For most international students, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is the single most important visa decision after graduation. It is the bridge between "international student" and "skilled migrant" — the visa that lets you stay in Australia, work full-time in any job, build the Australian work experience that skilled visas demand, and buy yourself time to figure out your permanent residency strategy.
It is also a visa that has changed dramatically since 2024. The age cap dropped from 50 to 35, the English requirement jumped from IELTS 6.0 to 6.5, the application fee more than doubled to AUD 4,600 from 1 March 2026, and the old "Replacement stream" that let people extend indefinitely was scrapped entirely. Many guides online still describe the pre-2024 rules. This guide reflects the framework as it actually operates in 2026.
What the 485 visa actually does
The subclass 485 gives you full, unrestricted work rights in Australia — no employer sponsor, no occupation restriction, no cap on hours, and no requirement to have a job offer before you apply. You can work full-time, part-time, freelance, or not at all while you look for the right role. You can also travel in and out of Australia freely while the visa is valid, and you can include a partner and dependent children in your application, who receive the same visa length and work rights.
For most graduates, the 485 isn't the end goal — it's runway. It buys you the time and Australian work experience needed to qualify for a points-tested skilled visa (subclass 189, 190, or 491) or an employer-sponsored visa (subclass 186 or 482), which are the actual pathways to permanent residency. If you're researching how to get PR after studying in Australia, the 485 is step one of that plan for almost everyone.
The three streams of the 485 visa
Following the 2024 reforms, the visa has three streams. Which one you apply for depends on what you studied — not on your nationality or career plans.
| Stream | Who it's for | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Higher Education Work | Bachelor's, Master's (coursework or research), or PhD graduates from a CRICOS-registered course | 2–4 years, depending on qualification |
| Post-Vocational Education Work (formerly "Graduate Work stream") | Diploma, Advanced Diploma, or Certificate III/IV graduates whose qualification links to an occupation on the skilled occupations list | 18 months |
| Second Post-Higher Education Work | Graduates who already held a Post-Higher Education Work 485, studied in a designated regional area, and have lived there for at least 2 years | Additional 1–2 years on top of the first 485 |
Post-Higher Education Work stream
This is the stream almost every university graduate applies for. There is no occupation list and no skills assessment — your degree level is what determines your stay period, not your field of study. A computer science graduate, a marketing graduate, and a nursing graduate with the same qualification level get the same visa length.
Post-Vocational Education Work stream
This stream is for graduates of vocational (TAFE-style) qualifications — Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, Certificate III and IV courses — and unlike the Post-Higher Education stream, your qualification must be linked to an occupation on Australia's Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). If your trade or vocational qualification doesn't map to a listed occupation, you won't qualify for this stream at all, which is one of the most common reasons vocational graduates get caught out.
Second Post-Higher Education Work stream
This is the one genuine "extension" left after the 2024 reforms eliminated the old Replacement stream. To qualify, your original higher education qualification must have been completed at an institution in a designated regional area (anywhere outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane), and you must have lived, worked, and studied only in that regional area for the two years immediately before applying. If you meet both conditions, you get an additional 1–2 years depending on the regional classification of your area.
Eligibility: the rules that actually matter in 2026
The age limit dropped from 50 to 35
This is the single biggest change from the 2024 Migration Strategy reforms, and it catches more people off guard than anything else. As of 1 July 2024, you must be under 35 years old at the time you apply for the Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Vocational Education Work, or Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
There are two exceptions:
- Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders can apply up to age 50
- Master's by Research or PhD graduates can also apply up to age 50, in recognition of the longer time these degrees take to complete
If you're planning a Master's degree in your early-to-mid 30s, this age cap should be part of your planning from day one — finishing your degree at 36 with a standard coursework Master's means the 485 is no longer available to you, full stop. There is no discretionary exemption.
The Australian Study Requirement
To qualify for any 485 stream, you must meet the Australian Study Requirement:
- At least 2 academic years (92 weeks) of study at a CRICOS-registered institution
- The course must be completed in a minimum of 16 calendar months
- The course must be conducted in English
- You must have held a student visa within the last 6 months, and apply within 6 months of your course completion (or your current visa's expiry, whichever is relevant)
One detail that trips people up: a one-year Master's degree on its own does not meet the study requirement. If your only Australian qualification is a 12-month Master's, you typically need to combine it with a prior qualification (such as an undergraduate degree completed in Australia, or a pathway diploma) to reach the 92-week threshold — or choose a 2-year Master's program from the start.
English language requirement: IELTS 6.5 since March 2024
From 23 March 2024, the English requirement for the 485 visa increased significantly:
| Requirement | Before 23 March 2024 | From 23 March 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS overall score | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Minimum per component | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| Test validity | 3 years | 1 year |
Accepted tests include IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LanguageCert Academic, and MET, with equivalent score requirements for each. Two details matter enormously here. First, your result must be from a single test sitting — IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) results, where you retake just one component, are not accepted for the 485 visa. Second, the 1-year validity window is calculated from your test date to your application lodgement date, not your course completion date — a test taken 13 months before you lodge is already expired, even if it was valid when you finished your degree.
Hong Kong and BNO passport holders retain the lower pre-2024 threshold: IELTS 6.0 overall with no component below 5.0.
Applicants in the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream generally don't need to re-sit an English test, since their English was already assessed for their first 485 grant.
How long can you actually stay?
For the Post-Higher Education Work stream — the stream most university graduates use — your stay period is determined by your qualification level:
| Qualification | Standard stay period |
|---|---|
| Graduate Certificate / Graduate Diploma | 2 years |
| Bachelor's degree | 2 years |
| Master's by Coursework | 2 years |
| Master's by Research | 3 years |
| PhD / Doctorate | 4 years |
On top of these standard periods, several bonuses can apply — and they can stack:
- Hong Kong or BNO passport holders: up to 5 years regardless of qualification level
- Indian nationals (under the Australia–India ECTA agreement): an additional 1 year, bringing Master's graduates to 3 years and PhD graduates to 4 years
- Regional study: graduates who studied at an institution in a designated regional area may receive an additional 1–2 years, either built into the first grant or via the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream
If you're an Indian student weighing Australia against Canada or the UK, this ECTA bonus is a genuinely underrated advantage — it's covered in more depth in our guide to the best countries for Indian students.
Visa application fees from 1 March 2026
Fees for the 485 visa rose sharply on 1 March 2026 — for some applicants, the fee has more than doubled compared to 2023 levels.
| Applicant type | Fee from 1 March 2026 | Previous fee |
|---|---|---|
| Main applicant (Post-Higher Education / Post-Vocational Education Work) | AUD 4,600 | AUD 2,300 |
| Secondary applicant aged 18+ | AUD 2,300 | — |
| Secondary applicant under 18 | AUD 1,160 | — |
| Second Post-Higher Education Work stream (main applicant) | AUD 1,800 | AUD 905 |
Eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens are charged a reduced fee across all streams under separate arrangements. Always confirm the current fee on the Department of Home Affairs ImmiAccount portal before submitting, since visa application charges are indexed and can change again.
How to apply: step by step
- Confirm your stream and check eligibility — age, Australian Study Requirement, and which stream matches your qualification. Vocational graduates should check their qualification appears on the MLTSSL before assuming they're eligible for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.
- Book your English test early — given the 1-year validity window, time your test so the result is still valid on your planned lodgement date, not just your graduation date.
- Arrange health insurance (OSHC) that covers the full proposed visa period — a gap in coverage is a common reason for delays.
- Get a police check from the Australian Federal Police (and from any country you've lived in for 12+ months in the past 10 years) before lodging.
- Gather documents: completion letter or testamur, academic transcripts, passport, English test results, OSHC, police checks, and passport photos.
- Lodge through ImmiAccount and pay the application fee.
- Receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA) automatically if your current visa is close to expiring — this lets you keep working and studying while your 485 is processed, but note a BVA does not allow re-entry to Australia if you travel overseas; you'd need a Bridging Visa B first.
- Complete health examinations if requested, usually at a Bupa Medical Visa Services clinic.
Processing times vary considerably — roughly half of applications are decided within about 8 days, and roughly 90% within about 83 days, but always check the Department's official processing time tool for current figures, as these fluctuate with application volumes.
One important integrity rule: you usually can't switch back
Since the July 2024 reforms, current or former Temporary Graduate visa holders generally cannot apply for another student visa (subclass 500) while onshore in Australia. If your plan involves "doing another degree if the job search doesn't work out," that plan now typically requires leaving Australia first. This is a meaningful shift from the pre-2024 environment, where switching back to study was a common fallback.
The 485 visa and your PR pathway
The 485 is a temporary visa — it does not lead to PR on its own. What it gives you is time and eligibility to pursue:
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) — points-tested, no sponsor needed, requires a positive skills assessment in an eligible occupation
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) — state or territory nomination, often easier to access than 189
- Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) — for regional areas, often with lower points thresholds and a pathway to permanent regional visas
- Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) — if an employer sponsors you after the 485 ends
The single most valuable thing you can do during your 485 is build 12 months or more of skilled Australian work experience in your nominated occupation, since this directly increases your SkillSelect points score. For the full step-by-step breakdown of skills assessments, points tests, and state nomination, see our complete guide to getting PR after studying in Australia.
Common mistakes that lead to refusal or wasted time
- Applying after the 6-month window from course completion — there are no discretionary exceptions
- Letting your English test expire before lodgement, especially under the new 1-year validity rule
- Using an IELTS One Skill Retake result, which is not accepted for the 485
- Choosing the wrong stream — vocational graduates assuming they qualify for Post-Higher Education Work, or assuming any vocational qualification automatically qualifies for Post-Vocational Education Work without checking the occupation list
- Misjudging the age cutoff — applying at 35 or older without realizing the exceptions don't apply to your situation
- Assuming a 1-year Master's alone meets the Australian Study Requirement when it doesn't reach 92 weeks
485 visa vs. other Australian student/graduate visas
| Visa | Purpose | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 500 (Student visa) | Study in Australia | Current students |
| Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) | Work after graduation | Recent graduates under 35 (or 50 with exceptions) |
| Subclass 189/190/491 | Permanent skilled migration | 485 holders with points and skills assessment |
| Subclass 186/482 | Employer-sponsored work | Graduates with a job offer from a sponsoring employer |
If you're still deciding whether Australia is the right country at all, our Study in Australia 2026 guide and our Australia vs UK vs Canada comparison cover how the 485 stacks up against the UK's Graduate Route and Canada's PGWP.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work full-time on a 485 visa? Yes. The 485 grants full, unrestricted work rights — any employer, any occupation, any number of hours, including self-employment. There's no need for a job offer before you apply.
What happens if I'm 36 when I graduate? Unless you hold a Hong Kong or BNO passport, or your qualifying degree is a Master's by Research or PhD, you will not be eligible for the 485 visa under current rules. You would need to look at other pathways, such as employer sponsorship or a skills assessment for a different visa category.
Does a one-year Master's qualify me for the 485? Not on its own. You need at least 92 weeks (around 2 academic years) of CRICOS-registered study completed in a minimum of 16 calendar months. A one-year Master's typically needs to be combined with a prior Australian qualification to meet this threshold.
Can my partner work on my 485 visa? Yes. Partners and dependent children included in your application receive the same visa validity period and full work rights as the primary applicant.
Is the 485 visa enough to get permanent residency? No — the 485 is temporary. It's the bridge that gives you time to gain skilled work experience, complete a skills assessment, and apply for a points-tested or employer-sponsored permanent visa.
What's the difference between the 485 and the Graduate Route visa in the UK? The UK's Graduate Route gives a flat 2 years (3 for PhD graduates) regardless of degree level, with no English test requirement at the visa stage. Australia's 485 varies by qualification (2–4 years) but has a stricter age cap (35) and a higher English requirement (IELTS 6.5). Our UK vs Australia comparison covers this in full.
I already have a 485 — can I extend it? Only if you meet the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream conditions: your original qualification was from a designated regional institution, and you've lived, studied, and worked only in that regional area for the past two years. The old indefinite extension pathway (the Replacement stream) was eliminated in 2024.
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This guide reflects Subclass 485 settings following the reforms introduced from 1 July 2024 and the fee increases effective 1 March 2026, including the English language requirements under Migration Instrument LIN 24/021. Visa application charges, stay periods, and eligibility criteria are set by the Department of Home Affairs and are reviewed regularly — verify current settings on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before applying, or consult a MARA-registered migration agent for advice specific to your situation.