The Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa is permanently closed from 1 July 2024.
As was announced as part of the Migration Strategy, the Skilled-Recognised Graduate (Sc 476) visa is seen as no longer aligning with policy priorities and has been abolished effective 1 July 2024.
Therefore, no further visas will be granted under this subclass and applicants who have applied but have not had their visa granted should have received an email from the Department informing them how to request a repayment of the Visa Application Charge (VAC).
Key Closure Information
Item
Detail
Closure Date
1 July 2024
Status
Permanently closed
Existing Applications
Will not be finalised after 1 July 2024
New Applications
Invalid if lodged after closure
VAC Refunds
Available for unfinalised applications
Reason for Closure
“The visa was intended to specifically support the mining and minerals sector in attracting highly sought after engineering graduates, however internationally trained engineers have alternative and preferred pathways to work in Australia. The program is now under review as part of the broader Migration Reform and capping grants of the visa in this financial year is a preliminary measure to winding down and future repealing of the visa.”
Previous Visa Features (For Reference)
This information is provided for historical reference only. The visa is no longer available.
What the Visa Allowed
Feature
Detail
Purpose
Recent engineering graduates of recognised institutions to gain up to 18 months of skilled work experience
Visa Type
Temporary
Length of Stay
18 months
Previous Cost
From AUD 465
Extension
Additional 6 months (total 24 months) for those who lost time due to border restrictions
What You Could Do
This visa allowed you and your family to stay in Australia for up to 18 months. While in Australia, you could:
Travel
Work
Study
Previous Eligibility Criteria
Age Requirement
Requirement
Detail
Maximum Age
Under 31 years
Previous Visa Holding Restriction
You must not have been the primary visa holder of a subclass 476 or 485 visa before.
Engineering Qualifications
In the two years before you apply, you must have completed one of the following qualifications in engineering:
Qualification Level
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
Doctoral degree
Postgraduate diploma
Eligible Engineering Specialisations
Specialisation
Civil engineering
Structural engineering
Chemical engineering
Environmental engineering
Electrical and electronics engineering
Mechanical, production and plant engineering
Mining and material engineering
English Language Requirements
If you were a citizen of the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America or the Republic of Ireland or you hold a valid passport from one of those countries, you were considered to meet the English language requirement for this visa. Otherwise, you must provide evidence of having achieved the following scores:
Test
Score Required
IELTS
Overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts
TOEFL iBT
Total score of at least 64 with a minimum score of 4 for listening, 4 for reading, 14 for writing and 14 for speaking
PTE Academic
Overall score of at least 50 with a minimum score of 36 for each of the 4 parts
OET
At least B for each of the 4 parts
Cambridge C1 Advanced
Overall at least 169 with a minimum score of at least 154 in each of the 4 test components
Location Requirements
Scenario
Requirement
At Application
Inside or outside Australia
At Decision
Outside Australia (unless New Zealand citizen holding subclass 444)
NZ Citizens (subclass 444)
Inside or outside Australia at decision
Previous Processing Times
Processing Period
Time
75% of applications
14 months
90% of applications
17 months
Recognised Educational Institutions
Washington Accord Institutions
Any institution offering an Engineering qualification accredited under the Washington Accord was a recognised institution. The Washington Accord is an international agreement among bodies responsible for accrediting engineering degree programmes. It recognises the substantial equivalency of programmes accredited by those bodies and recommends that graduates of programmes accredited by any of the signatory bodies be recognised by the other bodies as having met the academic requirements for entry to the practice of engineering.
Other Recognised Institutions by Country
Argentina
Institution
Catholic University of Argentina
Brazil
Institution
Federal University of Minas Gerais
Chile
Institution
Universidad Catolica del Norte Catholic University of Chile—Antofagasta
University of Chile
University of Concepcion
Finland
Institution
HUT, Helsinki
Germany
Institution
RWTH, Aachen
Technical University of Berlin
Technical University of Clausthal
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
University of Hannover
Hungary
Institution
University of Miskolc
India
Institution
Anna University—Chennai
Baranas Hindu University—Varanasi
Indian Institute of Science—Bangalore
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
Indian School of Mines—Dhanbad
Iran
Institution
Amir Kabir University of Technology
University of Tehran
People’s Republic of China
Institution
Beijing Normal University
Beijing Petroleum University
Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Beijing University of Technology (formerly Beijing Polytechnic University)
China University of Mining and Technology—Beijing
Guangzhou University
Shanghai University of Engineering Science
Shanghai Jiaotong University
Tongji University
Tsinghua University
University of Science and Technology—Beijing
Philippines
Institution
University of the Philippines
Poland
Institution
Wroclaw University of Technology
Slovakia
Institution
TU Kosice
Sweden
Institution
Lulea University of Technology
Tanzania
Institution
University of Dar es Salaam
Summary
Aspect
Detail
Visa Status
Permanently closed from 1 July 2024
Previous Duration
18 months (24 months with COVID extension)
Previous Age Limit
Under 31 years
Target Group
Recent engineering graduates
Alternative Pathways
Other skilled migration visas available
Alternative Visa Options
With the closure of the subclass 476 visa, engineering graduates may consider these alternative pathways:
Visa Subclass
Description
Subclass 485
Temporary Graduate visa (Post-Vocational or Post-Higher Education streams)
Subclass 189
Skilled Independent visa
Subclass 190
Skilled Nominated visa
Subclass 491
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 482
Temporary Skill Shortage visa
Subclass 186
Employer Nomination Scheme
Contact us today for a commitment-free briefing with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to discuss alternative visa options for engineering graduates.
