REGIONAL SPONSORED MIGRATION SCHEME (RSMS) VISA (SUBCLASS 187)
Connecting skilled workers with regional employers for long-term opportunities
ABOUT THE VISA
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is a temporary visa in Australia available to qualified foreign students who have just completed their studies in Australia to spend a short period in the country to live, study and work. The visa is granted to the applicants that have undergone a CRICOS-registered course and who fit the requirements of the Department of Home Affairs.
The visa will be subdivided into three streams that will serve various qualifications and situations:
Post-Vocational Education Work stream.
After higher education work stream.
Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
There are eligibility criteria, stay period, cost and conditions of each stream.
ELIGIBILITY AND KEY REQUIREMENTS
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
35 years of age or less at the time of application
Is in Australia at the time when the an application is made
Possesses a valid visa during the time of application.
Has been issued with the Student visa in the past 6 months.
Possesses a qualification in an occupation listed in the skilled occupation list.
Presents all the necessary evidences during application.
Has submitted an application to have a skills assessment done in the occupation nominated.
Has successfully completed an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification in a CRICOS-registered course.
Post-Higher Education Work Stream
To be eligible under this stream, the applicant must:
Aged 35 years or less at application time
Has a Student visa or has had one within the recent past.
Has successfully graduated with a degree level or above in a CRICOS registered Australian institution.
Meets the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement.
Makes the appropriate stream application and the changes in streams cannot be made after application.
Presents all the necessary paperwork during application.
Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream
To be eligible in this stream, the applicant must:
Holds or has held a Temporary Graduate visa in one of the following streams: Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work or Replacement stream.
Has achieved the qualification resulting in the first Temporary Graduate visa in an Australian institution in a specified regional location.
Has resided in a regional area with the first Temporary Graduate visa.
Adheres to all the regular visa requirements such as health and character requirements.
SKILLS AND ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
An application of skills assessment is required on the nominated occupation on the list of skilled occupation.
Evidence of the application of the skills assessment should be given at the time of application.
The documentation of the necessary amount of English should be provided.
English language testing requirements are based on the updated requirements as of 7 August 2025.
Post-Higher Education Work Stream
No skills appraisal requirement is indicated in this stream.
Applicants must submit evidence of the necessary standard of English during application.
English language testing requirements are based on the updated requirements as of 7 August 2025.
Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream
No skills appraisal requirement is indicated in this stream.
Applicants would need to satisfy Temporary Graduate visa English language requirements as per the time of application.
BENEFITS OF THIS VISA
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
The holder of this visa is permitted to:
Temporarily live in Australia.
Work in Australia
Study in Australia
Move in and out of Australia during the duration of the visa.
Bring qualified relatives
Post-Higher Education Work Stream
The holder of this visa is permitted to:
Temporarily work and live in Australia.
Undertake further study
Travel at will as long as the visa is valid.
Inclusion of qualified family members in application
Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream
The holder of this visa is permitted to:
Temporarily live in Australia.
Study and work on the visa period.
Inbound and outbound travel to Australia.
Bring qualified relatives
HEALTH AND CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS
ALL STREAMS
For all three streams
All applicants must be provided with evidence of sufficient health insurance.
To conduct health examinations can be a requirement, depending on the circumstances.
This is because evidence of having conducted an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check should be presented.
The applicants and family members should all fulfil the requirements of character in Australia.
COST
POST-VOCATIONAL EDUCATION WORK STREAM
Visa application fee: AUD 2,300.00 on behalf of the first applicant.
Extra fees are charged on each member of the family.
POST-HIGHER EDUCATION WORK STREAM
Visa application fee: AUD 2,300.00 on behalf of the first applicant.
There is extra fee on family members.
SECOND POST-HIGHER EDUCATION WORK STREAM
Visa fee: AUD 905.00 as the leading applicant.
There is extra fee on family members.
STAY PERIOD AND CONDITIONS
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
Stay period: Up to 18 months.
Hong Kong citizens and those of British National (Overseas) with a passport can remain a period of 5 years.
The visa cannot be extended.
Post-Higher Education Work Stream
Stay period: 2 -3 years, in most cases, based on qualification.
Hong Kong citizens and those of British National (Overseas) with a passport can remain a period of 5 years.
The visa cannot be extended.
Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream
Stay period: 1-2 years depending on:
The geographical proximity of the learning institution; and
The area of residence region during first Temporary Graduate visa.
FAMILY MEMBERS
All Streams
The application may include eligible family members provided that they are in Australia during the time of application.
Children can be added until a decision is arrived at.
Next members of the family can apply as late entrants, either internally or externally.
Members of the family should all be health and character-wise fit.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
All Streams
Processing times are informative and are based on the completeness of applications and verification.
Study and work on the visa period.
The visa begins when it is granted.
The visa is connected to the passport digitally and a physical label of the visa is not issued.
Visa holders are required to abide by all the visa terms and Australian legislation.
