最近澳洲移民局又对 485毕业生工签动手了。很多人可能还沉浸在 485签证费暴涨到4600澳币的震惊中，但事情还没结束。最近业内发现，移民局已经悄悄修改了 485签证的内部审核手册（PAM），对大家熟悉的 “两年学习要求（Australian Study Requirement）”增加了新的补充说明。看似只是小调整，但对很多学生来说影响其实不小。
1. New Additions to the 485 Visa's Two-Year Australian Study Requirement
The previous policy was relatively lenient. As long as the courses were CRICOS-registered and the total study duration added up to two years, multiple courses could be combined freely, with no strict restrictions on the time gap between them.
Examples:
- Completing a 1.5-year course in Australia 10 years ago
- Returning later to complete a 1-year course
These two courses could be combined to meet the two-year study requirement. However, according to the newly revised PAM guidelines, if multiple courses are to be combined to satisfy the two-year study requirement, a new condition must now be met:The new course must commence in the same year or the following year after the completion of the previous course for the durations to be aggregated. In simple terms, the courses must be "consecutive".
2. Eligible and Ineligible Scenarios for Course Aggregation
Case 1
- Completing an undergraduate degree in June 2026
- Commencing a postgraduate degree in July 2026
Courses are consecutive and can be aggregated.
Case 2
- Completing a 1.5-year master's degree in December 2026
- Commencing another master's degree in February 2027
This also counts as consecutive study and the durations can be aggregated.
Case3
- Completing a 1/1.5-year master's degree in 2024
- Undertaking a 1-year course again in 2026
Due to the long interval between the courses, this does not qualify as consecutive study, and thus the durations cannot be combined to meet the two-year study requirement.
3. This Rule is Essentially an "Expanded Version of the GD Restriction"
In fact, similar restrictions are not new. As early as the end of 2024, when adjustments were made to Graduate Diploma (GD) courses, requirements for a certain level of continuity between courses were already introduced. This latest adjustment effectively extends this principle to all course levels.
It has now been confirmed that:
- The new rule only affects 485 visa applications.
- The Australian Study Requirement (ASR) for immigration points assessment still allows non-consecutive course combination with no continuity requirement.
4. Why Do People Feel the 485 Visa is Being "Targeted" Constantly?
The policy for the 485 visa has indeed undergone drastic changes over the past few years. It was once one of the most popular visas in Australia:
- The graduate work visa duration was extended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Many holders were able to keep their 485 visas until 2027/2028.
Yet, in just over a year, the policy tide has shifted dramatically:
- The visa application fee has surged to 4,600 Australian dollars.
- The pandemic-era visa extension has been revoked as the pandemic ended.
- 485 visa policies have been tightened continuously.
Many industry insiders even joke that:The Department of Home Affairs now seems to want international students to leave Australia as soon as they graduate; if they cannot successfully obtain permanent residency, they should not stay for too long.
5. Does the Department of Home Affairs Also Have a "Dislike" for 400-series Visas?
A close look at policy changes in recent years reveals that many 400-series temporary visas have been continuously adjusted:
408408 Visa
疫情期间非常火的 408 COVID408 Visa，已经被快速终结。
407407 Training Visa
It has also recently undergone major changes:Current applicants for the 407 visa must haveApproved sponsorship + Approved nominationbefore lodging their visa application. The processing time can now take six months to over a year. Many believe this change will greatly reduce the practicality of the 407 visa.
491491 Regional Visa
While policy rhetoric has consistently emphasized support for regional areas, the reality is:
- Visa approval speeds are extremely slow.
- The transition from 491 to 191 permanent residency has also come to a prolonged standstill.