Temporary Graduate Visa
The Temporary Graduate 485 visa is applicable to Student visa holders in Australia that have completed their study in Australia. There are two different streams.
The visa can be for 18 months/ 3 years /5 years. Helps students build work experience in Australia and transition to other visas to acquire permanent residency in Australia. To apply for this visa, you need to be 35 years or younger unless you are a Masters (research) or Doctoral Degree (PhD) and hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport the threshold age is 50 years.
Post Vocational Work stream –
- Have held a student visa in the last 6 months
- Have a qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list
Higher education stream – Post
- Have held a student visa in the last 6 months
- Have a recent degree in a CRICOS-registered course
+
Visa Submissions
1
%
Visa Approvals
1
+
Years of Experience
1
%
Client Satisfaction
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Common Questions To Temporary Graduate 485 Visa
Considering whether a 485 Visa is right for you can be a daunting task. Here are some of the more common questions we get asked.
What are the prerequisites for a 485 Visa?
The 485 is for international students who recently finished studying in Australia.
Key requirements:
• Must have completed an eligible qualification at an Australian institution (registered under CRICOS, taught in English, at least 2 academic years)
• Must have held a student visa (Subclass 500) within the last 6 months — miss this window and you lose eligibility entirely
• Must be under 35 at time of application (exceptions for master’s by Research or PhD graduates, and Hong Kong passport holders, who can be under 50)
• Must be in Australia when you apply
• English proficiency: minimum IELTS 6.5 overall (raised from 6.0 in 2024), with at least 5.5 in each component
• Must pass a Genuine Student assessment — the government now scrutinises whether you studied with genuine intent, not just to gain work rights
• A skills assessment is required for some streams
Key requirements:
• Must have completed an eligible qualification at an Australian institution (registered under CRICOS, taught in English, at least 2 academic years)
• Must have held a student visa (Subclass 500) within the last 6 months — miss this window and you lose eligibility entirely
• Must be under 35 at time of application (exceptions for master’s by Research or PhD graduates, and Hong Kong passport holders, who can be under 50)
• Must be in Australia when you apply
• English proficiency: minimum IELTS 6.5 overall (raised from 6.0 in 2024), with at least 5.5 in each component
• Must pass a Genuine Student assessment — the government now scrutinises whether you studied with genuine intent, not just to gain work rights
• A skills assessment is required for some streams
How difficult is the process for a 485 Visa?
It has become significantly harder. The process itself isn't complex — no job offers or employer is needed — but the goalposts have moved considerably:
• Tighter age cap, higher English scores, stricter course eligibility, and a new Genuine Student test all create more ways to be caught out
• The government is now cross-referencing applications with ATO tax data to verify your activity while studying
• A visa-hopping ban introduced in February 2026 means you can no longer switch between certain temporary visas as a workaround
• Processing takes a median of around 35 days for straightforward cases, up to 8 months for complex ones
Getting it wrong is costly — fees are non-refundable.
Contact Us to discuss your particular case - Professional help is strongly recommended.
• Tighter age cap, higher English scores, stricter course eligibility, and a new Genuine Student test all create more ways to be caught out
• The government is now cross-referencing applications with ATO tax data to verify your activity while studying
• A visa-hopping ban introduced in February 2026 means you can no longer switch between certain temporary visas as a workaround
• Processing takes a median of around 35 days for straightforward cases, up to 8 months for complex ones
Getting it wrong is costly — fees are non-refundable.
Contact Us to discuss your particular case - Professional help is strongly recommended.
How much does a 485 Visa Cost?
Fees jumped dramatically in March 2026 with no advance warning. Please check out the Department of Home Affairs website for up-to-date fees.
Contact Us to discuss your particular case to get an estimation of costs involved for you.
Contact Us to discuss your particular case to get an estimation of costs involved for you.
How do I begin?
Act fast — you have only 6 months from last holding your student visa. Don't delay
Contact Us to discuss your particular case. Given the high cost and tightened criteria, engaging our service before lodging is genuinely worthwhile. One mistake can cost you future residency in Australia.
Contact Us to discuss your particular case. Given the high cost and tightened criteria, engaging our service before lodging is genuinely worthwhile. One mistake can cost you future residency in Australia.
Navigate Your Migration Journey With Confidence With Reliable Immigration Service
Book Your FREE Initial Assessment