What is the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)?

The Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) allows international students who have recently graduated from an Australian educational institution to live, study, and work full-time in Australia after completing their studies. It is one of the most important pathways for international graduates to gain Australian work experience and potentially transition to permanent residency.

The visa is managed by the Department of Home Affairs and is available to graduates of eligible CRICOS-registered courses. Depending on your qualification level and where you studied, you can stay in Australia for 18 months to 5 years.

Key Facts at a Glance

485 Visa Streams Explained

The 485 visa has two main streams, each with different eligibility criteria and duration. Understanding which stream you qualify for is essential before applying.

1. Post-Higher Education Work Stream

This stream is for graduates who have completed a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or Doctoral degree at an Australian institution. You do not need to nominate an occupation or get a skills assessment.

2. Post-Vocational Education Work Stream

This stream is for graduates who have completed a diploma, trade qualification, or associate degree that is closely related to an occupation on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).

Which Stream Should You Choose?

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the 485 visa, you must meet all of the following requirements at the time of application:

General Requirements (Both Streams)

• Be under 35 years of age (under 50 for Masters by research or PhD holders)
• Hold an eligible visa (typically a student visa subclass 500) or have held one within the past 6 months
• Be in Australia at the time of lodging the application
• Have completed a CRICOS-registered course within the past 6 months
• Meet the Australian Study Requirement (at least 2 academic years / 92 weeks of study completed in 16 calendar months)
• Meet English language requirements (IELTS 6.5 overall, no band below 5.5, or equivalent)
• Have adequate health insurance (Overseas Visitors Health Cover — OVHC)
• Meet health and character requirements (medical examination + police clearance)
• Not owe any debts to the Australian Government

Australian Study Requirement (ASR)

You must have completed at least 2 academic years (minimum 92 weeks) of study in a CRICOS-registered course in Australia. The study must have been completed within 16 calendar months.

English Language Requirements

From 23 March 2024, the minimum English language requirement for the 485 visa increased. You must demonstrate competent English through one of the following tests:

Exemptions from English Test

You are exempt from providing English test results if you hold a valid passport from:

• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Republic of Ireland

485 Visa Fees and Costs (2025-2026)

Visa Application Charges

Additional Costs to Budget For

Total Estimated Cost

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Check your eligibility Confirm you meet all requirements: age, qualification, Australian Study Requirement, English proficiency, and visa status. Use the Department of Home Affairs visa finder tool for a preliminary check.
2. Gather your documents Prepare all required documents before starting your application. Missing documents are the most common cause of delays and refusals. See the complete checklist below.
3. Arrange health insurance (OVHC) Purchase Overseas Visitors Health Cover that starts from the day your student visa expires. Keep proof of purchase for your application. Approved providers include Medibank, Bupa, Allianz, and nib.
4. Take your English test If not exempt, book and complete your IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, or OET test. Ensure your test results will be less than 12 months old at lodgement.
5. Get your skills assessment (Post-Vocational stream only) Apply to the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation. This can take 4-12 weeks, so start early.
6. Complete the health examination Book a medical examination with a Bupa Medical Visa Services (BVMS) panel physician. The Department of Home Affairs will generate a HAP ID through ImmiAccount for this purpose.
7. Obtain police clearance Get an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check. If you have lived in other countries for 12+ months, you may need clearances from those countries as well.
8. Create an ImmiAccount and lodge online Go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, create an account, select subclass 485, and complete the application form. Upload all supporting documents and pay the application fee.
9. Wait for processing Processing typically takes 3-5 months. You will receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA) while your application is being processed, which allows you to remain in Australia with work rights.
10. Receive your visa decision You will be notified via ImmiAccount email. If granted, your visa conditions and duration will be specified in the grant letter.

Complete Document Checklist

• Valid passport (with at least 6 months validity)
• Passport-sized photographs (recent, meeting Australian standards)
• Certified copy of your qualification (degree, diploma, or trade certificate)
• Academic transcripts from your Australian institution
• Completion letter from your education provider
• CRICOS confirmation of enrolment (CoE) for all courses
• English language test results (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, CAE, or OET) — less than 12 months old
• Health examination results (HAP ID from ImmiAccount)
• Australian Federal Police (AFP) check
• Overseas police clearance (if lived in another country for 12+ months since age 16)
• Proof of Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) — starting from student visa expiry
• Skills assessment result (Post-Vocational stream only)
• Evidence of Australian Study Requirement (enrolment + completion records)
• Form 80 — Personal Particulars for Assessment (if requested)
• Form 1221 — Additional Personal Particulars (if requested)
• Statutory declaration (if applicable)

Regional Study Advantage: Extra Stay Duration

If you studied and lived in a designated regional area of Australia, you may be eligible for additional time on your 485 visa through the Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream.

Designated Regional Areas

Regional Australia includes all areas outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Major regional cities that are popular with international students include:

• Gold Coast — Griffith University, Bond University, Southern Cross University
• Adelaide — University of Adelaide, Flinders University, UniSA
• Perth — University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Murdoch University
• Hobart — University of Tasmania
• Canberra — Australian National University, University of Canberra
• Newcastle — University of Newcastle
• Wollongong — University of Wollongong
• Darwin — Charles Darwin University

485 Visa to Permanent Residency: Your Pathway

While the 485 visa is temporary, it provides the ideal platform to build your case for permanent residency. Here are the main pathways:

How the 485 Visa Helps Your PR Application

• Australian work experience earns 5-20 additional points on the points test
• Regional work and study earn extra points under the skilled migration system
• Professional Year programs (available on 485 visa) earn 5 additional points
• You can apply for state nomination while on your 485 visa
• Employers can sponsor you for a 482 or 494 visa after seeing your work performance
• You can improve your English score with more time in Australia (IELTS 8+ = 20 points)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Applying after the 6-month deadline You must lodge within 6 months of course completion. There are no extensions. Missing this deadline means you cannot apply for the 485 visa at all.
2. Using expired English test results Your IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL results must be less than 12 months old at lodgement (changed from 3 years in March 2024). Many applicants use old scores and get refused.
3. Not meeting the Australian Study Requirement You need 92 weeks (2 academic years) of study. If you got credit for prior learning or RPL, you may not meet this requirement even if you completed the course.
4. Incorrect occupation nomination (Post-Vocational stream) Your nominated occupation must be on the current MLTSSL and must match your qualification. An incorrect nomination leads to refusal.
5. Not having health insurance from day one Your OVHC must start from the day your student visa expires, with no gap. A gap in coverage can cause issues with your application.
6. Leaving Australia before applying You must be physically in Australia when you lodge the application. If you travel overseas before lodging, you cannot apply for the 485 visa.
7. Forgetting overseas police clearances If you lived in any country other than Australia for 12 or more months since turning 16, you need police clearances from those countries. These can take weeks to obtain.

Frequently Asked Questions

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