Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
Visa Cost
AUD 4,600
From 2025-07-01 in the 2025-26 financial year the primary applicant base VAC is AUD 2,300 (secondary applicants aged 18 and over AUD 1,150, under 18 AUD 580). Note: from 2026-03-01 this visa's base VAC doubled to AUD 4,600 (adult secondary applicants AUD 2,300, minor secondary applicants AUD 1,160), so primary applications lodged as of June 2026 attract AUD 4,600. The rate in effect on the day of lodgement applies; holders of Pacific island/Timor-Leste passports enjoy a concessional rate. The two streams (Post-Higher Education Work / Post-Vocational Education Work) have the same rate.
Processing Time
About 4-9 months (Post-Higher Education Work 75% about 5 months, 90% about 8 months; Post-Vocational Education Work slightly faster; the live data on the official site prevails)
Eligibility
- Aged under 35 at application; those who meet the Australian Study Requirement with a research master's or doctorate, or who hold a Hong Kong/BNO passport, may be relaxed to under 50 (in the Post-Vocational Education Work stream only Hong Kong/BNO is relaxed, with no doctorate exception)
- Meet the Australian Study Requirement: a cumulative at least 92 weeks (about 16 months) of full English-medium study in a CRICOS-registered course, completed in Australia
- Held a valid student visa (such as subclass 500) within 6 months before lodgement, and be in Australia (onshore) at application and grant
- English meets the requirement: IELTS overall 6.5 with each band at least 5.5 (or an equivalent PTE/TOEFL score), with the score no more than 1 year old at lodgement (Hong Kong/BNO holders IELTS 6.0, each band 5.0)
- Post-Higher Education Work: applying with a higher education degree such as a bachelor's/master's/doctorate, with no skills assessment required and no field restriction
- Post-Vocational Education Work: applying with an associate degree/diploma/trade qualification, where the study must be closely related to a nominated occupation on the MLTSSL and you must pass that occupation's Skills Assessment
- Hold health insurance (OVHC) covering the entire period, and meet health and character requirements
- Completed all course requirements for the degree of the qualification (assessed by the institution as having graduated), with the qualification awarded by an Australian education provider
Key Information
Validity / Stay / Residence
Stay of about 18 months to 4 years (depending on qualification and place of study); Hong Kong and BNO passport holders up to 5 years; the second regional extension stream can add a further 1-2 years.
Eligible Dependants
Can include the spouse/de facto partner and dependent children as secondary applicants; secondary applicants must likewise meet conditions such as 8501 health insurance.
PR / Permanent Residence Pathway
Temporary visa, not permanent residence, with no direct PR pathway in itself. It is transitional: usually, while holding 485 you complete a skills assessment and accumulate work experience, then apply for a skilled migration visa such as 189/190/491 to move toward permanent residence.
View provisional-to-permanent transition overview →Common Visa Conditions
Full explanations of condition codes are in the Visa Conditions Lookup
Application Steps
Confirm stream and timing window
Confirm stream and timing window
Choose the correct stream based on the level of qualification obtained, and confirm you lodge within 6 months of graduation, while the student visa is valid or within 6 months of its expiry.
- Bachelor's and above to Post-Higher Education Work; associate degree/diploma/trade to Post-Vocational Education Work
- Check the age limit and exceptions (35/50)
- Confirm you are in Australia and have held a student visa within the last 6 months
Sit English test and complete skills assessment if required
Sit English test and complete skills assessment if required
Obtain a qualifying English score valid within 1 year; Post-Vocational Education Work applicants must obtain a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation.
- IELTS 6.5 / 5.5 in each band, or equivalent (HK/BNO 6.0/5.0)
- PVEW: apply for a skills assessment with the relevant assessing authority (such as TRA or VETASSESS)
- The scores and assessment must be completed before lodgement
Complete health exam and arrange health insurance
Complete health exam and arrange health insurance
Book the health examination at a designated clinic (HAP ID) and take out overseas student/visitor health insurance covering the entire visa.
- Generate the health examination referral letter in ImmiAccount
- Take out compliant OVHC/health insurance and keep the policy
- Prepare a police clearance (if applicable)
Lodge online via ImmiAccount and pay VAC
Lodge online via ImmiAccount and pay VAC
Create an ImmiAccount, complete the online application, upload materials, and pay the base visa fee and secondary applicant fees.
- Upload the completion letter, transcript, passport, English score, etc.
- Pay (AUD 2,300 from 2025-26; AUD 4,600 from 2026-03-01)
- After lodgement a Bridging Visa A is granted to maintain lawful status
Respond to requests, give biometrics, await decision
Respond to requests, give biometrics, await decision
Provide further documents as required, give fingerprints and a photo as needed, and wait for grant; after grant you have the corresponding work rights and stay duration.
- Watch for ImmiAccount correspondence and requests for further documents
- Cooperate with health/character checks
- The granted duration depends on the qualification: bachelor's/coursework master's about 2 years, research master's/doctorate about 3 years, PVEW about 18 months
Required Documents
| Document Name | English Name | Required | Description | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completion letter / Australian Study Requirement evidence | Completion letter / Australian Study Requirement evidence | A completion letter from the institution, proving you have met all graduation requirements, the course is CRICOS-registered, and a cumulative at least 92 weeks of full English-medium study in Australia. | Must show the course CRICOS code and start and end dates; this is the core evidence for meeting the Australian Study Requirement, more critical than the graduation certificate. | |
| Award/testamur and academic transcript | Award/testamur and academic transcript | Degree certificate and complete official transcript, to prove the level of qualification obtained (which determines the stream and visa duration). | If the certificate has not yet been issued, a completion letter can be used instead; for a research master's/doctorate you must be able to prove the degree type to qualify for the age-50 exception and the 3-year duration. | |
| English language test result | English language test result | A recognised test result such as IELTS/PTE/TOEFL iBT/OET/Cambridge, reaching IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each band (HK/BNO 6.0/5.0). | The score must be valid within 1 year before lodgement (shortened from 3 years to 1 year from 2024); some passport nationals are exempt, but be sure to check. | |
| Evidence of eligible student visa held in last 6 months | Evidence of eligible student visa held in last 6 months | Prove you held an eligible student visa (such as subclass 500) within 6 months before lodgement, meeting the visa-holding prerequisite. | A VEVO record or visa grant notice is acceptable; note that 485 can usually only be applied for once in a lifetime (with limited exceptions). | |
| Positive skills assessment (PVEW stream only) | Positive skills assessment (PVEW stream only) | Post-Vocational Education Work stream applicants must submit a positive skills assessment for a nominated MLTSSL occupation. | Issued by bodies such as TRA and VETASSESS; the field of study must be closely related to the nominated occupation, and Post-Higher Education Work usually does not require it. | |
| Overseas health insurance (OVHC) | Overseas health insurance (OVHC) | A health insurance policy covering the entire visa, proving medical cover while in Australia. | Bupa/Medibank/Allianz/nib and similar are all acceptable; the policy dates must cover the entire period from application to after grant. | |
| Valid passport and recent photo | Valid passport and recent photo | The valid passport bio-data page and one recent compliant passport photo, for identity verification. | The passport should be valid long enough; the name must match all documents, including qualifications and English scores. | |
| Health examination (HAP ID) | Health examination (HAP ID) | An immigration health examination completed at a designated panel clinic, with the results linked by the system. | Generate a HAP ID in ImmiAccount, then book a designated provider such as Bupa Medical Visa Services. | |
| Police clearance certificate(s) | Police clearance certificate(s) | Police clearances issued by countries of cumulative 12-month residence, for character checks (provided as required by the Department). | Includes a Chinese police clearance (if applicable), notarised and translated; not requested immediately for every application, but it is advisable to prepare it in advance. | |
| Form 1229 / consent for minor children | Form 1229 / consent for minor children | If a secondary applicant includes a minor child, provide both parents' consent for the child to travel to Australia or custody documents. | Accompanying children also need a notarial birth certificate and proof of their relationship with the primary applicant. | |
| Partner/dependant relationship & identity evidence | Partner/dependant relationship & identity evidence | The spouse's/de facto partner's marriage certificate or de facto relationship evidence, children's birth certificates, etc., to include family members in the application. | De facto partners need 12 months of cohabitation or registered-relationship evidence; documents must be notarised and translated into English (NAATI). | |
| Australian Federal Police check | Australian Federal Police check | Those who have lived in Australia for a cumulative 12 months must provide an AFP police clearance. | Apply online for an AFP National Police Check, stating the purpose as immigration. |
FAQ
How many times in a lifetime can the 485 visa be applied for? How soon after graduation must it be lodged?
The visa fee doubled in March 2026; how does that affect me?
Which should I choose, Post-Higher Education Work or Post-Vocational Education Work?
Is the English score really valid for only 1 year?
Can 485 be renewed? How do you move to PR afterwards?
Common Refusal Reasons
- The 'Australian Study Requirement' is not met (course duration/CRICOS-registered course falls short)
- Not having held a valid student visa within the prescribed period (usually 6 months), or being over the age limit at application (generally 35 or under)
- The English score falls short or is out of validity (the validity tightened to 1 year from 2024)
- Not taking out/maintaining compliant health insurance (breaching 8501), or no compliant insurance evidence at lodgement
- The skills assessment (for the relevant stream) was not passed or has expired
- Health or character requirements not met
Can you appeal after a refusal? See the Visa Refusal & Review (ART) Guide.