Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa

The Subclass 485 lets you stay and work in Australia after finishing an eligible Australian qualification. For most international students it is the single most important visa decision they'll make — because the 485 is the window in which you either build a pathway to permanent residence, or run out of time. Used well, it's a launchpad. Used passively, it's a countdown.

MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au

The 485 at a glance (2026)

Two streams: Post-Higher Education Work (university graduates) · Post-Vocational Education Work (eligible VET graduates)
Age: generally under 35 at application (reduced from 50), limited exceptions
English: minimum IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent); results generally valid 12 months
Stay: broadly 18 months to 3 years depending on qualification (some nationalities/degrees get more)
Where: generally applied for while you are in Australia, after holding an eligible student visa
Cost: the primary application charge rose sharply in 2026 (to around A$4,600) — confirm the current charge before applying

Settings change frequently — these are indicative as at 2026 and must be confirmed for your situation.

Finishing your studies? Get a free 485 assessment

Tell us your course, your timeline and your goal, and we'll come back within one business day on your 485 options and the PR pathway beyond it. Free, no obligation.

The two streams

Post-Higher Education Work stream. For graduates of a Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral degree from an Australian institution. It does not require a nominated occupation or skills assessment — your field of study is open. Stay length scales with your qualification (broadly: Bachelor/Masters by coursework ~2 years; Masters by research/PhD longer).

Post-Vocational Education Work stream. For eligible VET (vocational, e.g. trade) graduates. This stream does require an occupation on the relevant skilled list and a positive skills assessment. Stay is generally shorter than the higher-education stream.

Core eligibility

Held an eligible student visa and completed a CRICOS-registered course meeting the Australian study requirement (broadly two academic years of study in Australia).
Under the age limit (generally 35) at the time of application.
Competent-plus English — currently a minimum of IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent).
Adequate health insurance for the visa period, plus health and character requirements (including an AFP check).
Genuine intention to work and live in Australia consistent with the visa.

For the Post-Vocational stream, add a nominated occupation and a positive skills assessment. The precise requirements are set by the Department of Home Affairs and change — this is general information, not advice.

What changed recently (and why it matters)

The 485 has been tightened repeatedly: the age limit dropped from 50 to 35, English rose to 6.5, stream names changed, the temporary two-year extension for select degrees in shortage areas was wound back, and in 2026 the application charge roughly doubled (to around A$4,600). The practical effect: the 485 is now more expensive and less forgiving, so planning the move before your student visa ends matters more than ever. If you are close to finishing, this is the moment to map your pathway — not after you graduate.

Using the 485 window to reach PR

The 485 is temporary, but it's the runway for a permanent outcome. Common pathways from a 485:

Skilled (189 / 190 / 491) — complete a skills assessment, build your points, and pursue independent or state-nominated PR. Start with the points calculator and state nomination.
Employer-sponsored (482 → 186) — find an employer to sponsor you and work toward permanent residence. See 482 Skills in Demand and the 186 PR guide.
Skills assessment / RPL — where your occupation needs a qualification or assessment, see skills assessment by occupation.

The mistake we see most often: graduates treat the 485 as "two free years" and only think about PR when it's nearly expired — by which point options have narrowed. The right time to plan is now.

Map your 485 → PR pathway

A short, honest read on your best route to PR from a 485 — free, within one business day.

If your 485 (or student visa) was refused

485 refusals commonly turn on the Australian study requirement, English, health insurance gaps, age at application, or character. If you've been refused, time limits to seek review are short — start at visa refused and the student visa refusal guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa?

The Subclass 485 is a temporary visa that lets recent international graduates of Australian qualifications live, work and study in Australia for a period after finishing their course. It has two streams — the Post-Higher Education Work stream (for university graduates) and the Post-Vocational Education Work stream (for eligible VET graduates). It is most often used as a bridge to a longer-term skilled or sponsored pathway.

How long can I stay on a 485 visa?

It depends on your qualification — broadly 18 months to 3 years. A Bachelor or Masters by coursework typically gives around 2 years; a Masters by research or PhD longer. Some nationalities (for example Indian passport holders under the Australia–India arrangement) and some qualifications attract extra time. The settings change — confirm the current stay period for your qualification before relying on it.

What are the age and English requirements?

As at 2026, most applicants must be under 35 at the time of application (reduced from 50), with limited exceptions for certain research degrees and specific passport holders. English has also increased — a minimum of IELTS 6.5 overall (or equivalent), with test results generally valid for only 12 months. These thresholds change; confirm the current requirements for your situation.

What's the difference between the two 485 streams?

The Post-Higher Education Work stream is for graduates of a Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral degree and does not require a nominated occupation or skills assessment — your field of study is open. The Post-Vocational Education Work stream is for eligible VET (e.g. trade) graduates and does require an occupation on the relevant skilled list plus a positive skills assessment. Which stream fits depends on what you studied.

Can the 485 lead to permanent residence?

The 485 itself is temporary, but it buys you time in Australia to build toward PR — for example completing a skills assessment, lifting your points for a 189/190/491, securing state nomination, or finding an employer to sponsor you on a 482 or 186. Using the 485 window strategically is the whole point; drifting through it is the most common way graduates miss their PR window. No pathway is guaranteed — it depends on your occupation, points and circumstances.

General information only, not migration advice. Subclass 485 settings — streams, age, English, stay periods, occupation lists and charges — are set by the Department of Home Affairs and change frequently; confirm the current requirements for your situation. No visa outcome is guaranteed (s 15, Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022). Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) after a paid consultation under a written service agreement.