Visa
Post Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Work in Australia after graduation with the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485).
Visa
Post Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Work in Australia after graduation with the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485).
485 Visa — Post-Vocational Education Work stream
(formerly “Graduate Work”)
For Diploma/Advanced Diploma/Trade graduates whose study is closely related to a skilled occupation, and who want 18 months of full work rights to build experience toward employer-sponsored or skilled pathways.
Length of stay
18 months from grant.
Quick Summary:
- Age: 35 at time of application.
- Recent Australian study: In the 6 months before you apply, you must have completed at least 92 CRICOS-registered weeks of study (minimum 16 calendar months) resulting in a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Trade qualification; all instruction must have been in English.
- Occupation & skills assessment:
- Nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and
- Apply for (and hold) a positive provisional skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority in that occupation.
- Your qualification(s) must be closely related to the nominated occupation.
- English: Provide recent test results meeting the 485 threshold (or hold a passport from UK/USA/Canada/NZ/Republic of Ireland). See “English detail” below.
- Visa status/location: Apply onshore as the holder of an eligible visa (or a BVA/BVB linked to a valid application).
- Health insurance: Maintain adequate health cover (OVHC).
- Character/health: Meet police checks, medicals as required.
- Within 6 months: Apply within 6 months of course completion.
485 Visa — Post-Higher Education Work stream
(formerly “Post-Study Work”)
Best for Bachelor, Masters or PhD graduates who want a clean, occupation-free pathway to stay and work in Australia.
Length of stay (typical)
- Bachelor / Bachelor (Honours) 2 years
- Masters (Coursework / Extended) 2 years
- Masters (Research) 3 years
- Doctoral 3 years
- India AI-ECTA: Bachelor (Honours) STEM/ICT First Class — 3 years; Masters — 3 years; Doctoral — 4 years
Quick Summary:
- Age: 35 at time of application (under 50 permitted for Masters by research and Doctoral graduates).
- Recent Australian study: In the 6 months before you apply, complete eligible study at AQF 7+ (Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral): total 92 CRICOS weeks, at least 16 months in Australia, English-medium.
- English: Provide recent test results meeting the 485 requirements (or hold a passport from UK/USA/Canada/NZ/Republic of Ireland).
- No occupation or skills assessment required.
- Visa status/location: Apply onshore as the holder of an eligible visa (or a BVA/BVB linked to a valid application).
- Health insurance: Maintain adequate OVHC
- Character/health: Meet Health and Character Requirements.
Second Post-Higher Education Work stream (regional bonus)
After your first Post-Higher 485, you may qualify for a second 485 if:
- your qualifying study was at a campus in a designated regional area, and
- you then lived (and if you worked or studied, only worked/studied) in the relevant Category 2 or 3 regional area on your first 485, and
- you make the required regional-intention declaration.
Stay granted: +2 years (Category 3) or +1 year (Category 2). Condition 8610 will restrict where you live/work/study on the second visa.
Fees & processing
- Government charges: AUD 2,300 (main) / 1,150 (18+) / 580 (<18).
- Processing: Many cases finalise in a few months
Frequent questions
- Can I extend beyond the first 485? Yes, if eligible for the Second Post-Higher stream (regional).
- Do I need a skills assessment? Not for this stream.
- Do I need an occupation on a list? Not for this stream.
- Work rights? Full-time.
English Requirements
English tests taken on or after 7 August 2025
Provide a test taken within 12 months of the decision date (unless passport-exempt). Minimums for the 485 are:
| Test Sub-skill | C1 Advanced | CELPIP General | IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training | LANGUAGECERT Academic | MET | OET* | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Not accepted | 8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 67 | 58 | 1310 | 55 | 81 |
| Listening | Not accepted | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 49 | 53 | 260 | 40 | 12 |
| Reading | Not accepted | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 54 | 51 | 280 | 42 | 12 |
| Writing | Not accepted | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 56 | 51 | 260 | 41 | 14 |
| Speaking | Not accepted | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 62 | 43 | 310 | 39 | 17 |
Acceptable minimum scores – Test taken on or before 6 August 2025
| Test Sub-skill | CAE / C1 Advanced | IELTS | OET | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 176 | 6.5 | B | 57 | 83 |
| Listening | 162 | 5.5 | B | 43 | 7 |
| Reading | 162 | 5.5 | B | 48 | 8 |
| Writing | 162 | 5.5 | B | 51 | 18 |
| Speaking | 162 | 5.5 | B | 42 | 16 |
Holders of British National (BNO) or Hong Kong passports
Must have scored one of the following in the 12 months immediately before the day they apply for their visa:
Acceptable minimum scores – Test taken on or after 7 August 2025
| Test Sub-skill | C1 Advanced | CELPIP General | IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training | LANGUAGECERT Academic | MET | OET* | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Not accepted | 7 | 6 | 6 | 61 | 53 | 1210 | 47 | 67 |
| Listening | Not accepted | 5 | 5 | 5 | 41 | 49 | 220 | 33 | 8 |
| Reading | Not accepted | 5 | 5 | 5 | 44 | 47 | 240 | 36 | 8 |
| Writing | Not accepted | 5 | 5 | 5 | 45 | 45 | 200 | 29 | 9 |
| Speaking | Not accepted | 5 | 5 | 5 | 54 | 38 | 270 | 24 | 14 |
Acceptable minimum scores – Test taken on or before 6 August 2025
| Test Sub-skill | CAE / C1 Advanced | IELTS | OET | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 169 | 6 | B | 50 | 64 |
| Listening | 154 | 5 | B | 36 | 4 |
| Reading | 154 | 5 | B | 36 | 4 |
| Writing | 154 | 5 | B | 36 | 14 |
| Speaking | 154 | 5 | B | 36 | 14 |
Skills assessment:
You must have applied for the assessment by lodgement; you must hold a suitable outcome by decision.
- Assessing authorities (e.g., TRA, VETASSESS, ACS, CPA/CA/IPA) provide 485-specific provisional skill assessments.
- If your assessment relies on an Australian qualification, it must be from a CRICOS-registered course studied in English.
- Your nominated occupation cannot be changed after you lodge the visa.
Common pathways after these streams
- Employer-sponsored Visas
- Points-tested skilled (189/190/491) once you meet points and skills assessment validity.
- Partner pathways if applicable.
- Second Post-Higher Education Work stream for regional graduates
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485): Overview
Recent international graduates who want time in Australia to gain skilled work experience. The 485 has three active pathways:
- Post-Vocational Education Work (formerly “Graduate Work”): For Diploma/Advanced Diploma/Trade graduates whose study aligns to a skilled occupation.
- Post-Higher Education Work (formerly “Post-Study Work”): For Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral graduates.
- Second Post-Higher Education Work: For an extra stay for Post-Higher Education Work visa holders who studied and then lived/worked in regional Australia.
Quick Summary:
- Work & study rights: Full-time work rights. You can also study.
- Where you apply: Primary applicants usually in Australia; eligible “subsequent entrant” family members can be in or outside Australia at lodgement.
- When to apply: Within 6 months of completing the Australian study that makes you eligible.
- Age: 35 at time of application. Masters by research and Doctoral graduates may apply up to under age of 50.
- English: Tests must be taken within 12 months of decision (details under each stream below).
- Health cover: You must maintain adequate health insurance (OVHC). Visit Australiahealthcover.com to choose your preferred OVHC from various providers.
- Family: You can include your partner and dependent children; they get the same work rights.
- Bridging visa: Onshore applicants typically receive a Bridging Visa that lets you remain lawfully in Australia while the 485 is processed.
What changed recently
- English test scores minimum requirement.
- The previous blanket 2-year “post-study extension” has ended; standard durations now apply.
- Age settings tightened (35 in most cases; research masters/PhD exception noted above).
How long you can stay:
Post-Vocational Education Work:
- 18 months.
Post-Higher Education Work:
- Bachelor / Bachelor (Honours) — 2 years
- Masters (Coursework / Extended) — 2 years
- Masters (Research) — 3 years
- Doctoral — 3 years
- India AI-ECTA settings: Bachelor (Honours) STEM/ICT First Class — 3 years; Masters — 3 years; Doctoral — 4 years
Second Post-Higher Education Work:
- If your qualifying study was at a regional centre/other regional area (Category 3) and you then lived there on your first 485 +2 years
- If your qualifying study was in a designated city/major regional centre (Category 2) and you then lived there on your first 485 +1 year
- Condition 8610 applies: you and your family must live (and if applicable, work/study) only in that regional category while on your second 485.
Government charges
(Department fees change every July.
- Post-Vocational / Post-Higher Education Work (first 485): AUD 2,300 main applicant; 1,150 each additional applicant 18+; 580 each under 18.
- Second Post-Higher Education Work: AUD 905 main; 455 each additional applicant 18+; 230 each under 18.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Lodging without first applying for the skills assessment (for Post-Vocational stream).
- Occupation/qualification mismatch (“closely related” test not met for Post-Vocational stream).
- Out-of-date English results (remember the 12-month currency rule).
- Applying after the 6-month window from course completion.
