Temporary Graduate Visa

Find out all you need to know about the 485 visa, processing time, eligibility and estimated fees in Australia

Are you an international student who wants to stay in Australia after graduation? If so, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485). This visa allows you to live, study, and work in Australia for up to 6 years.

The 485 visa is a great way to gain valuable work experience in Australia, giving you the ability to work full-time or part-time. It can also provide a pathway to other visas, such as the skilled visa subclass 189 or 190.

It can also be a stepping stone to permanent residency. IDP Education can help you understand the benefits of the 485 visa and the application process. We can also provide guidance on preparing the necessary documentation and identifying potential job opportunities

With IDP Education’s support, you can make the most of your post-study experience in Australia and potentially secure a pathway to permanent residency. Contact us today to learn more.

485 Visa Checklist

The visa has four streams:

Graduate Work stream
Post-Study Work stream
Second Post-Study Work stream
Replacement stream

The Australian Government has announced changes to the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) for Higher Education students, which will result in an extension of stay for eligible graduates by two years.

The extension will apply to graduates who hold select Bachelor and higher level degrees in areas of skills shortage, as determined by a working group. The specific degrees and the effective date of these changes have not yet been disclosed. We will provide more information about these changes as it becomes available. Some additional notes can be found here regarding PSW extensions for selected degrees:

All PhD qualifications are eligible for extensions, PSW will be extended from four years to six years
Selected Bachelor’s degree PSW extended from two years to four years
Selected Master’s degree PSW extended from three years to five years
Nursing, allied health, teaching, Veterinary, engineering and IT are included, you can check your course CRICOS codes here (PDF file)
The increase is in addition to regional PSW extension – meaning regional students are still eligible for additional 1-2 years depending on the campus location, e.g. for a selected Master’s degree done on campus in NT, the student could potentially get 5+2 years of PSW visa.
If students who have completed a course on the specified list and already possess a 485 visa under the post-study work stream prior to July 2023 are ineligible for a regional extension or replacement visa, they have the option to apply for a separate extension.

Who is eligible for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485)?

To be eligible to apply for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) you must

be under 50 years of age
hold an eligible visa
have a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course
meet additional requirements of the relevant stream
Check the Department of Home Affairs for the list of basic eligibility

Do I need to complete an English test for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485)?

You may require evidence of your English proficiency as part of your visa application. Take IELTS (The International English Language Testing System), an English language proficiency test for study, work and migration. The department accepts both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. As IDP is the co-owner of the IELTS test, you can take an IELTS test at any one of our Australian IELTS test centres.

Will I need OSHC (overseas student health cover) to support my application for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485)?

At the time of application, if you hold a valid Student visa, you’ll already be covered under an Overseas Student Health Cover policy as a condition of your Student visa requirement. It is recommended to have your Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) start on the day your student visa expires and submit evidence of your OVHC when you apply for a 485 visa.

How to apply for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485)

Applications can be made online at the Department of Home Affairs. Have all you documents ready to complete the application and payment to ensure you visa application is valid.

Estimated fees and processing time

The cost of applying for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) varies for each type. The processing time will depend on your work stream. The estimated processing time for all student visas can be viewed here.