Have you recently completed your studies in Australia and want to gain valuable work experience before returning home or pursuing another visa pathway?
The Temporary Graduate Visa (485 Visa) allows eligible international graduates to live, work, and study temporarily in Australia after completing their studies. This visa can provide an excellent opportunity to build professional experience, develop your skills, and explore future migration pathways.
Key Takeaways
- The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) allows eligible international students to stay, work and study temporarily in Australia after completing their studies.
- There are currently three streams:
- Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
- Post-Higher Education Work Stream
- Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream
- Most applicants must be aged 35 years or under at the time of application. Limited exceptions apply.
- You must have completed a CRICOS-registered course that meets the Australian study requirement and held a Student visa within the last six months.
- The visa provides unrestricted work rights and allows eligible family members to be included in the application.
- Depending on your qualifications and circumstances, you may later become eligible for skilled migration or employer-sponsored visa pathways.
Overview of the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) enables eligible international graduates to remain in Australia temporarily after completing their studies.
The visa provides an opportunity to:
- Live in Australia temporarily;
- Work in any occupation with unrestricted work rights;
- Continue studying if desired; and
- Gain valuable Australian work experience that may assist with future visa pathways.
The stream you can apply for depends on the qualification you use to satisfy the Australian study requirement.
Streams Under the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
This stream is designed for graduates who have completed:
- An associate degree;
- A diploma; or
- A trade qualification.
The qualification must be closely related to an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
Stay Period
- Generally up to 18 months.
- Eligible Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders may stay for up to 5 years.
A skills assessment is generally required for this stream.
Post-Higher Education Work Stream
This stream is available to students who have completed:
- Bachelor’s degrees;
- Master’s degrees; or
- Doctoral (PhD) qualifications.
Unlike the Post-Vocational Education Work Stream, your qualification does not need to be related to an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List.
Stay Period
Generally:
- Bachelor’s degree (including honours): up to 2 years
- Master’s degree (coursework and extended): up to 2 years
- Master’s degree (research): up to 3 years
- Doctoral degree (PhD): up to 3 years
Certain Indian nationals may be eligible for longer stay periods under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA).
Eligible Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for up to 5 years.
Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream
This stream provides an additional period of stay for eligible graduates who:
- Previously held a Post-Higher Education Work Stream visa;
- Graduated from an institution located in a designated regional area; and
- Continued to live in a designated regional area.
Stay Period
You may receive an additional:
Depending on the regional location where you studied and lived.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
To apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485), you generally must:
- Be aged 35 years or under when you apply;
- Hold an eligible visa and be in Australia when applying;
- Have held a Student visa within the previous six months;
- Have completed a CRICOS-registered course that meets the Australian study requirement;
- Apply under the correct stream;
- Meet English language requirements;
- Meet health and character requirements; and
- Hold adequate health insurance.
Exceptions to the age requirement may apply to:
- Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders; and
- Certain applicants using a Master’s by Research or Doctoral degree qualification.
English Language Requirements
Most applicants must demonstrate competent English through an approved English language test.
Accepted tests may include:
- IELTS;
- PTE Academic;
- TOEFL iBT;
- Cambridge English; and
- Occupational English Test (OET).
The Department of Home Affairs specifies minimum score requirements and validity periods for each test. Requirements may change, so applicants should always verify the latest criteria before applying.
Health Insurance Requirements
You and all accompanying family members must maintain adequate health insurance while holding the visa.
Most applicants satisfy this requirement through Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC).
Maintaining continuous health insurance is an important visa condition.
Character Requirements
Applicants must satisfy Australia’s character requirements.
You may need to provide:
- Australian Federal Police clearances; and
- Police certificates from countries where you have lived for 12 months or more during the last ten years since turning 16 years of age.
Providing complete and accurate information is essential.
Including Family Members
The Subclass 485 visa allows eligible family members to be included in your application.
Eligible family members may include:
- Your spouse or de facto partner; and
- Dependent children.
Included family members generally receive the same visa period and can:
- Live in Australia;
- Study in Australia; and
- Work in Australia.
All family members must satisfy applicable health and character requirements.
How to Apply for the 485 Visa
Step 1: Determine the Correct Stream
Identify which stream applies to your qualification.
Step 2: Gather Supporting Documents
You may need:
- Passport and identity documents;
- Completion letter and academic transcripts;
- English language test results;
- Evidence of health insurance;
- Skills assessment (if required);
- Police clearances; and
- Relationship documents for family members.
Step 3: Lodge Your Application Online
Applications are submitted through your ImmiAccount.
Step 4: Pay the Visa Application Charge
Visa application charges change periodically.
Please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website for current fees and charges.
Step 5: Await Processing
Processing times vary depending on:
- Application completeness;
- Verification requirements;
- Health and character checks; and
- Overall application volumes.
Always refer to the Department of Home Affairs website for current processing times.
Genuine Student Requirement
As of 23 March 2024, the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement for Student visas was replaced by the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
The GS requirement emphasises that international students must genuinely intend to study in Australia, with education being their primary purpose.
Applicants are expected to provide information regarding:
- Their academic background;
- Employment history;
- Circumstances in their home country;
- Reasons for choosing their course and education provider; and
- How their studies align with their future career goals.
The Department considers the applicant’s overall circumstances and intentions when assessing the GS requirement.
Pathways After the 485 Visa
A Temporary Graduate Visa does not directly lead to permanent residency.
However, Australian work experience gained while holding a Subclass 485 visa may assist you in becoming eligible for other visas, including:
Many graduates use this period to strengthen their long-term migration opportunities.
Conclusion
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) provides eligible international graduates with an excellent opportunity to gain Australian work experience and continue building their future in Australia.
Understanding the eligibility requirements, selecting the correct stream, and preparing a complete application can significantly improve your chances of success.
As migration laws and policies frequently change, obtaining professional advice and checking the Department of Home Affairs website before lodging an application is always recommended.