Temporary Graduate 485 Visa
The Australian Temporary Graduate Visa subclass 485 visa is a temporary visa for international students who have completed two years of study in Australia. It can last from 18 months to five years depending on your situation.
As there is no restriction on study or work whilst holding a subclass 485 visa, it is a good way to extend your stay in Australia to improve your chances of becoming eligible for a permanent or a provisional skilled visa.
Temporary Graduate Visa Video
The Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa has two streams:
- Post-Vocational Education Work stream: for students who have recently graduated with qualifications (associate degree, diploma or trade qualification) that are relevant to specific occupations that Australia needs. Your country of passport will determine the length of your stay.
- Post-Higher Education Work stream: for students who have recently graduated with a degree (in a CRICOS-registered course) from an Australian institution. Your country of passport will determine the length of your stay.
485 Visa Requirements
- Location
You must be in Australia to apply for this visa. - Age
The main applicant must be under under 35 at the date of lodgement (some exceptions apply). - English Requirement
The main applicant of the 485 visa must meet specific English language requirements, which are determined by the applicant’s country of passport and the visa that they are applying for. Please access ‘English Requirements for an Australia Visa‘ for further information. - Study in Australia
You must meet the two-year study requirement and have completed qualifications within six months of applying for the visa. - Points Test
The Temporary Graduate subclass 485 visa is not points-tested. - Meet Health and Character Requirements
Applicants for a Subclass 485 visa must meet certain health and character requirements. Click here for more information. - Hold (or have held) a Student visa:
You must have held a Student visa in the last 6 months.
Additional Requirements for Post-Higher Education Work Stream Criteria
At the time you apply for this visa you must:
- Be 35 years of age or under
- Applicants under 50 yeas of age are still eligible if they:
- Are using a Masters (research) or Doctoral Degree (PhD) to meet the Australian study requirement, or
- Hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas Passport
- Stay between 2 and 3 years, depending on your qualification
- Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may be able to stay for up to 5 years
Additional Information for Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
- Be 35 years of age or under
- Applicants under 50 years of age are still eligible if they:
- Hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas Passport
- Applicants may continue to stay for up to 18 months
- Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may be able to stay for up to 5 years
Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream
This stream is only available if you:
- were granted your first Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education or Post-Study Work stream
- were granted a Temporary Graduate visa in the Replacement stream based on holding your first Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Study Work stream.
You must:
- be aged 35 years or under when you apply. *Exceptions apply
- be in Australia when you apply for this visa
- hold a Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work, or the Replacement stream and have held a Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work or Post-Study Work stream, as the main applicant
- have a degree in a CRICOS registered course from an education institution based in an eligible designated regional area, that led to the grant of your first Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work or Post-Study Work stream
- have lived in an eligible designated regional area for at least 2 years before applying for the second Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work stream
Frequently Asked Questions on Temporary Graduate 485 Visa
Do I have to be onshore to apply for Graduate Visa?
Yes, you must be onshore.
Who can be included in my 485 visa application?
You can include dependent family members such as spouse/partner and dependent children who are in Australia with you, at time of application.
How long before I receive my graduate visa?
You can find updated information about graduate processing time at DHA processing times.
What are the Time Limits in Applying for a Graduate Visa?
You must apply for your graduate visa within six months after completion of your studies.
Will it affect my 485 visa application if I had exemptions on some of my course subjects?
Exemptions may affect your graduate visa application; it is best to contact us directly to find out your eligibility.
How long does the 485 visa let me stay in Australia?
Stay periods have changed for Post-Higher Education Work Stream from 1 July 2024 to the following:
- Bachelor degree (including honours) – up to 2 years
- Masters (coursework and extended) – up to 2 years
- Masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) – up to 3 years
Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may be able to stay for up to 5 years.
Stay periods for Indian nationals, as agreed in the Australia India – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), remain as:
- Bachelor degree (including honours) – up to 2 years
- Bachelor degree (with first class honours in STEM, including ICT) – up to 3 years
- Masters (coursework, extended and research) – up to 3 years
Doctoral degrees (PhD) – up to 4 years
Stay periods for Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
Applicants may continue to stay for up to 18 months.
Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders may be able to stay for up to 5 years.
Stay periods for Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream
Between 1 and 2 years depending on:
- the regional location of the educational institution that you graduated from that led to the grant of your first Temporary Graduate visa
- the regional area that you live in as the holder of your Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work or Replacement stream.
What are the entitlements whilst on 485 Visa?
Whilst on a 485 visa you have unrestricted work rights in Australia.
What are the 485 Visa Conditions?
You must maintain private health insurance whilst on a skilled graduate visa.
Can I apply for a 485 visa twice?
The Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream is available only if you:
- were granted your first Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education or Post-Study Work stream.
- were granted a Temporary Graduate visa in the Replacement stream based on holding your first Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Study Work stream.
How much does the 485 visa cost?
From 1 July 2024, government charges for Subclass 485 visa applications are as follows:
$1945.00 for primary applicant;
$975 for each secondary applicant aged 18 or above;
$490 for each secondary applicant aged under 18
Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream is $765.00
What if my graduate visa is refused?
If your 485 visa is refused, you will have limited rights to appeal through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
What is the pathway from 485 Visa to Permanent Residency?
The 485 visa is designed for an overseas student to obtain some work experience in Australia relevant to the visa holders’ field of study; it may not necessarily provide a pathway to permanent residency.
However, if the 485 visa holders can nominate an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list and meet the migration points test, the candidates can consider a general skilled visa, such as Skilled Independent Visa, Skilled Nominated Visa, or Skilled Work Regional Visa in the future.
Once the 485 visa holders have obtained sufficient employment experience, subject to the availability of their occupations, the visa holders may also have access to temporary and/or permanent employer sponsored visa options.
Before any immigration advice can be provided, we must hold an initial consultation which will attract a fee commencing from $385.
