Skilled- Recognised Graduate Visa (subclass 476) for fresh Engineering Grads

Well, Australia, as most of us know, is a country that attracts people from different walks of life. Till today, Australia hasn’t lost its charm in luring citizens of various other nations including from far-flung corners of the world to come and explore life and opportunities in the land of kangaroos.

Time and again Australian immigration policies change and spark up an international debate. That’s normal, by now! What none of us can miss is that Australia remains top-migrant-aspirant countries in the world.

Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa under subclass  476 is one such visa program that invites young and fresh overseas graduates from an engineering background to Australia for exploring work and study opportunities in down under. The visa carries a validity of 18 months. The dependent family, such as a spouse or de facto partner and dependent child or children can accompany the primary applicant for this visa. The best part is the family too can work, live, travel and study in Australia for 18 months like the primary applicant.

Although this visa is not points-based, the applicants have to take English Proficiency Test and update the scores while applying for the visa.

Eligibility for English language test for Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa ( subclass 476)

1.       You are a citizen or a passport holder of any of these countries, viz, USA, UK, Ireland, NewZealand, or Canada.

2.       IELTS score: You should score at least 5 in each band or an average of 6 across all bands.

3.       PTE-A score: You should score at least 36 in each band or an average of 50 across all bands.

4.       CAE score: You should score at least 154 in each band or an average of 169 across all bands.

5.       OET score: You should score B Pass in each band.

6.       TOEFL iBT score: This is an internet based English proficiency test and widely accepted. You should score at least 14 points in writing and speaking category and 4 in listening and reading. The total score must be at least 64 combining scores from all the categories.

Eligibility Criteria for applicants of Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa (subclass 476)

1.       Your age must be below 31 years.

2.       You must have obtained your engineering degree in the past 2 years from a recognised institution.

3.       You are not holding subclass 476 visa or post-study work visas under subclass 485.

4.       You meet health and character requirements.

The visa grant may take anywhere between 49 days to 4 months time. The application charges are AUD 365. If you are including your family in your visa application, you will have to pay additional fees depending on your case.

The family members too must meet the health and character requirements, without fail.

You, the primary applicant may lodge your skilled recognised graduate visa under subclass 476 being in Australia, but you should be outside Aussie land when you get the visa grant. This rule does not apply to the NewZealanders who hold subclass 444 visas under Special Category. These visa holders can be in Australia when they apply and receive the visa grant for the subclass 476 visa.

Since the primary condition is that you must be a fresh engineering graduate, you must also comply with the following rules.

You must be a qualified engineer from any of these streams as a major subject of study:

Chemical Engineering

Structural Engineering

Civil Engineering

Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Mining and Material Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Mechanical, Production and Plant Engineering

You may hold any of these qualifications in engineering:

A Bachelors Degree

A Masters Degree

A Doctoral Degree

Or A Postgraduate Degree

You must have studied in a DIBP recognised institution to be eligible to apply for subclass 476 visa. Know what are the recognised institutions here: Recognised Institutions for subclass visa 476.

Health and character Requirements for Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa (Subclass 476)

Australian immigration department is very particular that the visa applicants meet its health and character requirements.

The health checkup once done is valid for next 12 months. Depending on your home country and current residing country, you require undertaking medical examinations. You and your family should have a private health insurance cover for the duration of the visa, that is, 18 months.

If the immigration department instructs you to provide police verification certificate, you will have to provide police verification letters from all the countries you have lived after 16 years of age for more than a year for the past 10 years.

Once you are in Australia, you can apply for Australia PR under General Skilled Migration or get employer sponsorship for PR. This way, the skilled recognised graduate visa serves as a pathway to permanent residency in Australia.

Here’s how DMS’s immigration expert team can help you: Documentation, arrangement for medical examination, as and when required, guide you with police verification requirement, if you need one. Keep track of documentation and process status. Follow up with the consulate and update you promptly on your visa application status.

Connect with us to get more details on how to apply for subclass 476 visa, and how to include your family members under this visa.

Amitava Deb

• Amitava is a gold medallist from India’s premier technical institute, IIT Kharagpur.
• He has worked with some of the world’s top companies such as Sony Australia Pty. Ltd., Siemens AG Germany, Clarity International Ltd., Reliance Communications and Optus Sydney.
• Amitava is a Chartered Professional Engineer accredited by Engineers Australia. He is a full member of this esteemed association.
• He is a member of the Australian Computer Society, Tele Management Forum and Worldwide Institute of Software Architects.
• Amitava is a well-recognised name in the ICT Professional Community in Australia.