The 485 post-study visa extension (second 485 visa) was designed for international students to encourage them to study at regional campus and live in regional area. The incentives are the part of the immigration program aimed at boosting diversity and prosperity in regional Australia.
International students who graduate from a regional campus and then live in regional Australia are eligible for an additional 485 Temporary Graduate visa TGV (post-study work stream). Those eligible for a second TGV will be required to remain in regional area for the duration of their new visa. The extension was implemented in 2019 but first application lodgements will become available in 2021. The initiative does not implicate any change to the Student visas.
The extension of TGV depends on the location of campus of a registered education provider and does not depend on the university or college main location. There are three categories of campus locations and two TGV extensions:

− Category 1 – ‘Major Cities’: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – no extensions, standard TGV
− Category 2 – certain ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’: Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart – additional 1 year TGV
− Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’, for instance Darwin, Mackay, Rockhampton etc. – additional 2 years TGV

Below are the examples of how the extension works for Graduates.

1. Bachelor degree:
− standard 2 years TGV if on campus in Sydney,
− 3 years TGV (2 + 1 extended) if on campus in Perth,
− 4 years TGV (2 + 2 extended) if on campus in Darwin,
2. Masters by coursework:
− 2 years TGV if on campus in Melbourne,
− 3 years TGV (2 + 1 extended) if on campus in Adelaide,
− 4 years TGV (2 + 2 extended) if on campus in Mackay
3. Masters by research:
− 3 years TGV if on campus in Brisbane,
− 4 years TGV (3 + 1 extended) if on campus in Gold Coast,
− 5 years TGV (3 + 2 extended) if on campus in Rockhampton
4. PhD:
− 4 years TGV if on campus in Sydney,
− 5 years TGV (4 + 1 extended) if on campus in Newcastle,
− 6 years TGV (4 + 2 extended) if on campus in Cairns.

Important information for the current student visa holders studying online outside Australia due to COVID-19: you will be able to use that study to count towards the study requirement for a post-study work visa!