Why Skilled Recognition Visa Subclass 476?

• Live in Australia for up to 18 months.
• Sponsor your family members if eligible.
• Study & work in Australia.
• Live anywhere in Australia.
• No nominations or points required.
• Qualify for an Australian PR.

What is the Subclass 476 Visa for Engineering Graduates?

The Skilled Recognition Visa Subclass 476 is a visa mainly targeted toward permitting engineering pass-outs to work and live in Australia for one year and six months. The graduate applying for the visa must have finished their studies at a recognized university within two years. The candidate will not qualify if they already have other visas like subclass 485. Extending your visa to continue to reside in the country is the only option, as you cannot reapply for the same visa.

*Willing to work in Australia? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No.1 Immigration Company.

 

Important Update: Closure of Subclass 476 Visa

The Skilled-Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476) visa is no longer open for new applications. The Australian Government capped the program on 22 December 2023 and officially closed it on 1 July 2024.

If you already hold a Subclass 476 visa, your visa remains valid until its original expiry date. All visa conditions continue to apply as outlined in your grant letter and can also be checked through VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online).

Note: Prospective applicants should explore alternative visa options such as the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa, the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, or the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa, depending on their circumstances.

Alternatives to Subclass 476

Visa Type	Stay Length	PR Pathway	Who It Suits Best	Key Requirements
Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485)	Varies by stream & qualification (generally ~18 months up to several years under current settings)	Possible later via skilled migration or employer sponsorship	Recent graduates of Australian institutions	Age 35 or under, Australian qualification, English, health & character
Skilled Independent (Subclass 189)	Permanent	Direct PR	Skilled professionals with in‑demand occupations and strong points	Occupation on skilled list, points test (min 65), invitation via SkillSelect
Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190)	Permanent	Direct PR	Candidates willing to live/work in the nominating state/territory	State/territory nomination (+5 points), occupation on skilled list, invitation via SkillSelect
Skills in Demand (Subclass 482)	Up to 4 years (stream‑dependent)	PR pathway may exist (certain streams/employers)	Skilled workers with an Australian employer sponsor	Employer sponsorship, nominated occupation, skills/experience, English, health & character

Top Benefits of Australia Subclass 476 Visa

• With the Subclass 476 Visa, you can travel and live anywhere in the Australian country.
• You can seek employment or even study for as long as your visa is valid.
• You become eligible to apply for an Australia PR after aligning with the criteria.
• With the 476 Visa, you can travel to and fro Australia without limitations.
• You can even incorporate your family members in your visa, provided they fulfill the eligibility.

Subclass 476 Visa Requirements for Indian and International Graduates

The candidate must comply with a set of requirements to apply for the Subclass 476 Visa:

• It would be best if you are under the age of 31.
• There should be no registered amount or funds under your name as per the Australian government directory.
• Must be highly qualified in the field of engineering.
• Must meet the character requirements
• Must meet the health requirements.
• Must be proficient in the English language.
• Must not have other visas like Visa 485 in their possession.
• Children under 18 must have given consent and be managed by the elders.

Eligibility Criteria for Skilled Graduate 476 Visa

Criterion	Requirement
Age	Applicants had to be under 31 years of age at the time of application.
Engineering Degree	Must hold a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree in an eligible engineering discipline (e.g., civil, structural, chemical, environmental, electrical, electronics, mechanical, production, or plant engineering).
Recognised Institutions	Degree had to be from either:
	• A provider listed in the official Subclass 476 Institutions Instrument (LIN 24/015); or
	• A university accredited by a Washington Accord signatory at the time of qualification.
Recency of Qualification	The engineering qualification must have been completed within the past 2 years at the time of application.
Prior Visas	Applicants must not have previously been a primary holder of a Subclass 476 or 485 visa.
English Requirement	Applicants had to demonstrate English proficiency via an approved test with minimum scores set by the Migration Regulations (instrument LIN 24/021).
Stay Period	Granted for up to 18 months (temporary residence).
Family Members	Eligible family members (partner and dependent children) could be included in the application and granted the same visa duration.
Health & Character	All applicants, including family members, were required to meet standard health and character checks.

*Want me to migrate to Australia? Let Y-Axis guide you with your process.

List of Top Universities for 476 Visa Australia

List of universities
Federal University of Minas Gerais- Brazil	University of Tehran- Iran
Universidad Catolica del Norte- Chile	Beijing Normal University- People’s Republic of China
Catholic University of Chile- Chile	Beijing Petroleum University- People’s Republic of China
University of Chile- Chile	Beijing University of Chemical Technology- People’s Republic of China
University of Concepcion- Chile	Beijing University of Technology- People’s Republic of China
HUT, Helsinki- Finland	China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing- People’s Republic of China
RWTH, Aachen- Germany	Guangzhou University- People’s Republic of China
Technical University of Berlin- Germany	Shanghai University of Engineering Science- People’s Republic of China
Technical University of Clausthal- Germany	Shanghai Jiaotong University- People’s Republic of China
TU Bergakademie Freiberg- Germany	Tongji University- People’s Republic of China
University of Hannover- Germany	Tsinghua University- People’s Republic of China
University of Miskolc- Hungary	University of Science and Technology, Beijing- People’s Republic of China
Anna University, Chennai- India	University of the Philippines- Philippines
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- India	Wroclaw University of Technology- Poland
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore- India	TU Kosice- Slovakia
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur- India	Lulea University of Technology- Sweden
Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad- India	University of Dar es Salaam- Tanzania
Amir Kabir University of Technology- Iran	Catholic University of Argentina- Argentina

 

Steps to Apply for Subclass 476

Step 1: Apply for the application online via ImmiAccount.

Step 2: Submit the required documents.

Step 3: Pay the visa fees to process your application.

Step 4: Wait for the status of your application.

Australia 476 Visa Processing Time in 2025

• The average time taken to process your Subclass 476 Visa is 12 months.
• In cases where the visa application needs to be completed or filled with incorrect details, the processing time may get delayed and take up to 17 months or longer.

Type of visa	Processing time
Australia Visa Subclass 476	75% applications	90% applications
	15 months	20 months

Rights & Limitations — Subclass 476 Visa

Although the Skilled-Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476) visa is now closed to new applicants, it is helpful to understand the rights and limitations that applied when the visa was active.

Rights Granted to Visa Holders

• Stay duration: Visa holders were granted a temporary stay of up to 18 months in Australia.

• Work rights: Full work rights were provided, allowing holders to gain skilled work experience.

• Study rights: Visa holders could enrol in further study at an Australian institution.

• Travel rights: Multiple entry was allowed, meaning holders could travel outside Australia and return while the visa remained valid.

• Family inclusion: Eligible family members (partners and dependent children) could be included in the application and enjoyed the same rights and visa duration.

Limitations of the Visa

• Temporary visa only: The 476 visa did not provide a direct pathway to permanent residency.
• Fixed validity: The stay period was capped at 18 months and could not be extended.
• Eligibility restrictions: Applicants who had previously held a 476 or 485 visa as the main applicant were not eligible.
• Activity limited to purpose: Holders were expected to live, work, or study in line with the visa’s intent — to gain skilled work experience in Australia.
• Health and character obligations: All applicants were required to maintain valid health insurance and meet health and character conditions throughout their stay.

How Can Y-Axis Help You?

With our vast experience in Australian immigration, Y-Axis can help you understand and navigate the process with complete confidence. Our services include:

• Eligibility evaluation
• Immigration checklist
• Complete application processing
• Forms, documentation & application filing
• Updates & follow up
• Relocation and post-landing support in Australia

 

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