The temporary graduate visa subclass 485 lets eligible international graduates stay in Australia temporarily after completing their studies. You may be able to apply if you recently finished an eligible Australian course, held a Student visa within the required period and meet the rules for the stream that matches your qualification. The visa allows you to work and study, but it does not grant permanent residency.
Quick Answer
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is generally for recent graduates of eligible Australian courses. Most applicants must be 35 or younger when they apply, although exceptions exist. A vocational qualification and a higher education degree lead to different streams, so the qualification you rely on is central to choosing the right application.
Why This Matters
Completing a course does not automatically extend your stay in Australia. Your course, completion date, visa history and supporting evidence can all affect whether you qualify.
It is especially important to identify the right stream before applying. Home Affairs says you cannot change streams after you lodge your application.
What Does a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) Allow You to Do?
The subclass 485 visa gives eligible graduates time to live, work and study in Australia after finishing an eligible course. It can create room to gain work experience and consider longer-term plans, subject to the stay period granted under your stream.
If you are still choosing a course, understanding how a student visa works and what post-study options may follow can help you plan before enrolment. Eligibility for a graduate visa still depends on the course and your circumstances when you apply.
Who Is Eligible for a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)?
Home Affairs lists several basic requirements. You must hold an eligible visa, have held a Student visa in the last six months and have a recent qualification from a course registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students, known as CRICOS. You must apply for an eligible stream and attach the required evidence when you apply.
Most applicants must be 35 or younger at the time of application. An under-50 age exception may apply to people using a master’s degree by research or doctoral degree for the Post-Higher Education Work stream, and to certain Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders. The applicable exception depends on the stream and the applicant’s circumstances.
You must also meet the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement. Broadly, this involves eligible study amounting to at least two academic years, completed within the six months before applying. A course’s calendar length alone does not establish that it meets the detailed study rules.
Which 485 Visa Stream Matches Your Qualification?
The main distinction is the qualification used to meet the study requirement: an eligible vocational qualification points to the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, while an eligible degree-level qualification points to the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
| Stream | Who it is generally for | Usual stay |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Vocational Education Work | Eligible graduates with an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification linked to a nominated occupation | Up to 18 months |
| Post-Higher Education Work | Eligible graduates with a degree-level qualification or higher | Usually 2 to 3 years, depending on the qualification |
| Second Post-Higher Education Work | Certain graduate visa holders who meet regional study and residence requirements | 1 to 2 years |
Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders may receive a five-year stay under the first two streams. The period granted depends on the applicable rules and individual circumstances.
Post-Vocational Education Work
This stream is for eligible applicants using an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification. The qualification must be closely related to an eligible nominated occupation, and a relevant assessing authority must assess the applicant’s skills as suitable for that occupation. If you expect to use this stream, check the occupation and assessment requirements well before you lodge.
Post-Higher Education Work
This stream is for eligible graduates using a degree-level qualification or higher. Unlike the vocational stream, its basic stream rules do not require you to link your degree to a nominated skilled occupation and obtain that occupation’s skills assessment. You still need to satisfy the other visa requirements.
Second Post-Higher Education Work
Some holders of a Post-Higher Education Work, former Post-Study Work or Replacement stream visa can qualify for a second visa based on eligible regional study and residence. This is a separate application with specific location and residence rules. Simply having studied outside a major city does not establish eligibility.
You may still see the older name Post-Study Work stream in previous articles. It was renamed Post-Higher Education Work stream in July 2024.
What Are the Subclass 485 English and Document Requirements?
Unless an exemption applies, you need to show that you meet the subclass 485 English requirement through an accepted test. The scores and evidence rules depend on the test and when it was taken. Because the accepted-test rules changed in August 2025, check the current requirement for your stream before relying on an existing result. Certain passport holders can provide qualifying citizenship and passport evidence instead.
Your application may also need evidence of your qualification and study, visa history, health insurance and character checks. Vocational stream applicants must pay particular attention to occupation and skills assessment evidence. Check the current Home Affairs document list for your stream and circumstances before lodging.
How Much Does a Subclass 485 Visa Cost?
As of September 2026, the standard government application charge for a primary Temporary Graduate visa applicant is AUD 5,750. This rate took effect on 1 July 2026. A concession continues for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste passport holders. Charges for additional applicants, as well as costs such as English tests, insurance or a skills assessment, can increase the total. Check the Home Affairs charges immediately before applying, since the amount payable depends on the rules in force when your application is received.
Can a Temporary Graduate Visa Lead to Permanent Residency?
A 485 visa does not automatically lead to permanent residency. Some graduates may later qualify for skilled migration or an employer-sponsored pathway, but each has separate requirements. Depending on the visa, these could involve an eligible occupation, skills assessment, English ability, work experience or an employer sponsor.
Moving from temporary to permanent residency requires a separate eligible application. If staying longer is your goal, assess your options early enough to prepare rather than assuming graduate visa work experience will make you eligible. Australian work visas cover different routes with different conditions.
Can Family Members Join a Subclass 485 Visa Holder?
Eligible family members, such as a partner or dependent child, may be included subject to the subclass 485 rules. Check how and when to include them, since arrangements can differ before and after the graduate visa is granted.
Other relatives need to consider their own circumstances. An older parent hoping to join an adult child may need to assess an Aged Parent visa. An eligible New Zealand citizen may instead hold a Special Category visa. These are distinct pathways for those family members, rather than additional 485 streams.
Common Mistakes
- Choosing a stream based only on its name. Check the qualification you are using to meet the study requirement. You cannot change streams after applying.
- Starting a vocational skills assessment too late. The nominated occupation, qualification and assessment all matter for this stream.
- Relying on old English test advice. Confirm that your test, score and test date satisfy the current subclass 485 rules.
- Treating the visa as a guaranteed route to permanent residency. Any later visa requires its own eligibility assessment and application.
Where to Go Next
The most useful next step depends on whether you are preparing to study, approaching graduation or considering your options after a graduate visa:
FAQs
No. Your qualification and course must meet the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement, and you must meet the rules for an eligible stream. An English language course alone does not meet the graduate study requirement.
The basic subclass 485 requirements do not include a job offer. The vocational stream does have eligible occupation and skills assessment requirements.
The vocational stream generally allows up to 18 months, while the higher education stream usually allows two to three years. An eligible second-stream applicant may receive one or two years. Specific passport-based arrangements can differ.
Eligible family members can be included, subject to the visa requirements. Check the timing and process for including them, particularly if your visa has already been granted.
No. Subclass 485 is a temporary visa. To stay beyond it, you would need another visa for which you qualify.
Conclusion
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) provides eligible international graduates with a temporary opportunity to live, work and study in Australia after completing their course.
Applicants need to consider more than whether they have graduated. Their qualification, age, Student visa history, English evidence and chosen stream can all affect eligibility. Those considering the vocational stream must also account for occupation and skills assessment requirements.
The visa does not guarantee permanent residency. Graduates who hope to stay longer should investigate other pathways early enough to understand their requirements and prepare before their 485 visa expires.
If you’re unsure which graduate visa stream fits your qualification or what options may follow it, book a consultation with IC Australia to discuss your options.
Claire Dawson
Australian visa content specialist focused on skilled migration, employer sponsorship, partner visas, student pathways, and long-term options for moving to Australia.
