Temporary Graduate Visa Australia (Subclass 485) Guide
Understanding the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) Australia
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) allows eligible international students to live, work, and study in Australia after completing their studies. Commonly known as the 485 Visa Australia or post-study work Visa, this Visa gives graduates the opportunity to gain valuable Australian work experience and potentially progress towards permanent residency pathways.
Depending on your qualification level, you may be able to stay in Australia for between 2 and 5 years with full work rights. The 485 Visa is one of the most popular Visa options for international students who want to build their future in Australia after graduation.
This guide explains the 485 Visa requirements, eligibility criteria, Visa streams, processing times, work rights, costs, and the application process for 2026.
Temporary Graduate Visa Overview
Visa Name → Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Common Name → 485 Visa Australia / Post-Study Work Visa
Who Can Apply → International graduates are elegible
Stay Period → 2–5 years
Work Rights → Full work rights
Study Rights → Yes
Include Family → Yes
Pathway to PR → Potentially yes
Apply Within → Usually within 6 months of course completion
What is the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)?
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) is a temporary Australian Visa for international students who recently completed an eligible qualification in Australia.
The 485 Visa allows graduates to:
Live in Australia temporarily
Work full-time without restrictions
Continue studying if desired
Travel freely in and out of Australia
Include eligible family members in the application
Many international students use the subclass 485 Visa to gain Australian work experience and improve their eligibility for permanent residency pathways later.
Types of Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
The Temporary Graduate Visa currently includes two main streams for eligible graduates:
A) Post-Vocational Education Work Stream (PVEW)
The Post-Vocational Education Work Stream is designed for international students who completed vocational education qualifications in Australia.
Eligible qualifications may include:
Diploma
Advanced Diploma
Trade qualifications
Associate Degree
Applicants generally need qualifications related to an occupation on Australia’s skilled occupation list.
This stream is popular among graduates in trade and vocational industries seeking Australian work experience.
B) Post-Higher Education Work Stream (PHEW)
The Post-Higher Education Work Stream is available to international students who completed higher education qualifications in Australia, including:
Bachelor’s degree
Bachelor Honours degree
Master’s degree
Doctoral degree (PhD)
This stream usually provides longer post-study work rights and does not generally require applicants to nominate an occupation.
Some graduates may also qualify for additional post-study work rights depending on regional study or eligible qualifications
Temporary Graduate Visa Benefits
How Can a Temporary Graduate Visa Benefit You?
As a graduate you can gain work experience
You can stay in Australia for 18 months
You can travel, work or study in Australia during your stay
You could be elegible for Visas leading to Permanent Residency
Your family can join your application
485 Visa Eligibility Requirements
To apply for the 485 Visa, applicants generally must:
Be under 35 years of age (*Exceptions apply)
Be in Australia when you apply for the Visa
Hold an eligible Visa
Have held a Student visa in the last 6 months
Have relevant qualifications to an occupation on the skilled occupation list
Have a relevant skills assessment
Hold adequate health insurance
Evidence of an Australian Federal Police check
Meet English language requirements
Eligibility requirements can vary depending on personal circumstances.
Documents Required for the 485 Visa:
Common documents required for a 485 Visa application include:
Passport
National ID Card
Completion letter
Academic transcripts
English test results
Skills Assessment documents
Health insurance documents
Character requirement documents
Partner documents (if applicable)
Providing complete and accurate documentation may help reduce delays in visa processing.
How to Apply for a 485 Visa:
The 485 Visa application process generally includes the following steps:
Organise health exams
Arrange a skills assessment
Gather all Your Documents
Lodge the Visa application online
Decision from the Department of Home Affairs
Many applicants choose to seek guidance from our Registered Migration Agent to avoid common mistakes during the application process.
Temporary Graduate Visa Processing Time
Post-Higher Education stream current processing times (guide only):
50% of applications are processed within 30 days
90% of applications are processed within 68 days
Post-Vocational Education stream current processing times (guide only):
50% of applications are processed within 37 days
90% of applications are processed within 4 months
Processing times vary depending on application volumes and individual circumstances.
Incomplete applications or missing documents can lead to delays.
Applicants should refer to the latest processing information from the Department of Home Affairs Processing Times.
Temporary Graduate Visa Cost:
The cost of a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) application depends on the number of applicants included in the application.
Visa Cost:
From AUD $4,600.00
Additional costs may include:
English language tests
Health examinations
Police checks
Health insurance
Migration agent fees
Applicants can estimate government fees using the Visa Pricing Estimator
Work Rights on a 485 Visa
One of the biggest benefits of the Temporary Graduate Visa is unrestricted work rights in Australia.
485 Visa holders can:
Work full-time
Change employers freely
Gain Australian skilled work experience
Build eligibility for future migration pathways
This makes the Visa highly valuable for international graduates seeking long-term career opportunities in Australia.
Can a 485 Visa Lead to Permanent Residency?
While the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) is a Temporary Visa, it is often an important pathway towards permanent residency in Australia.
The Visa allows graduates to:
Gain Australian work experience
Improve English language scores
Build points for skilled migration
Become eligible for employer-sponsored visas
Apply for state nomination pathways
Many graduates later transition to:
Common Reasons for 485 Visa Refusal
A 485 Visa application may be refused due to:
Incorrect or incomplete documents
Missing application deadlines
Failure to meet English requirements
Health insurance issues
Not meeting the Australian study requirement
Seeking professional migration advice may help reduce the risk of delays or refusal.
Why Apply Through a Registered Migration Agent?
Applying for a Temporary Graduate Visa can be complex, especially when immigration requirements change regularly.
A Registered Migration Agent can help you:
Understand eligibility requirements
Prepare supporting documents correctly
Avoid common application mistakes
Respond to government requests
Improve the quality of your application
Professional guidance may help simplify the process and reduce unnecessary delays.
Temporary Graduate Visa | Frequently Asked Questions
-
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) allows eligible international students who completed studies in Australia to temporarily live, work, and study in Australia after graduation.
It is commonly known as the Graduate Visa Australia or post-study work Visa.
-
The Visa duration depends on your qualification level and individual circumstances.
Many graduates receive between 2 and 5 years of stay rights.
-
Yes.
The Temporary Graduate Visa generally provides unrestricted work rights in Australia.
-
Yes.
Eligible partners and dependent children can usually be included in the application.
-
The Visa does not directly provide permanent residency. However, it can help graduates gain Australian work experience and become eligible for skilled migration or employer-sponsored pathways later.
-
Yes.
Eligible family members can usually be included in a 485 Visa application.
This may include:
Spouse or de facto partner
Dependent children
Eligible family members generally receive rights to live, work, and study in Australia during the Visa period.
-
You can stay: 18 months for VET courses, 2 years (bachelor’s and master’s degrees, including honours) and 3 years (master’s research and doctoral degrees).
You can include: Your partner (spouse or de facto), Dependent children.
It is often a key pathway to PR. It gives you:
Time to gain skilled work experience
Opportunity to apply for employer-sponsored visas
Chance to qualify for skilled migration programs later
-
Generally, no.
Most applicants must be in Australia when they lodge their Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) application.
-
One of the biggest benefits of the Temporary Graduate Visa is that it provides unrestricted work rights.
This means you can generally work full-time, part-time, casual, or even be self-employed in almost any industry.
Many graduates use the Visa to gain Australian work experience in fields such as IT, engineering, healthcare, accounting, hospitality, construction, education, and business.
Ready to apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa?
Turner-Rowe Migration helps you with your 485 Visa application.