Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 for International Students in Australia
Learn everything you need to know about the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) for Australia. Check the eligibility criteria, the updated fee, the level of education qualification permitted, and the application process here.
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Did you complete a CRICOS-registered study programme as an international student in Australia and are now seeking to extend your stay? The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) could be the ideal option for you. This temporary visa allows those who have received their education in Australia to stay onshore, live, study, and work full-time.
The length of time you can stay depends on your educational qualifications, nationality, and the location where you studied. This visa gives international graduates the crucial opportunity to gain invaluable Australian work experience, which helps your permanent residency (PR) opportunities.
Visiting Australia as many times as desired and for any length of time is allowed while the visa remains valid. Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders are uniquely eligible to remain in the country for up to 5 years.
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Eligibility for Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485
The requirements to be eligible for the Subclass 485 visa depend mainly on which stream you are applying for. However, some baseline requirements apply across the board:
- Age Requirement: You must be aged 35 years or under at the time of application. (Exceptions: Master's by research and PhD graduates, as well as Hong Kong and BNO passport holders, can be under 50 years of age).
- English Language: You must demonstrate an IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band lower than 5.5), or equivalent in TOEFL/PTE/OET. The test must have been taken within 1 year before the application date. (Exceptions apply for passport holders of the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, or Ireland).
- Health and Character: You must satisfy the DHA's health and character requirements, and you must hold adequate health insurance coverage in Australia.
- Visas and Debts: You must hold an eligible student visa (or have held one in the past 6 months) and must not owe any money to the Australian Government.
- Values Statement: You must sign the Australian Values Statement.
A single missed deadline or expired English test will cost you your visa. With the recent reduction of the age limit to 35 and English test validity slashed to just one year, minor oversights lead to immediate, non-refundable visa refusals. Do not risk your Australian future on outdated forum advice. Connect 1-on-1 with our registered migration experts to audit your eligibility before your student visa expires.
Post-Higher Education Work Stream
This stream is for international students who have recently graduated with an eligible higher education degree (Bachelor, Master, or PhD) from an Australian educational institution.
If granted, the duration of your visa will be strictly based on your qualification:
- Bachelor Degree: 2 years
- Master by Coursework: 2 years
- Master by Research or PhD: 3 years
- Hong Kong and BNO passport holders: 5 years
Specific Requirements for this Stream
- You must have completed a CRICOS-registered degree that satisfies the 'Australian study requirement,' a minimum of 92 weeks of registered study completed over at least 16 months.
- Your degree must have been completed within the 6 months immediately before your application.
Not all Australian degrees satisfy the strict 92-week study requirement. Graduating is only half the battle. If your CRICOS-registered course had overlapping credits, online exemptions, or finished early, you might fail the Department of Home Affairs' strict 16-month study criteria. Let our education and visa specialists map your academic transcripts against DHA benchmarks to ensure your degree legally qualifies.
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
This stream is designed for international students who have graduated with a trade qualification, diploma, or degree that equips them with skills explicitly needed in the Australian workforce.
Visa Duration: Applicants granted a visa under this stream can stay for up to 18 months (Hong Kong and BNO passport holders can stay up to 5 years).
Specific Requirements for this Stream
- Your nominated occupation must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
- Your qualification must be closely related to that nominated occupation.
- You must have a positive skills assessment from a relevant Australian assessing authority for your nominated occupation.
A delayed skills assessment will instantly derail your vocational visa. Unlike higher education graduates, vocational applicants must secure a positive provisional skills assessment tied directly to the MLTSSL before lodging their visa. Navigating TRA or VETASSESS bureaucracy leaves zero margin for error. Partner with our dedicated migration team to fast-track and manage your mandatory skills assessment.
Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream
This stream is exclusively for international student graduates who lived, studied, and graduated from an institution located in a designated regional area, and who currently hold a first Post-Higher Education Work Stream visa.
- Visa Duration: If you studied and lived in a 'Category 2 - Cities and Major Regional Centres' area, you can receive an additional 1 year. If you were in a 'Category 3 - Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas,' you can receive an additional 2 years.
- Requirement: You must have lived, worked, and/or studied in the designated regional area for at least two years immediately before applying for this second visa.
Regional postcodes dictate your eligibility for extra years in Australia. Claiming a 1- or 2-year visa extension requires proving you maintained continuous residence, work, and study in strictly defined Category 2 or 3 regional postcodes. A simple miscalculation in your address history can result in a devastating rejection. Speak directly with our regional visa strategists to safely secure your maximum stay.
How to Apply for Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485
Securing your Temporary Graduate Visa requires meticulous preparation and strict adherence to Department of Home Affairs guidelines. From organising your health exams to lodging your final application via ImmiAccount, follow these five essential steps to seamlessly transition from an international student to an Australian professional.
- Step 1: Before you apply. Ensure you have a valid passport, organise your health exams in advance, secure and maintain adequate health insurance, and take your English test. Crucially, if you are applying for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, you must have applied for (or obtained) a skills assessment for your nominated occupation. Applicants in the Post-Higher Education Work stream do not need a skills assessment.
- Step 2: Gather your documents. Compile proof of identity, completion letters from your university, academic transcripts, English test results, health insurance, and police checks (AFP).
- Step 3: Apply for the visa. The application is strictly lodged online via your ImmiAccount.
- Step 4: After you apply. Monitor your ImmiAccount for updates. Ensure you maintain a lawful bridging visa while waiting for your outcome.
- Step 5: Visa Outcome. The DHA will notify you in writing. If granted, you will receive your visa grant number, start date, and visa conditions. (Visa application charges are non-refundable if refused).
Visa application fees are non-refundable, and stream selection is final. Once you lodge your application via ImmiAccount, you cannot change your selected visa stream or add primary identity documents retroactively. A single uploading error means losing thousands of dollars and your lawful status in Australia. Protect your investment by letting our licensed professionals handle your final lodgement.
Bridging Visas and Other Considerations
Navigating your visa transition requires understanding a few key legal conditions. Let us explore how bridging visas maintain your lawful status, your newly granted unrestricted work rights, and future study considerations.
- Bridging Visas: When you apply for a 485 Visa onshore while your student visa is still valid, you will typically be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). This keeps you lawful in Australia while you await a decision.
- Work Rights: Subclass 485 Visa holders are granted full, unrestricted work rights.
- Further Study: You can study on a 485 visa, but if your primary goal is long-term study, a Student Visa may be more appropriate.
The Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 remains one of the most powerful tools for international students aiming to transition from education into the Australian workforce. However, as the 2024-2026 policy overhauls demonstrated, immigration law is fluid and strictly enforced.
With tighter age limits and stricter English thresholds now in place, precision in your application is non-negotiable. Securing this visa not only validates your hard-earned Australian degree but serves as the ultimate launchpad for your long-term career and potential permanent residency down under. Ensure you work closely with a registered migration agent to navigate these strict legal frameworks successfully.
Transitioning from a student to an Australian professional requires a flawless master plan. The Temporary Graduate Visa serves as the ultimate launchpad for your career and potential permanent residency. However, immigration law is fluid and strictly enforced.
From securing your Bridging Visa A to managing health insurance and long-term PR strategy, you do not have to manage this complex bureaucracy alone. Partner with a dedicated expert who will personally oversee your entire visa journey, completely free of automated guesswork.
Australia Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 FAQs
Under the 2026 rules, the Post-Vocational Education Work stream lasts for 18 months. The Post-Higher Education Work stream grants 2 years for Bachelor's and Master's by Coursework, and 3 years for Master's by Research/PhDs. The Second Post-Higher Education stream offers 1 to 2 extra years for regional graduates.
You cannot extend the Subclass 485 visa (unless applying for the regional Second Post-Higher Education stream). To remain in Australia legally, you must transition to another visa, such as a skilled independent visa (189/190), an employer-sponsored visa, or a student visa.
Yes. While the Subclass 485 is a temporary visa, it provides full work rights. This allows graduates to gain the necessary Australian work experience required to claim extra points for General Skilled Migration (PR) visas or to secure an employer sponsor.
You can sit for either the Academic or General modules of the IELTS (or equivalent tests like PTE). However, you must ensure you meet the updated threshold: an overall score of 6.5 with no band lower than 5.5, taken within one year of your application
Yes. You can include members of your family unit (such as your partner and dependent children) when you apply, provided they are in Australia. If they are offshore or you wish to add them later, they can apply as a subsequent entrant.
When you apply onshore, you are granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). While a BVA allows you to stay lawfully in Australia, it does not allow you to return if you leave. To travel overseas and return while waiting, you must apply for and be granted a Bridging Visa B (BVB).
Yes. Maintaining adequate health insurance is a strict visa condition. While Student Visa holders use OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover), 485 visa applicants must transition to an OVHC (Overseas Visitor Health Cover) policy that meets the specific health requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs.
Trusted Expertise
About the Author
Published and reviewed by AECC counsellors who guide students through every step of their study-abroad journey.
Published by Femi Ferreras
Australia and New Zealand Study and Career Pathways Expert | 8 Years in International Education
Femi Ferreras is a Senior Education Counsellor at AECC Melbourne with 8 years of experience in international education across Australia and New Zealand. Originally from the Philippines, she began her career in Australia as a receptionist at AECC Melbourne. She then progressed into senior counselling, completing her Qualified Education Agent Counsellor (QEAC) certification along the way.
Femi is a primary point of contact for students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. She takes a client-first approach, tailoring her advice to each student's needs and keeping her guidance clear, especially when students are uncertain or under stress. When cases are urgent or complex, she assesses them carefully, consults the right channels and works towards a smooth resolution.
Her expertise covers student visas, PhD and research pathways, the higher education and vocational sectors, and school-age applications. She consistently meets her placement targets, and her tailored, culturally responsive support has helped increase student engagement and referrals. She has completed familiarisation visits to Bond University, Flinders University, Study Adelaide and the University of Newcastle.
Femi is deeply motivated to support onshore international students in achieving their career goals and realising their Australian dream.
Reviewed by Samip Pokharel
Australia Course and Institution Selection Expert | 13 Years in International Education
Samip Pokharel is a QEAC-certified Education Counsellor at AECC Melbourne with 13 years of experience in international education, working in the field since 2013. He holds an MBA and has worked with students from diverse academic backgrounds across every study level.
Samip's approach is built on honest guidance, open communication and a genuine understanding of each student's goals, strengths and academic profile. He has worked on a wide range of applications, including profiles that needed careful positioning, realistic university selection and a well-planned strategy. He particularly enjoys helping students who feel unsure of their options. He helps them identify their strengths and present their profile authentically, while keeping expectations realistic.
Through university and college visits and several familiarisation tours, Samip has gained first-hand knowledge of institutions, campuses, programs and student life. That lets him give students practical insights beyond what brochures and websites can offer.
After 13 years in the field, his commitment remains the same: transparent, personalised and responsible guidance that helps students make decisions they can feel confident about.
