Temporary Graduate Visa 485 Australia 2026: Requirements, Streams & Fees in Australia | Full Details

Your step-by-step guide to working in Australia after you graduate.

If you're finishing your studies in Australia, the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) is usually your next move — it's the bridge between your student visa and a long-term migration pathway. Recent changes have tightened the rules significantly, so it pays to plan before you graduate, not after.

What the 485 Visa Lets You Do

Live and work in Australia full-time (no work-hour cap)
Gain the local work experience many skilled migration and PR pathways require
Stay for a period tied to your qualification level, typically 18 months to 3 years
Not points-tested, and does not require an employer sponsor

Eligibility Checklist

[ ] Age: 35 or under at the time you apply (standard limit)
- Exception: Master's by Research and PhD graduates can apply up to age 49
- Exception: Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders can apply up to age 49 across all streams
[ ] Location: You must be physically in Australia when you lodge — you cannot apply from outside the country
[ ] Visa history: Held a Subclass 500 student visa at some point, and complied fully with its conditions (attendance, enrolment)
[ ] Qualification: Completed an eligible Australian qualification — bachelor's degree, diploma, trade qualification, Masters, or PhD from a registered institution
[ ] Timing: Apply within 6 months of your course completion date — miss it by even one day and the application is invalid, with no refund

English Language Requirement

This is one of the biggest recent changes:

[ ] Minimum IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 5.5) for most Post-Higher Education and Post-Vocational Education applicants
[ ] Test must be a single in-centre sitting — online or at-home test formats are not accepted
[ ] Test must be taken within 12 months of your application date
[ ] Some exemptions apply for Master's (research), PhD graduates, and certain passport holders — check current instrument settings, as English thresholds have changed more than once recently

Which Stream Do You Apply Under?

Stream	Who It's For	Typical Stay
Post-Higher Education Work	Bachelor's and Masters by Coursework graduates	2–3 years
Post-Vocational Education Work	Diploma and trade qualification graduates	18 months
Second Post-Higher Education Work	Eligible applicants renewing/extending under specific conditions	Varies — separate fee applies

Your stream is determined by your qualification level and course location — check which one applies to you before lodging, since fees and stay length differ.

Visa Application Fee

[ ] AUD $5,750 for the primary applicant (from 1 July 2026 — this is indexed annually, so confirm the current figure before applying)
[ ] Additional charges apply for a partner or children included in your application
[ ] A reduced fee applies for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens

Other Requirements

[ ] Valid health insurance — you'll typically move from OSHC to Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) once your student visa ends
[ ] Police clearance certificate, if requested
[ ] Health examination, if required for your circumstances

Timeline: Start Planning 6 Months Before You Graduate

6 months out: Confirm your eligible qualification and stream; start your English test prep
4–5 months out: Sit your English test (remember the 12-month validity and in-centre requirement)
After course completion: Apply for your police check, arrange OVHC
Within 6 months of completion: Lodge your Subclass 485 application — don't leave it to the last week

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 485 visa lead to permanent residency? Not directly — but it lets you build the Australian work experience that most skilled migration and employer-sponsored PR pathways require.

What if I turn 36 while my application is being processed? You're still eligible, as long as you met the age requirement at the time you submitted your application.

Can I apply for a 485 visa if I've never been to Australia? No — you must be onshore in Australia at the time of application.

Disclaimer: Visa fees, age limits, and English requirements are set by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and are updated periodically. Always confirm current figures at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging. This guide is for general informational purposes and is not migration advice.