Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
This temporary visa allows international students to live, work, and continue their studies in Australia after completing their qualification.
The Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa is a work visa for international students who have completed at least two years of study in Australia. Depending on your individual circumstances, this visa allows you to stay in Australia for 18 months to 4 years. It provides an excellent opportunity to gain valuable work experience and improve your eligibility for a permanent or provisional skilled visa. To apply, you must be in Australia and have held an eligible student visa within the past six months.
From 1 March 2026, the visa application charge for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) has increased to AUD 4,600.00, up from AUD 2,300.
With this visa, you can
- live, study and work in Australia temporarily after you have finished your studies
- bring your family members
You Must
- be 35 years old or younger at the time of application (exceptions may apply)
- be in Australia when you apply for this visa
- hold an eligible visa
- have held a Student visa within the past 6 months
- have completed a recent degree from a CRICOS-registered course
- provide proof of adequate health insurance for all applicants at the time of application
- show evidence that you have applied for an Australian Federal Police check when you apply
- submit proof of the required level of English with your application
Eligibility
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) allows recent international graduates to live, study, and work in Australia temporarily. Eligibility depends on the stream you apply for, as well as meeting a set of common requirements.
Streams of Eligibility
- Post-Study Work Stream (PSWS / Post-Higher Education Work Stream)
This stream is for international students who have recently graduated with a Bachelor degree or higher from a recognised Australian institution.
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- You must have applied for and been granted your first student visa on or after 5 November 2011.
- Available to graduates of Bachelor, Bachelor with Honours, Masters, or Doctoral degrees.
- Provides between 2–4 years of stay, depending on the qualification and study location (with longer durations for eligible regional studies and critical skill areas).
- Graduate Work Stream (Post-Vocational Education Work Stream)
This stream is for international students who have completed a qualification of at least Diploma level or higher, with skills and qualifications relevant to Australia’s workforce needs.
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- Applicants previously needed to nominate an eligible skilled occupation and complete a skills assessment, but these requirements have been temporarily removed for applications lodged between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023.
- Grants 18 months stay (with possible future extensions in certain skill shortage areas).
Common Eligibility Criteria (Applies to Both Streams)
You must be 35 years old or younger at the time of applying. If you are using a Masters (research) or Doctoral Degree (PhD) to meet the study requirements, or if you hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport, you can apply up to the age of 50.
You must show English proficiency unless you hold a passport from the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, or New Zealand. Accepted tests include:
IELTS (Academic or General): Overall 6.0, with at least 5.0 in each band.
OET: B pass in each band.
PTE Academic: Overall 50, with at least 36 in each band.
TOEFL iBT: Total 64, with at least 4 in Reading and Listening, and 14 in Writing and Speaking.
Cambridge (CAE): Overall 169, with at least 154 in each band.
Note: From 23 March 2024, the English requirement has been increased for new applicants.
Completion of at least 2 years of study in Australia in a CRICOS-registered course, within the last 6 months before application.
Applicants must meet Australian health and character requirements.
Must maintain adequate health insurance for the duration of your stay.
Duration of Stay
Graduate Work Stream: Up to 18 months (with some concessions and temporary extensions).
Post-Study Work Stream:
This is a temporary visa. The length of your stay in Australia will depend on the level of your Australian study qualification.
- Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years
- Masters (coursework and extended) – 2 years
- Masters (research) – 3 years
- Doctoral degree – 3 years.
The default Graduate Diploma stay period is 2 years, but may be longer where previous study would have attracted a longer stay period.
The length of stay for Indian nationals, as agreed in the Australia India – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), is as follows:
- Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years
- Bachelor degree (with first class honours in STEM, including ICT) – 3 years
- Masters (coursework, extended and research) – 3 years
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Doctoral degrees (PhD) – 4 years.
Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay up to 5 years.
You can travel in and out of Australia while your visa is valid.
To Check Full criteria of this visa, visit: Temporary Graduate Visa 485
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a skills assessment for the 485 visa?
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Graduate Work Stream: Previously required, but this was temporarily removed for applications lodged between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023.
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Post-Study Work Stream: No skills assessment required.
Can I work full-time on this visa?
Yes. The 485 visa gives you unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of your stay.
When should I apply for the 485 visa?
You must apply within 6 months of completing your course in Australia, and you must have held a valid student visa within that timeframe.
Where must I be when my visa is granted?
your 485 visa can be granted whether you are inside or outside Australia at the time of decision.
When did the Subclass 485 visa fee increase take effect?
The new visa application charges for the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) came into effect on 1 March 2026. The increase was implemented through a legislative instrument and applies to all valid applications lodged on or after that date.
How much is the new Subclass 485 visa application charge?
The updated visa application charges are:
- Primary Applicant: $4,600
- Additional Applicant (18 years and over): $2,300
- Additional Applicant (under 18 years): $1,160
These charges apply at the time of lodgement and do not include other associated costs such as medical examinations, English tests, or police checks.
Does the fee increase affect applicants who were preparing to lodge before 1 March 2026?
Yes. As there was no transition period, all applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026 are subject to the new fee structure, regardless of when preparation began. This may impact graduates who had planned their application based on the previous visa charges and require adjustments to financial planning.
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Other Migration Pathways
Skill Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
This visa lets invited workers with skills we need, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)
A visa for skilled people nominated by a state or territory government to live and work in regional Australia
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa
This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer, live and work in Australia.
