assistance.