Temporary Graduate Visa – Subclass 485

Post-Higher Education Work stream (former Post-Study Work stream)

Masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) graduates and Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders will still be eligible if they are under 50 years of age.

The ‘select degree’ 2 year extension will cease.

Stay periods will change to the following:

• Bachelor degree (including honours) – up to 2 years
• Masters (coursework and extended) – up to 2 years
• Masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) – up to 3 years.

Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may be able to stay for up to 5 years.

Stay periods for Indian nationals, as agreed in the Australia India – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), remain as:

• Bachelor degree (including honours) – up to 2 years
• Bachelor degree (with first class honours in STEM, including ICT) – up to 3 years
• Masters (coursework, extended and research) – up to 3 years
• Doctoral degrees (PhD) – up to 4 years.

(Learn More: Changes to the Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485)

From 1st July 2024,

• The maximum age to apply for the Visa 485 has been confirmed to be reduced from 50 years to 35 years old.
• The duration for the Visa 485 has been confirmed to change back to 2 years for Bachelor and Master courses and 3 years for Master (by research) and PhD.

(Learn More: Changes to the Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485)

From 23 March 2024,

• The minimum English score required for 485 visas increases from IELTS 6.0 to 6.5 (or equivalent), and all band scores (listening, reading, writing and speaking) must not be under 5.5.
• The test validity window is reduced from 3 years to 1 year only, which means that you must achieve the required test scores within 1 year prior to the day you lodge your 485 visa application.
• The new 485 English score requirements standards don’t apply to Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders. This means that the applicants from these regions only need to obtain an IELTS overall of 6.0, with no band score under 5.0, to be eligible for a 485 visa.

(Learn more: New English Requirements For The 485 Visa In Australia)

Australian Government published the Migration Strategy, which mentioned that the government was planning to decrease the duration of the 485 Visa and increase the English requirements.

To be eligible for the Graduate Work Stream of the 485 visa, you must meet the following criteria: 

Age: You must be under 35 years of age  

Visa requirement:  

• You are currently on a student visa and you are a main applicant.  
• You must have held a student visa within the past 6 months, and you are now on a substantive visa, a Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B,  
• If you are outside Australia, you must have held an eligible student visa.  

Study requirements: You must have completed a degree, diploma or trade qualification in Australia that is closely related to an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) 

• You course must be a CRICOS registered course. 
• Your courses must be in English.  
• The duration of your course must be at least 92 weeks (fulltime study) 
• You completed the course within 16 calendar months. 

Skills and qualifications requirements:  

• You must nominate an occupation on the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List) 
• You must have held a diploma, degree or trade qualification that is closely related to the occupation that you nominate.  
• You must have skill assessment or at least lodge the skill assessment application to the relevant assessing authority. 

English requirements: You must have IELTS overall 6.5 with no band score under 5.5 in the past 1 year before you lodge your visa application. (New English Requirements For The 485 Visa)

Health Insurance: You and your family members must have health insurance to cover your healthcare costs while you are in Australia.  

Character requirements: You must meet the health requirements to be eligible for this visa. 

No debt to the Australia Government: If you or your family member have a debt to the Australian Government, you need to pay back or arranged to pay back that debt. 

To be eligible for the Post-Study Work Stream of the 485 visa, you must meet the following criteria: 

Age: You must be under 35 years of age  (except Master by research, PhD and Hong Kong & BNO passport holder)

Visa requirement: This stream is only available for those who applied for a student visa or granted a student visa on or after 5 November 2011. To be eligible for this stream, you also need to meet the below requirements:  

• You are currently on a student visa where you are a main applicant.  
• You must have held a student visa within the past 6 months, and you are now on a substantive visa, a Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B,  
• If you are outside Australia, you must have held an eligible student visa 

Study requirements: You must have completed a degree in Australia.  

• You course must be a CRICOS registered course. 
• Your courses must be in English.  
• The duration of your course must be at least 92 weeks(fulltime study) 
• You completed the course in not less than 16 calendar months. 
• You must have completed your course within 6 months right before you lodge the application for a 485 visa.  

Qualifications requirements:  

• You must have completed an eligible degree, which includes: bachelor degree, bachelor (honours) degree, masters by coursework degree, masters (extended) degree, masters by research degree, or doctoral degree. 

English requirements: You must have IELTS overall 6.5 with no band score under 5.5 in the past 1 year before you lodge your visa application. (New English Requirements For The 485 Visa)

Health Insurance: You and your family members must have health insurance to cover your healthcare costs while you are in Australia.  

Character requirements: You must meet the health requirements to be eligible for this visa. 

No debt to the Australia Government: If you or your family member have a debt to the Australian Government, you need to pay back or arranged to pay back that debt. 

To be eligible for the Second Post-Study Work Stream of the 485 visa, you must meet the following criteria: 

Age: You must be under 35 years of age  (except Master by research, PhD and Hong Kong & BNO passport holder)

Visa requirement: This stream is designed for students: 

• Who were granted their first 485 visa (post-study work stream), or  
• Who were granted the first 485 visa (Replacement stream) based on holding the first visa in the post-study work stream.  

Australian Education Provider requirements:  

• You must have completed a degree that led to the grant of your first 485 visa (Post-study work stream). 
• Your education provider must be a CRICOS registered. 
• Your campus where you studied must be a regional area. 

Live and work in the designated regional area:  

• As the holder of a first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream, or a Temporary Graduate visa in the replacement stream, you must have stayed in a regional area for minimum 2 years immediately before the date you apply for this stream. 

Study in regional area:  

• You may be eligible for this stream if you studied in regional area and applied for the 1st 485PSW visa.  

Health Insurance: You and your family members must have health insurance to cover your healthcare costs while you are in Australia.  

Character requirements: You must meet the health requirements to be eligible for this visa. 

No debt to the Australia Government: If you or your family member have a debt to the Australian Government, you need to pay back or arranged to pay back that debt. 

You need to gather all required documents. The required documents may vary, depending on your stream that you are applying for. However, below is general documentation for a graduate visa 485.  

• Identity Document: A copy of the identification page of your passport. You can also attach the national identity card if you have one.  
• Qualification documents: A copy of your degree, completion letter and academic transcript 
• Skill assessment documents: This document is required if you are applying for Graduate Work Stream only.  
• Residence Documents: This document is required if you are applying for a Second Post Study Work Stream only. You need to prove that you have lived in the regional area for at least 2 years right before you lodge your application. If you study/work in the regional area while you held the first post-study work visa stream, you may wish to attach the evidence to prove it.  
• AFP: Australian police check 
• Health Insurance Documents: A copy of your Private Health Insurance Certificate 
• English Proficiency: You must have IELTS overall 6.5 with no band score under 5.5 in the last 1 year before you lodge your visa application. 
• Health and Character Documents: This may include medical examinations and police clearances. 

You must apply online via ImmiAccount on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website. 

• Create or Log in to your ImmiAccount  
• Fill out the application form accurately.  
• Attach the required documents to your online application. 
• Pay the application fee. 

• Depending on your nationality and personal circumstances, you may need to provide biometrics as part of the application process.  
• The Department of Home Affairs also may require you to complete health examinations after you lodge your visa application.  
• If your visa is approved, you will receive a visa grant notification with details of your visa grant number, the expiry dates and visa conditions. 

The 485 visa is divided into two streams: Post-Study Work Stream and Graduate Work Stream. If you have completed a higher education degree in Australia (regardless of subject) and your first student visa was approved on or after 5 November 2011, you are eligible to apply for the Post-Study Work Stream. You may consider applying for the Graduate Work Stream if your qualifications are relevant to an occupation on Australia’s Skilled Occupations in Demand list.

Graduate Work Stream Qualifications:

• Must nominate an occupation from the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
• Must provide evidence of relevant vocational skills assessment.
• Skills must be deemed suitable by a relevant assessment authority.
• Must meet the Australian study requirement within the past six months, with qualifications closely related to the nominated occupation.

Post-Study Work Stream Qualifications:

• Must have first student visa approved on or after November 5, 2011.
• Must have completed at least two years of study in Australia at bachelor’s level or higher.
• Must have completed a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree within the last six months.

The Australian government expects to cancel the extension policy by mid-2024. Graduates only can apply for a 2-3 year 485 work visa once the official cancellation policy starts. (More information can be checked at blog: 485 Visa Updates: What Graduates Need To Know)

Yes, the 485 visa allows you to bring family members, including a spouse or children. You can include information about family members when submitting your 485 visa application. You can also add spouses and children after the 485 visa is issued. For details, please ask SOL Migration’s registered migration agent.

The current age limit for applying for the 485 visa is under 50 years old. However, the Australian government is already considering whether to adjust the age to 35 years old. It has not yet determined whether it will be implemented and the implementation date. For details, please refer to the latest information on the Department of Home Affairs official website. (More information can be checked at blog: 485 Visa Updates: What Graduates Need To Know)

From March 23 2024, the required scores are an IELTS total of 6.5 (no band less than 5.5), PTE total of 57(listening 43/reading 48/speaking 42/writing 51), CAE total of 176 (no band less than 162), OET no less than B in any test component, or TOEFL iBT total of 83(listening 7/reading 8/speaking 16/writing 18). Exemptions may apply for passport holders from certain English-speaking countries. Hong Kong passport and BNO holders require an IELTS total of 6 (no band less than 5) or equivalent. (More information can be checked at blog: 485 Visa Updates: What Graduates Need To Know)

English Requirements for 485 Visa

English Requirements for 485 Visa for Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) Passport Holders

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is acceptable if you hold a student visa when applying. Otherwise, purchase OVHC health insurance, valid for the duration of your 485 visa.

An Australian Federal Police (AFP) police check is required. Apply for this before submitting your 485 visa application. Receiving results after application submission is acceptable, provided the application for the police check was made beforehand.