Subclass 485
Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Stay and work in Australia after completing your studies. A critical bridge from education to permanent migration.
3–5 Months
$1,895 AUD
2 to 6 Years
189 / 190 / 491
Overview
What is the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)?
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) allows international students who have recently completed their studies in Australia to live, work, and study temporarily. It is the critical bridge between completing your Australian qualification and being in a position to accumulate the Australian work experience needed to qualify for a permanent skilled visa.
The 485 visa has two streams: the Graduate Work stream (for graduates in an occupation on the MLTSSL, with 18 months on the visa) and the Post-Study Work stream (for bachelor's, honours, master's, or doctoral graduates from an Australian institution, with 2–4 years on the visa depending on qualification level and institution location).
Extended stay concessions introduced in 2023 are still in effect: regional graduates and those in nursing receive additional years. Graduates who studied in a regional area can access an additional 2 years on the 485 visa through the Post-Study Work stream — making this visa potentially 4 or even 6 years for certain applicants, providing substantial time to build the work experience needed for a 189, 190, or 491 visa.
2026 Policy Updates
Critical 2026 Changes
Important — Read Before Applying
Significant changes were made to the Subclass 485 framework in late 2023 and have carried through to the 2025–26 migration year. Extended stays for regional graduates remain in effect, but new study requirements and English language benchmarks apply to applications lodged from July 2025.
Post-Study Work stream extended stays: graduates from a regional campus (or who studied in a regional area) for their entire qualifying study period receive an additional 2 years — confirm with your institution whether your campus qualifies
Nursing graduates: bachelor's or higher in nursing from an Australian institution grants a further 2-year extension on top of the standard Post-Study Work stream period
Age limit: you must be under 50 years at the time of application — this remains unchanged
English language: minimum 'Competent English' (IELTS 6.0 per band or equivalent) — results must not be older than 3 years at time of application
Study requirement: you must have held a student visa for at least 2 of the 6 months immediately before lodging the 485 application — a gap between student visa expiry and 485 lodgement of more than 6 months will disqualify you
Qualification must be from a registered Australian provider and must result in an AQF Level 7, 8, 9, or 10 qualification for the Post-Study Work stream
Eligibility Criteria
Do You Qualify?
Qualifying Study
Must have completed a degree, graduate diploma, or other AQF Level 7 or above qualification at an Australian institution
At least 2 years of the qualifying study must have been completed within Australia on a student visa
The qualification must have been completed within 6 months of lodging the 485 visa application
Partnered institutions (offshore study) periods do not count toward the Australian study requirement
Age
Must be under 50 years of age at time of application
Age is assessed at time of lodgement, not at time of grant
English Language
Must demonstrate 'Competent English': IELTS 6.0 per band or equivalent
Approved tests: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, OET
Test results must be from a test taken no more than 3 years before the application date
Applicants who are a citizen of, or passport holder of, UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, or Republic of Ireland are exempt
Health & Character
Must meet the health requirement — a medical examination with a panel physician is required
Must meet the character requirement — police clearances from every country you have lived in for 12+ months since age 16 are required
No previous 485 visa grant — you can only hold a Subclass 485 visa once (with limited exceptions for remade or affected applications)
Step-by-Step Process
Your Application Journey
Complete Your Qualifying Qualification
Ensure your qualification is an AQF Level 7 (bachelor's) or above, completed at a registered Australian institution. Your official academic transcript and testamur (degree certificate) are required for the application.
Sit an English Language Test
Sit an approved English test (IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, etc.) and achieve at least 'Competent English'. Book your test at least 4–6 weeks before you plan to lodge, as results take 2–5 days to 2 weeks depending on the test.
Complete Health Examinations
Undertake a health examination with an approved panel physician. You can complete this before lodging your application using the Health Examination Portal (eMedical) — the results are valid for 12 months.
Obtain Police Clearances
Obtain police clearance certificates from Australia (AFP check) and from every other country you have lived in for 12 or more months since turning 16. Allow extra time for clearances from countries with slower issuing processes.
Lodge the Visa Application via ImmiAccount
Lodge the 485 visa application online through ImmiAccount, uploading all supporting documents. You will be placed on a Bridging Visa A immediately upon lodgement, allowing you to remain lawfully in Australia while the application is processed.
Visa Grant
The Department will assess and grant the 485 visa, typically within 3–5 months. Your visa grant letter will confirm the visa period and any conditions. From grant, you have full work rights and may begin building the Australian work experience needed for a skilled visa pathway.
Costs & Fees
Understanding the Full Cost
All Subclass 485 application charges are non-refundable. The visa application charge is payable in full at the time of lodgement. Note that the 485 is a once-in-a-lifetime visa — there is no second opportunity to apply for this visa under the same stream, so the application must be well-prepared. Maven recommends engaging a registered migration agent to avoid errors that could result in refusal.
All fees are current as at July 2025 and are subject to annual indexation. Maven Consulting Group's professional fees for preparation and lodgement are separate to the Department of Home Affairs visa application charges. Contact us for a full cost outline.
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