Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Launch Your Career in Australia with the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) allows you to stay in Australia after your studies to live, work, and gain valuable professional experience.
Whether you want to launch your career, gain points for skilled migration, or simply enjoy the Australian lifestyle a little longer, this visa is your primary pathway.
Critical Updates for 2025–2026
The Department of Home Affairs has introduced significant changes to this subclass 485 visa program. It is vital to understand these new rules before applying:
Reduced Age Limit: The maximum age for most applicants is now 35 years (previously 50).
Exceptions apply for Masters (Research) and PhD graduates, as well as Hong Kong and BNO passport holders, who generally remain eligible up to age 50.
Stricter English Requirements: English test scores are now valid for only 1 year prior to the application date. Minimum score requirements have also increased (see below).
Stream Renaming: The old “Post-Study Work” stream is now the Post-Higher Education Work stream, and “Graduate Work” is now the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.
Choose Your Visa Stream
1. Post-Higher Education Work Stream
Designed for university graduates.
This is the most common stream for students graduating with a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Eligibility: You must hold a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree from an Australian education provider.
Skills Assessment: Not required.
Nominated Occupation: Not required.
Visa Duration:
Bachelor Degree: Up to 2 years
Master (Coursework & Extended): Up to 2 years
Master (Research) & PhD: Up to 3 years
2. Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
Designed for trade and diploma graduates.
This stream is for students with vocational qualifications relevant to occupations in high demand.
Eligibility: You must hold a diploma, trade qualification, or associate degree.
Skills Assessment: Mandatory. You must have a positive Provisional Skills Assessment in your nominated occupation.
Nominated Occupation: Must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
Visa Duration: Up to 18 months.
3. Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream
For regional graduates.
If you studied and lived in a designated regional area on your first 485 visa, you may be eligible for a second visa to extend your stay.
Visa Duration: An additional 1 to 2 years, depending on the regional category of your campus and residency.
Special Benefits for Indian Nationals (AI-ECTA)
Under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), Indian passport holders enjoy extended stay periods that differ from the standard rules.
Bachelor’s Degree (First Class Honours in STEM/ICT): Up to 3 years.
Master’s Degree (Coursework or Research): Up to 3 years.
Doctoral Degree (PhD): Up to 4 years.
(Note: “STEM” covers Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, including ICT fields).
Eligibility Criteria: Do You Qualify?
To be granted this visa, you must meet the following core requirements:
1. The “Australian Study Requirement”
You must have completed a CRICOS-registered course (or package of courses) that:
Was conducted in English.
Took at least 92 weeks of registered study.
Was completed in no less than 16 calendar months while physically in Australia.
You must provide evidence of English competency (unless you hold a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, NZ, or Ireland).
Test Validity: Must be taken within 1 year of your application.
Minimum Scores:
IELTS: Overall 6.5 (with at least 5.5 in each band).
PTE Academic: Overall 57 (with specific minimums for listening, reading, speaking, and writing).
3. Time Constraints
You strictly must apply within 6 months of your course completion date. This date is usually the day you received your final exam results or completion letter, not your graduation ceremony date.
4. Hold an Eligible Visa
You must hold an eligible visa, such as a student visa, or Bridging Visa A or B and have held student visa within the last six months.
5. Health & Character
Police Check: You must have applied for an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check before submitting your visa application.
Health Insurance: You must hold adequate health cover (Overseas Visitor Health Cover – OVHC) for the duration of your visa. Note: Your student OSHC is not sufficient for this visa.
Potential Visa Options After 485 Visa
Depending on your eligibility and requirements, you may consider the following pathways:
Training Visa (Subclass 407)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I include my family?
Yes, you can include your partner and dependent children in your application. They will receive full work and study rights in Australia for the duration of your visa.
Q: Can I extend my 485 visa?
Generally, the 485 visa is a “one-time” visa. However, if you studied and lived in a regional area, you may be eligible for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. Indian nationals also have specific extensions available under AI-ECTA.
Q: What happens if my student visa expires before I apply?
You must hold a valid eligible visa (usually your Student Visa 500) or a Bridging Visa A or B to apply. If your student visa expires and you have not lodged your 485 application, you may lose your eligibility.
Q: Can I apply for the Subclass 485 visa while I am offshore?
No. You must be physically present in Australia at the time of your application.
Q: Can I include family members who are currently overseas in my initial application?
No. You can only include family members in your initial application if they are currently in Australia and hold an eligible visa. If your family members are offshore, you cannot include them in your primary application. Instead, you must wait until your Subclass 485 visa is granted and then apply for them to join you as Subsequent Entrants.
