Changes to the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) from 14 December 2024

The Department of Home Affairs has removed the Australian study requirement (ASR) for the Post-Higher Education Work (PHEW) stream and placed a specific set of requirements for qualifying degrees and study requirements for the purposes of the PHEW stream.

This changes for the Post-Higher Education Work (PHEW) stream.

Graduate Certificates:

Graduate Certificates are no longer considered qualifying study for the PHEW stream.

Graduate Diplomas:

Graduate Diplomas continue to be accepted as an eligible qualification for the PHEW stream if:

· The applicant completed it in the same or next academic year as the applicant successfully completed the qualification (listed in the PHEW) and

· The study is related to that qualification.

Note:  

· Applicants wishing to study a Graduate Diploma that is not related to their previous Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral Degree can do so, but that Graduate Diploma will not count as an eligible qualification for a TGV. 

· Clients who study an unrelated Graduate Diploma will need to lodge an application within six months of completing an eligible qualification to meet the TGV qualifying study requirements.

· A Graduate Diploma can be completed while holding a TGV.

Transition to new arrangements

These changes came into effect on 14 December 2024. There are no transitional arrangements in the new Regulations.

Any applicants who have lodged prior to 14 December2024 using a Graduate Diploma as their qualifying study, regardless of being related to the preceding study, will be eligible to be granted a visa, pending meeting all other visa requirements. 

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