Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — Australian graduate temporary work visa guide
A plain-language summary of the two streams, requirements, and process of the subclass 485 temporary work visa, which lets international students who graduate in Australia work locally and prepare for their next step.
Visa overview — what is subclass 485?
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is a temporary visa that lets international students who have completed a CRICOS-registered course in Australia stay and work in the country legally after graduating. It serves as a "stepping stone" for building local experience right after graduation and preparing for the next step, such as skilled migration (permanent residence). It is broadly divided into two streams, and which stream you apply under depends on the course you completed. Details such as the age limit, English, and stay period changed significantly in 2024–2025, so before you apply, always check the latest Department of Home Affairs guidance.
Telling the two streams apart
The Post-Higher Education Work stream (formerly Post-Study Work stream) is for graduates of higher education degrees such as bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The Post-Vocational Education Work stream (formerly Graduate Work stream) is for people who have completed TAFE or vocational education (such as a diploma or trade) and requires a skills assessment for a nominated occupation. The stream names changed in the 2024 reforms, so don't get confused by the old names in outdated materials.
The application process and core requirements
The 485 visa is generally an online application made from within Australia through ImmiAccount. You must hold a valid visa (usually a student visa) at the time of application, and you must apply within 6 months of the day you met the Australian Study Requirement. The common requirements include an age limit, English ability, adequate health insurance (such as OVHC), and health and character (police clearance) requirements, with a degree or skills assessment added depending on the stream.
What is the Australian Study Requirement?
This is the backbone of the core eligibility. You must complete a CRICOS-registered course in Australia, and under the rules you must study at least 2 academic years' worth = 92 weeks in English, over at least 16 calendar months. Online or overseas study, among others, may be limited in how much counts, so confirm the detailed calculation against the official standards.
- Hold a valid visa and apply within 6 months of graduating (the day you met the Australian Study Requirement)
- Hold adequate health insurance (such as OVHC) that covers your application and stay period
- Meet the age, English, health, and character requirements (confirm figures and scores against the latest official standards)
⚠ The stream names, age limits, stay periods, English scores, and application fees were adjusted several times between 2024 and 2026 (the fee rose sharply in 2026). The figures in this guide reflect the Department of Home Affairs official pages as checked in July 2026; always re-confirm the final conditions on the official pages at the time you apply.
What to prepare and the eligibility criteria
Gathering your documents in advance can reduce processing delays. Typically you will need proof of study completion (Completion Letter and transcripts), proof of English ability, identity and passport documents, your health insurance certificate, and police clearance documents if required. If you are in the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, the result of a skills assessment from a designated assessing authority is additionally required.
- Proof of study: Completion Letter and transcripts, CRICOS course information
- Proof of English: an approved test score or grounds for an exemption (confirm requirements and validity officially)
- Health insurance (OVHC) certificate, plus preparing identity (police clearance) and health checks (where applicable)
⚠ The documents you need and whether exemptions apply vary greatly depending on your education, occupation, and nationality. Don't trust "guarantee" ads from unregistered brokers; have your individual situation confirmed by an OMARA registered migration agent or an immigration lawyer.
Types by your situation (streams and cases)
Seeing which type your situation is closest to makes it easier to set your direction. Below are four common cases; the stream and period that actually apply will differ depending on your degree and where you live.
People who have completed a higher education degree fall under the Post-Higher Education Work stream. The stay period granted differs by type of degree, so confirm the latest duration officially.
People who have completed a vocational education qualification fall under the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, and passing a skills assessment for a nominated occupation is the key condition.
If you studied and lived in a designated regional area, there is a pathway to apply for an additional stay via the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. The period differs depending on the regional classification.
Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders can apply while under 50 years of age and get a longer stay of 5 years (checked July 2026). Indian nationals get extended stay periods for some degrees under the AI-ECTA agreement. Confirm whether these apply to you against the official standards.
Pre-application checklist (step-by-step tips)
For an application, timing and document consistency are what matter. Checking in the order below can reduce mistakes.
- Check your expected graduation date together with your current visa's expiry date — don't miss the 6-month application window.
- For documents that have a validity period, such as English and health insurance, adjust the timing so they are valid at the time of application.
- If you are in the vocational education stream, start your skills assessment early (it can take several weeks to several months to process).
- In ImmiAccount, complete the form with the correct stream and personal details, and review it again before submitting.
- After submitting, respond promptly to requests for a health check, biometrics, and additional documents, and keep your contact details up to date.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
Below are mistakes that happen often. Knowing them in advance can lower your risk of refusal or delay.
- Missing the 6-month application deadline — miscalculating from the graduation (requirement-met) date.
- Mistaking old stream names and outdated figures for current information (the 2024–2025 reforms need to be reflected).
- Missing secondary requirements, such as not having health insurance (OVHC) or insufficient coverage.
- Not meeting the Australian Study Requirement due to too much online or overseas study.
- Relying on false "guarantee" ads from unregistered brokers and losing money by only paying fees.
485 visa requirements at a glance (as of July 2026)
If you search for "485 visa requirements", results often mix in pre-reform figures. The table below reflects the Department of Home Affairs official pages as checked in July 2026 (centred on the Post-Higher Education Work stream). The criteria can change again, so re-confirm on the official pages right before you apply.
| Requirement | Current standard (checked July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Age | 35 years of age or under when you apply. Exceptions: (1) you are using a Masters (research) or Doctoral (PhD) degree to meet the study requirement, or (2) you hold a Hong Kong or BNO passport — in these cases you can apply while under 50 |
| English | IELTS (Academic or General Training) overall 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component (for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025), taken in the 12 months immediately before you apply. Equivalent scores in other approved tests (e.g. PTE Academic 55, TOEFL iBT 81) are accepted. Hong Kong/BNO passports: overall 6.0 with 5.0 in each component. Holders of UK, US, Canadian, New Zealand and Irish passports are exempt |
| Study | An eligible degree from a CRICOS-registered course, awarded in the 6 months immediately before the day you apply, plus the Australian Study Requirement of 2 academic years (92 weeks) over at least 16 calendar months in Australia |
| Visa and location | Be in Australia when you apply, hold an eligible visa, and have held a Student visa in the last 6 months. Applications are made online via ImmiAccount |
| Character and health insurance | Provide evidence that you have already applied for an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check when you apply, plus adequate health insurance (such as OVHC) for all applicants |
⚠ The table above reflects the Post-Higher Education Work stream; the Post-Vocational Education Work stream additionally requires a qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list and evidence of having applied for a skills assessment. Source: Department of Home Affairs official 485 stream pages (checked July 2026) — the criteria can change without notice.
Stay periods by stream, application fees and processing times (as of July 2026)
The stay period granted is determined by your stream and the level of your qualification. The figures below are from the Department of Home Affairs official pages (checked July 2026).
| Stream / qualification | Stay period |
|---|---|
| Post-Higher Education Work — bachelor (incl. honours) and coursework/extended masters | 2 years |
| Post-Higher Education Work — research masters and doctoral (PhD) | 3 years |
| Post-Vocational Education Work (TAFE / vocational education) | Up to 18 months |
| Second Post-Higher Education Work (regional second visa) | 1–2 years depending on regional classification (requires 2 years' residence in a designated regional area beforehand) |
| Hong Kong / BNO passport holders (both first-visa streams) | 5 years |
| Indian nationals (AI-ECTA agreement provisions) | Bachelor 2 years, bachelor with first class honours in STEM/ICT 3 years, masters 3 years, PhD 4 years |
Application fee (Visa Application Charge)
As checked in July 2026, the charge is AUD 5,750 for the main applicant (both the Post-Higher and Post-Vocational Education Work streams), AUD 2,875 for an additional applicant 18 or over, and AUD 1,450 for an additional applicant under 18; the Second Post-Higher stream is AUD 2,265 for the main applicant. The fee rose sharply during 2026 and is generally non-refundable, so always confirm the amount current at the time of application with the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before you lodge. Concessions may apply to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens.
Processing times
Rather than publishing fixed processing times, Home Affairs provides a visa processing time guide tool (on the global visa processing times page) that shows the times for recently decided applications. Processing speed varies significantly with lodgement timing, how complete your documents are, and character checks, and is not a guarantee for any individual application — so apply with plenty of buffer before your current visa expires.
⚠ The periods and amounts in this section were checked in July 2026 and change frequently with budgets and policy. The Department of Home Affairs official pages at the time of your application always take precedence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do the two subclass 485 streams differ?▾
The Post-Higher Education Work stream (formerly Post-Study Work) is for graduates of higher education degrees such as bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, while the Post-Vocational Education Work stream (formerly Graduate Work) is for people who have completed TAFE or vocational education and requires a skills assessment for a nominated occupation. Which stream applies to you is determined by the course you have completed.
What is the age limit?▾
As a rule you must be 35 years of age or under when you apply. However, you can be under 50 if you (1) are using a Masters (research) or Doctoral (PhD) degree to meet the study requirement, or (2) hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas (BNO) passport (Home Affairs, checked July 2026). Confirm whether these apply to you via the official guidance current at the time you apply.
By when do I have to apply after graduating?▾
Under the current rules, your eligible degree must have been awarded in the 6 months immediately before the day you apply, and you must have held a Student visa in the last 6 months (Home Affairs, checked July 2026). The anchor is the date the degree was awarded — not your graduation ceremony — so take care with the calculation and manage it alongside your current visa's expiry date.
How long can I stay on the visa?▾
In the Post-Higher Education Work stream it is 2 years for bachelor and coursework/extended masters degrees and 3 years for research masters and doctoral degrees; in the Post-Vocational Education Work stream it is up to 18 months (checked July 2026). Hong Kong and BNO passport holders may stay 5 years, and Indian nationals get longer periods for some degrees under the AI-ECTA agreement (e.g. 4 years for a PhD). People living in designated regional areas may seek an additional 1–2 years via the Second stream.
What are the English requirements?▾
You must have taken an approved English test in the 12 months immediately before the day you apply and scored, on the IELTS scale, overall 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component (for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 — equivalent scores apply for other approved tests such as PTE Academic 55 and TOEFL iBT 81; checked July 2026). Hong Kong and BNO passport holders need overall 6.0 with 5.0 in each component, and holders of UK, US, Canadian, New Zealand and Irish passports are exempt. Book your test with plenty of time to spare.
Can I stay longer if I live in a regional area?▾
If you studied at an institution in a designated regional area and have lived in a designated regional area for at least 2 years during your first 485 visa, you can apply for an additional 1–2 years (depending on the regional classification) via the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream (checked July 2026). Confirm your area's classification and whether you meet the requirements against the official standards.
Do I have to use a migration agent?▾
It is not mandatory, and you can apply on your own. However, if your situation is complex or your documents are ambiguous, it is safer to get help from an OMARA registered migration agent or an immigration lawyer. If you engage someone to act for you, always check whether they are registered on OMARA, and avoid unregistered brokers that lead with a "guarantee".
Useful official links
- Department of Home Affairs — Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)(opens in a new window)
The most accurate primary source for the visa overview, requirements, streams, and stay periods. Confirm based on the time of your application.
- OMARA — Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority(opens in a new window)
The official body where you can check whether a migration agent is registered and find a registered migration agent.
- Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)(opens in a new window)
Information on the government assessing authorities responsible for the skills assessment for the vocational education stream.
- Fair Work Ombudsman(opens in a new window)
Official workplace information on your work rights, minimum wage, and more while you hold a visa.
- Scamwatch (ACCC)(opens in a new window)
Information (run by the ACCC) on preventing immigration/visa scams and harm from unregistered brokers.
- Home Affairs — Global visa processing times(opens in a new window)
The processing time guide tool based on recently decided applications. A guide only, not a guarantee for individual applications.
- Home Affairs — Fees and charges for visas(opens in a new window)
The official page for confirming the exact visa application charge at the time you apply (includes the Visa Pricing Estimator).