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Overview

The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) is an Australian visa that allows international students who have completed their studies in Australia to stay and work in the country temporarily after graduating. The 485 visa is designed to provide recent graduates with the opportunity to gain practical work experience, which can be valuable for their future careers and may also be a pathway to permanent residency. 

The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) is a temporary visa for international students who are graduates of an Australian institute. By having this visa, an international student can stay, work, and/or undertake further studies in Australia. The Temporary Graduate Visa has four streams which the student can apply for. These include the Graduate Work Stream, the Post-Study Work Stream, the Second Post-Study Work Stream, and Replacement Stream. Each stream has different requirements. Thus, it is important to check the correct stream before you apply for your visa.

Who can apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa?

In order to qualify for a Temporary Graduate Visa, you must:

  • be under 50 years of age
  • have held a student visa in the last 6 months
  • have completed your study in the last 6 months
  • meet the Australian Study requirements
  • meet the English requirements
  • provide evidence of adequate health insurance
  • meet the character requirements

What can you do with a Temporary Graduate Visa 485?  

The benefits of a Temporary Graduate Visa 485 vary, depending on the Stream what you are applying for.  

 

Benefits 

Graduate Work Stream  Post-Study Work Stream  Second Post-Study Work Stream  Replacement Stream 
 

Stay in Australia 

Up to 18 months   Usually between 2-4 years  

Applicants may be eligible for an extended 2 years  

Between 1- 4 years   Between 18 months to 6 years  
Multiple Travel to and from Australia   

Yes 

 

Yes 

 

Yes 

 

Yes 

 

Work in Australia 

Can work without any restriction   Can work without any restriction   Can work without any restriction   Can work without any restriction  
Study in Australia  Can study full-time in Australia  Can study full-time in Australia  Can study full-time in Australia  Can study full-time in Australia 
Include your family members in a 485 visa   

Yes 

 

Yes 

 

Yes 

 

Yes 

If you want to know how long you can stay in Australia under visa 485, contact us on 07 3003 1899 or fill out the enquiry form 

What are the 485 Visa Requirements 

The Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) consists of 4 streams and each stream will have a different requirement.  

  • Graduate Work Stream 

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

Age: You must be under 50 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 6.0 with no band score under 5.0 in the past 3 years before you lodge your visa application. 

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 deb 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. 

Post-Study Work Stream 

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

Age: You must be under 50 years of age  

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 6.0 with no band score under 5.0 in the past 3 years before you lodge your visa application. 

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 deb 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. 

Second Post Study Work Stream:  

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 50 years of age  

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 deb 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. 

 Replacement Stream  

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

Age: You must be under 50 years of age  

Visa requirement: This stream is designed for former or current 485 visa holders who lost time staying in Australia due to the Covid 19 restrictions. This means that to be eligible for this stream, you must: 

  • Hold a 485 visa as a main holder, or  
  • Have held a 485 visa as main holder and now  holding a substantive visa or bridging visa A or B.   
  • Your visa must be in effect on or after 1 Feb 2020 and granted before 15 December 2021 

Your stay during the Covid travel restriction: This stream is available for you if 

  • You were inside Australia when your original 485 visa was granted, then you have been outside Australia between 1 Feb 20020 and 12 Dec 2021, while holding this visa. 
  • You were outside Australia when your original 485 visa was granted, you came to Australia on this visa, and departed the country also on this visa before 15 Dec 2021. 

The application date: You must apply for this stream before 1 Jan 2027. 

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 deb 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. 

Not sure if you are eligible for study in Australia and eligible for a student visa? Contact our team on 07 3003 1899 today for free eligible check.  

temporary graduate visa 485

How to apply for a Graduate Visa 485 

Step 1: Prepare the required documentation   

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 6.0 with no band score under 5.0 in the past 3 years before you lodge your visa application. 
  • Health and Character Documents: This may include medical examinations and police clearances. 

Step 2: Apply online  

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. 

Step 3: Wait for the visa outcome  

  • 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. 

Need help with the visa application? Contact our experienced Migration Agents today!  

How much does it cost to apply for a 485 visa 

  Graduate Work Stream   Post Study Work Stream   Second Post Study Work Stream   Replacement Stream  
Primary Applicant   1,895  1,895  745  1,895 
Additional Applicant 18+  950  950  375  950 
Additional Applicant Under 18   475  475  190  475 

 

How can I include my family member in a visa 485 

You can include your family members in your primary application. Alternatively, you can add them to your application after you lodge the application but before your visa is granted. For the visa purposes, the family members are defined as below:  

 Partner 

The spouse or de-facto partner of the candidate could be the opposite or same sex. The partner must be 18 years of age or above. However, the candidates must prove their mutual commitment towards the relationship. The candidate and the partner should not live separately on a permanent basis.  

Children 

To include children in the 485-application form, the children could be the applicant’s own children or stepchildren. However, the children must: 

  • be under 18 years of age 
  • be more than 18 years but under 23 years of age and must be dependent on the applicants or their respective partners 
  • be more than 23 years of age, but dependent on their parents due to some physical or cognitive disability. 
  • meet the health requirements as set out by the Department of Home Affairs. 

 

temporary graduate visa 485

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