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Learn about the 485 temporary graduate visa, including who can apply, what streams are available, changes that will happen in 2026, costs, and how to apply with the help of a registered migration agent.
The Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa is a work visa that allows international students who have finished their studies in Australia to live, study and work further in Australia on a temporary basis. This visa has several different streams that applicants may apply for, and there are a range of eligibility criteria and requirements that must be met.
At Australian Migration Agents, we have experience and knowledge of the Australian immigration system, including the application process for a temporary graduate visa 485. Should applicants need information, guidance or assistance at any stage of their application, contact an Australian Migration Agent.
Our expertise in migration visas means we can help you prepare and submit your application quickly and efficiently.
Our experienced agents will give you regular updates and clear explanations of your visa options.
Our services are focused on achieving the best possible outcome for you, which means you’re always in safe hands.
Our fixed-fee quotes outline all costs prior to engaging our services.
There are two main streams available under the temporary graduate visa (Subclass 485), relating to the different qualifications received by international students at Australian institutions.
The Post-Vocational Education Workstream (formerly the Graduate Workstream) is the shorter-term stream (18 months) that relates to qualifications at the diploma or trade qualification education level. This stream has unique requirements, including the requirement that applicants nominate an occupation on the medium to long-term skilled occupation list (must be related to the course completed) and the requirement to have a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority.
The Post-Higher Education Workstream (formerly the Post-Study Work stream) relates to qualifications above a bachelor's degree education level. This longer-term stream (2 years, or up to 4 years for select qualifications) does not require applicants to nominate an occupation or undergo a skills assessment.
For applicants who are British nationals overseas or Hong Kong passport holders, they may be eligible to apply for a visa which is valid for an additional extended period.
For either stream, the qualification received must meet the requirements set by the Australian Government. These requirements include:
While there are also other streams that are available (Second Post-Study Work stream), these only apply in specific circumstances and have particular requirements that must be met.
Note that the Replacement stream closed to new applicants from 1 July 2024.
While there are multiple streams available, applicants for the temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) will typically be required to meet the following eligibility criteria in addition to the requirements mentioned above:
Yes, everyone who applies for the temporary graduate visa subclass 485 must show that they can speak and write English well. The minimum requirement has been raised to an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (with no individual band below 5.5) or an equivalent score on a test that is accepted, like the PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge C1 Advanced. This change took effect in March 2024. At the time of application, test results must be less than 12 months old.
You can take other English tests that the Department of Home Affairs accepts. Some of these are the PTE Academic, the TOEFL iBT, the Cambridge C1 Advanced, and the OET. You don't have to take the IELTS test if you get the same minimum score on one of these accepted tests.
To meet the English language requirement for the 485 temporary graduate visa, PTE Academic applicants must get an overall score of 50, with no communicative skill below 36. These scores are equal to the IELTS 6.5 overall standard. Visit the Department of Home Affairs website to find out what the most recent accepted score equivalents are.
The Post-Vocational Education Work stream is the only one that needs a skills assessment. If you want to apply under this stream, you need to choose a job from the skilled occupation list and get a positive skills assessment from the right authority before you send in your application. The assessment shows that your skills and qualifications are up to par with what is expected in Australia for the job you want.
Yes, if you are applying for the Post-Higher Education Work stream. People who have a bachelor's degree or higher can apply for this stream without having to take a skills test or nominate an occupation. You still need to meet all the other requirements, such as the English language and study requirements.
A Temporary Graduate visa can help provide international students who have just finished their education to receive invaluable related work experience. This can be of assistance to them if they wish to remain in Australia on another visa type, such as a Temporary Skill Shortage visa, that requires relevant work experience. These other types of visas can provide applicants with a pathway to permanent residency if that is something they wish to pursue.
Furthermore, there are additional benefits of a Temporary Graduate visa including:
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In addition to completing the application form for a Temporary Graduate visa, applicants will also be required to provide additional documents and relevant supporting evidence. While it is difficult to forecast what documents are required for each individual application, the following is a list of documents that should typically be included in a 485 temporary graduate visa application.
There are two main streams available under the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485), relating to the different qualifications received by international students at Australian institutions.
The Post-Vocational Education Workstream stream (formerly the Graduate Workstream) is the shorter-term stream (18 months) that relates to qualifications at the diploma or trade qualification education level. This stream has unique requirements, including the requirement that applicants nominate an occupation on the medium to long-term skilled occupation list (must be related to the course completed) and the requirement to have a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority.
The Post-Higher Education Workstream (formerly the Post-Study Workstream) relates to qualifications above a bachelor's degree education level. This longer-term stream (2 years, or up to 4 years for select qualifications) does not require applicants to nominate an occupation or undergo a skills assessment.
For applicants who are British nationals overseas or Hong Kong passport holders, they may be eligible to apply for a visa which is valid for an additional extended period.
For either stream, the qualification received must meet the requirements set by the Australian Government. These requirements include:
While there are also other streams that are available (Second Post-Study Work stream), these only apply in specific circumstances and have particular requirements that must be met. Note that the Replacement stream closed to new applicants from 1 July 2024.
Unfortunately, unlike other skilled visa types like the Temporary Skills Shortage (subclass 482) visa, there is no direct pathway to Australian permanent residence with this visa, as it is a temporary visa. Applicants should be aware they are able to apply for a subsequent Temporary Graduate visa where eligible, which can be granted for between one and four years. Eligibility for this visa will depend on factors such as where the Australian education institution is located and the nature of the applicant’s degree.
However, if Australian permanent residence is something that an applicant is pursuing, after receiving further work experience on a Temporary Graduate visa, it may be possible for the applicant to apply for another work or skilled visa that provides permanent residency.
There have been a number of important changes to the temporary graduate visa subclass 485 in 2026 that applicants need to know about. Here is a list of the most important changes:
These changes make it even more important to plan ahead and get strategic advice. Talk to an Australian Migration Agent about how these changes affect your eligibility.
Engaging the services of a registered migration agent, like an Australian Migration Agent, offers individuals the opportunity to enhance their chances of making a successful application. The visa application process can often be overwhelming, complex and time-consuming. Yet, with the assistance of an Australian Migration Agent, applicants can feel supported during every step of the application process. An Australian Migration Agent will leverage their understanding and familiarity of the Australian immigration framework to offer tailored support and assistance, however it is needed. This includes the following:
When making a Temporary Graduate visa application, applicants should be aware of the two main types of costs involved:
Department Fees
As of 1 March 2026, the visa application fees for the Department of Home Affairs have increased significantly. The updated fees are:
Note: Lower fees may apply for primary applicants holding a passport from eligible Pacific Island countries or Timor-Leste. Applications lodged before 1 March 2026 are subject to the previous fee structure.
Professional Fees
At Australian Migration Agents, we customise our fees to meet the individual and unique needs of each of our clients, recognising that no two visa applications are alike. We adopt a fixed-fee structure to ensure our clients have clarity regarding expenses. Additionally, we offer various payment options and can establish payment plans to accommodate clients with different financial needs and circumstances.
The visa application process can be challenging and time-consuming, but our team at Australian Migration Agents handles this daily and understands the requirements needed for successful outcomes. Get in touch to discuss your eligibility and explore the most budget-friendly services available to you.
Organise a consultation time to speak with one of our agents. You can meet with us in person, via Zoom or telephone. Following this, we will send you paperwork that confirms our engagement to represent you.
We will prepare submissions in support of your visa application. This will be based on your individual circumstances, and supported by evidence where appropriate. We then submit your application to the relevant body (Department of Home Affairs)
We ll contact you as soon as the Department makes a decision. If the application is not granted, we can assess your options and may lodge an appeal on your behalf, depending on your circumstances.
There are a number of factors that applicants should be aware of which can impact the time it takes for a visa application to be processed. This can include factors related to the Department, including their current workload, or can arise from an incomplete, incorrect or inaccurate application. As a result, it can be difficult to predict how long any given visa may take, as they are decided upon on a case-by-case basis.
However, applicants should be aware that the Department publishes provisional timeframes on their website about how long applications are taking. Currently, the Department estimates that for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream visas can take between 5 to 6 months, with applications taking 2 to 4 months for the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
Applicants should be aware that although an Australian Migration Agent can help submit a strong ‘decision-ready’ application on an applicant's behalf, ultimately, the Department has sole discretion in relation to the reviewing and processing of visa applications. Despite this, an Australian Migration Agent can still assist applicants and sponsors at any stage of the process and can ensure that applicants provide all of the relevant information and meet all of the relevant eligibility criteria to maximise their chances of success.
Our skilled team offers in-person and virtual appointments, which means we can provide immigration assistance and advice regardless of where you live in Australia.
A Temporary Graduate visa can be granted for up to 2 years depending on what stream is applied for. For applicants applying under the Post-Higher Education Work stream, this can be extended further depending on whether the degree is listed by the Department of Education as one that can extend how long a visa is granted for.
Unfortunately, the Temporary Graduate visa is a temporary visa. As a result, it does not provide a direct pathway to permanent residency in Australia (or Australian citizenship). However, applicants should be aware that the work experience gathered during the Temporary Graduate visa period can be leveraged when applying for other types of skilled visas.
The Department announced a two-year extension for particular qualifications that will automatically apply to eligible applications lodged after 1 July 2023. This applies in addition to any existing extensions that were available.
As stated above, it can be difficult to predict exactly how long a Temporary Graduate visa will take to be processed by the Department. While the Department provides provisional guidance on their website, this only forms a general estimate, with application processing being impacted by a range of factors.
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