Good news for those who are on a Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa to apply for another SC 485 visa of the same duration as their original visa, if due to COVID restrictions (between 1 February 2020 to 14 December 2021) they were unable to stay in Australia for the entire time allowed on their initial SC 485 visa.
(see also)
Current and former SC 485 may apply 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.
This same offer applies to Secondary visa holders who were granted SC 485 visas on the basis of being the member of the family unit of the primary visa holder.
They too will be eligible for the Replacement stream if the primary visa holder is eligible.
Check the calendar as there is a cut-off date to apply: 1 Jan 2027.
Second Post Study and Replacement Stream Visas:
Finally, those on SC 485 Post Study stream visas who had to live in regional areas in order to receive the second SC 485 and whose plans were disrupted by COVID, are able to meet this requirement if they studied on a student visa and while on their replacement visa SC 485 they lived in a regional area.
This Instrument applies to applications for SC 485 visas made on or after 1 July 2022.
