Find out about the most recent modifications to the Graduate Certificates & Diplomas Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa. An explanation of the December 2024 new eligibility standards.


Key Updates Effective 14 December 2024

After the 1 July 2024 Migration Strategy went into effect, the Department of Home Affairs made improvements to the Temporary Graduate visa (TGV) program. By addressing discrepancies with regard to Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas in the Post-Higher Education Work (PHEW) stream, these modifications guarantee consistency with the goals of the Migration Strategy.

Removal of Australian Study Requirement (ASR)

For TGV applications under the PHEW stream, the Australian study requirement (ASR) has been eliminated. Rather, revised Articles 485.211 and 485.321 have established precise standards for qualifying degrees and study requirements. This makes eligibility conditions clear and guarantees uniformity across all TGV streams.

Graduate Certificates

Because of their shorter duration and lighter study load, graduate certificates are no longer regarded as qualifying credentials for the TGV PHEW program. Important points consist of:

– Even if you have a TGV, you can still pursue graduate certificates.

– In order to be eligible for TGV, clients pursuing a Graduate Certificate need to:

Within six months of finishing an appropriate qualification, submit an application.

Make that the requirements of TGV are met by their qualifying study.

Graduate Diplomas

Graduate diploma holders who fulfil the following requirements are still eligible for the TGV PHEW stream:

1. Australian-awarded bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees come before them.

2. They have a direct connection to the qualification that came before.

3. They start in the same academic year as the previous study or the one after.

Graduate degrees that have nothing to do with previous coursework will not be eligible for TGV. Candidates pursuing unrelated graduate degrees are required to:

– Within six months of finishing an appropriate qualification, submit an application.

– Fulfil any additional TGV criteria.

If these requirements are satisfied, graduate diplomas can still be earned while possessing a TGV.

Transition to New Regulations

Departmental documentation and checklists reflect the modifications that went into effect on December 14, 2024. Important transitional information includes:

– No Transitional Arrangements: All applications submitted after December 14, 2024, are subject to the new rules.

– Existing Applications: If they fulfil all other visa conditions, applicants who filed using Graduate Diplomas before this date will still be eligible for a TGV.

– Graduate Certificate Applicants: If the ASR and the new regulations are inconsistent, the department will get in touch with the concerned parties to go over their alternatives.

Options for Graduate Certificate and Unrelated Graduate Diploma Holders

Graduate diplomas or certificates that are not associated with previous degrees allow students to:

1. As long as students fulfil all eligibility requirements, such as finishing a qualifying study within six months of applying, they can submit applications for any TGV stream.


2. Examine additional visa routes, like:

– visas for temporary residency.

– The Temporary Skill Shortage visa was replaced on December 7, 2024, by the Skills in Demand visa.

See the Department of Home Affairs website’s Temporary Graduate visa – Subclass 485 section for comprehensive details.