This visa is for holders of a first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream who graduated with a degree from an Australian institution located in a regional area. It lets you live, work and study in Australia, temporarily.
This is a temporary visa. The length of your stay in Australia will depend on where you studied and graduated from as the holder of a student visa and where you live as the holder of your first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream.
If you:
- studied and live in Category 2 area (1 year)
- studied and live in Category 3 area (2 years)
See: Designated regional area.
Cost
The visa costs AUD660 for the main applicant.
There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you and subsequent entrants must pay the full visa application charge.
You might also have to pay other costs for health checks or police certificates and biometrics.
Requirements
You must have obtained your qualification that led to the grant of your first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream, from an Australian education provider who is registered on CRICOS and offer degree-level programs. The campus that you studied at must have been based in a designated regional area.
As the holder of the first Temporary Graduate Post-Study Work stream visa, you must have lived only in a designated regional area for at least 2 years immediately before applying for the second Temporary Graduate post-study work stream visa. To do this, show us evidence that in the last 2 years, you resided in a designated regional area.
Designated regional areas are divided into two categories: Category 2 “Cities and Major Regional Centres” and Category 3 “Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas”.
If you have lived only in a Category 2 area, you can only be granted an additional 1 year visa.
If you have lived only in a Category 3 area, you can only be granted an additional 2 year visa.
If you have moved between categories you will be considered for the shorter visa.
If you have been away from your usual residence for a holiday or short work trip, it will not change the way we assess your usual residence.
The table below provides a guide on the residence and study requirements for the second Temporary Graduate post-study work stream visa.
| Residence location on first subclass 485 in the post-study work stream | Study location on student visa | Visa length for second 485 post-study work stream visa |
| Category 1 – Major cities: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne (Non-Regional) | N/A | Not eligible |
| Category 2 – Designated city or major regional centre | Category 1 – Major cities: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne (Non-Regional) | Not eligible |
| Category 2 – Designated city or major regional centre | Category 2 – Designated city or major regional centre | 1 extra year |
| Category 2 – Designated city or major regional centre | Category 3 – Regional centre or other regional area: (All other locations) | 1 extra year |
| Category 3 – Regional Centre or other regional Area: (All other locations) | Category 1 – Major cities: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne (Non-Regional) | Not eligible |
| Category 3 – Regional centre or other regional area: (All other locations) | Category 2 – Designated city or major regional centre | 1 extra year |
| Category 3 – Regional centre or other regional area: (All other locations) | Category 3 – Regional centre or other regional area: (All other locations) | 2 extra year |
