Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate Visa) is Australia’s primary post-study work visa, issued to international graduates of Australian institutions to permit skilled work experience in Australia following their studies. The visa is available in two streams: Post-Higher Education Work Stream (for bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD graduates from Australian universities) and Post-Vocational Education Work Stream (for graduates of vocational programs from registered training organizations). The Post-Higher Education stream grants 18 months of work rights for bachelor’s degree holders, 3 years for master’s by coursework, and 3 years for PhD graduates (extended from 2 years in 2023). The Post-Vocational stream grants 2 years of work rights. Subclass 485 can be applied for while still enrolled in studies (during final semester) or within 6 months of course completion, and it serves as a critical pathway to permanent residency through skilled migration pathways (Skilled Independent visa, employer-sponsored visas, or regional visas).
Key facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa subclass | 485 (Temporary Graduate Visa) |
| Issuing Authority | Department of Home Affairs (DHA), Australia |
| Streams | Two streams: Post-Higher Education Work Stream and Post-Vocational Education Work Stream |
| Duration (Higher Education) | 18 months for bachelor’s degree; 3 years for master’s degree; 3 years for PhD (extended from 2 years in November 2023) |
| Duration (Vocational) | 2 years |
| Application deadline | Within 6 months of course completion date (can apply up to 6 months before completion) |
| Visa fee (AUD) | Approximately AUD 2,700 (approximately USD 1,800) as of 2026 |
| Processing time | 4–12 weeks standard processing; priority not available for graduate visas |
| Work rights | Full-time unrestricted work; can change employers, fields, and locations; no skills/occupation test required |
| Dependants | Partner and dependent children can be included on same visa |
| Pathway to PR | Major pathway to permanent residency via Skilled Independent visa, employer-sponsored visa, or Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme |
| No financial requirement | Unlike student visa, no need to prove financial capacity for living costs |
Eligibility
Post-Higher Education Work Stream (HE):
- Completed a full-time bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD from an Australian university
- Course duration must meet minimum length (typically 2+ years in Australia, or entire final 2 years completed in Australia)
- Degree must be awarded by a provider with Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accreditation
- English language proficiency: IELTS 6.0+ (or equivalent) at the time of visa application
- Age requirement: Typically under 50 years old (no absolute age limit, but assessment considers age and pathway to PR)
- Application made within 6 months of course completion date (or up to 6 months before completion)
- No criminal history or character concerns
- Health requirements met (no serious health conditions)
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream (VE):
- Completed a full-time diploma or advanced diploma from an approved vocational education provider (registered training organization registered on the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator, NVSR)
- Course duration must be minimum 1 year full-time
- Qualification must be at AQF level 4 (diploma) or 5 (advanced diploma); level 3 (certificate III) qualifications may not qualify
- English language proficiency: IELTS 5.5+ (or equivalent) at time of application
- Same character, health, and timing requirements as HE stream
Required documents
- Letter from the educational institution confirming course completion, award of degree/diploma, and graduation date
- Official academic transcript or degree certificate: Document showing qualification awarded and date of award
- Valid passport: Copy of photo page and any migration or visa pages
- Proof of English language proficiency: IELTS 6.0+ for HE stream (5.5+ for VE stream); original test result; TOEFL, PTE Academic, Cambridge, or Duolingo English Test (DET) also accepted
- Proof of course duration and Australian study: Transcript or enrolment records showing 2+ years in Australia or 2 years of final degree in Australia (HE stream); 1+ year for VE stream
- Financial capacity statement (optional but helpful): Evidence that applicant can support themselves during Subclass 485 period without employment (demonstrates intention not purely to work)
- Police clearance certificate: Required if applicant has lived in any country for more than 10 years since turning 16 (or if applicant has criminal history)
- Medical examination results (Form 160): Required if applicant is from a country where TB screening is mandatory (see Department of Home Affairs for current list)
- Character documentation: Statutory declaration or police clearance if any criminal history or security concerns
- Employment contract or offer (optional): If applicant has secured employment, providing an employment offer strengthens the application
Application steps
-
Confirm course completion eligibility: Verify your degree meets the requirements (full-time, 2+ years in Australia, accredited by AQF). Check with your university’s student services or graduate office.
-
Gather academic documentation:
- Request an official letter from the university confirming degree award and graduation date
- Obtain a copy of your official academic transcript showing all completed courses and grades
- Collect a copy of your degree certificate or diploma
-
Complete English language test (if not already completed):
- IELTS 6.0+ (HE stream) or 5.5+ (VE stream)
- Alternative tests: TOEFL, PTE Academic, Cambridge, or Duolingo English Test
- Test must be completed within 3 years of visa application
- Obtain original test report to upload with application
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Obtain police clearance certificate (if required):
- Contact local police or home affairs office in your home country
- Request criminal history check or police clearance certificate
- Required if you have spent 10+ years in any single country since turning 16
- Allow 2–4 weeks for processing
-
Complete medical examination (if required based on country of residence):
- Contact a panel physician listed by Department of Home Affairs
- Undergo health examination (Form 160)
- Results are submitted directly to DHA
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Create Department of Home Affairs account: Register at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/immiaccount if you don’t already have one.
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Begin Subclass 485 application online:
- Select “Temporary Graduate Visa” and appropriate stream (Post-Higher Education or Post-Vocational Education)
- Enter personal details (name, date of birth, passport number, nationality)
- Provide education details (institution, course, completion date, degree level)
- Enter English language test information
- Provide work history (employment since graduation, if any)
- Declare character and health status
- State post-study work intentions (field of work, career objectives)
- Include dependant information (if partner or children to be included)
-
Pay visa fee: Approximately AUD 2,700 (USD 1,800) as of 2026; additional AUD 680 per dependent (partner or child).
-
Upload supporting documents:
- Academic transcript
- Degree certificate or graduation letter
- English language test certificate
- Police clearance (if required)
- Medical examination results (if required; may be submitted directly by physician)
- Passport copies
- Employment contract or offer (optional but helpful)
-
Submit application: Submit the completed form with all documents. Receive submission confirmation and application reference number.
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Await assessment: DHA assesses character, health, English language proficiency, and eligibility. Standard processing is 4–12 weeks; more complex cases may take longer.
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Respond to requests for information: If DHA requests additional documents or information (via email or ImmiAccount), provide within specified timeframe (typically 28 days).
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Receive visa decision: Notification sent to registered email. If approved, visa is granted and visible in ImmiAccount. A visa letter (e-Visa letter) can be requested as proof.
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Activate visa: If you are outside Australia at time of approval, you can enter Australia on the granted visa. If already in Australia, visa comes into effect immediately upon approval.
Financial proof / maintenance funds
Subclass 485 does not require applicants to prove financial capacity for living costs. However, strong evidence that applicant can support themselves (savings, employment offer, or family support) can strengthen the application by demonstrating genuine intentions (not purely work-focused for financial reasons).
Work rights
Unrestricted full-time work:
- Work full-time (40+ hours per week) in any occupation (not restricted to course-related field)
- Can change employers at any time; no sponsorship required
- Can work in any location within Australia (no regional restrictions)
- Can work in any industry or sector
- Self-employment, business ownership, and freelance work permitted
- No salary threshold or minimum qualification requirements for employer
Work authorization:
- No separate work visa or employment authorization document required; work rights are inherent in Subclass 485
- Must maintain visa conditions (remain in Australia, comply with health/character requirements)
- Must be employed lawfully and pay income tax
Partner and dependants:
- Partners included on Subclass 485 can also work full-time (unrestricted work rights)
- Dependent children can work but typically part-time while in school
Transition to long-term visa:
- While on Subclass 485, can apply for Skilled Independent visa (189/190/191), employer-sponsored visa, or other permanent visa pathways
- Subclass 485 expires at end of granted term; must transition to another visa before expiry or depart Australia
- Common pathway: Work in skilled occupation on Subclass 485, accumulate work experience, and apply for Skilled Independent visa based on points
Common refusal reasons
- Does not meet course duration requirement: Course was less than 2 years (HE stream) or 1 year (VE stream); or insufficient time completed in Australia
- Institution not accredited or AQF-registered: Provider is not recognized; degree not issued by accredited institution
- English language requirement not met: IELTS below 6.0 (HE) or 5.5 (VE); or test results are older than 3 years
- Character concerns: Criminal history (particularly fraud, visa violations, immigration offenses, or security-related crimes); or failure to disclose prior convictions
- Health grounds: Serious health condition posing public health risk; positive TB test; or non-compliance with health examination requirements
- Out of time: Application submitted more than 6 months after course completion date; eligibility window has closed
- Dependant issues: If including partner or children, any character or health concerns with dependants can result in visa refusal
- Misleading information or fraud: False documentation, misrepresented qualifications, or evidence of application fraud
Recent changes
PhD duration extended (November 2023): Subclass 485 post-higher education stream duration for PhD graduates extended from 2 years to 3 years, aligning with other Commonwealth countries’ post-study work terms.
Skilled migration pathway streamlined (2024): Department of Home Affairs prioritized Subclass 485 holders in skilled migration processing; graduates with work experience on 485 receive faster assessment for subsequent skilled visa applications.
English language test acceptance expanded (2024): Duolingo English Test (DET) officially accepted for Subclass 485 applications; minimum scores set at 110 for HE stream (equivalent to IELTS 6.0).
Work rights clarification (2024): Department of Home Affairs clarified that Subclass 485 holders have unrestricted work rights and can engage in any employment without notifying DHA (unlike some other visas).
Application processing improvements (2024): Average processing time reduced from 12–16 weeks to 4–12 weeks due to system improvements and increased staffing.
Related visas or statuses
- Subclass 500 (Student Visa): The visa under which applicant studied; Subclass 485 begins after Subclass 500 expires
- Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189, 190, 191): Points-based permanent residency; major pathway for Subclass 485 graduates
- Employer-sponsored visa (Subclass 482 TSS, 186 ENS): Employer-based temporary or permanent visa; pathway for Subclass 485 workers
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 190, 489): State-sponsored permanent or temporary residency; accessible to Subclass 485 graduates with skilled occupation
- Partner visa (Subclass 309, 801): Family-based permanent residency; Subclass 485 holders can apply if married to Australian citizen
- Visitor visa (Subclass 600): Tourism/temporary visa (not suitable for work; Subclass 485 is work-specific)
Primary sources
- Department of Home Affairs: Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa
- Department of Home Affairs: Post-Higher Education Work Stream
- Department of Home Affairs: Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
- Study Australia: Graduate Visa Information
- Department of Home Affairs: Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
Last updated: 2026-04-18.