Can International Students Stay and Work in Australia After Graduation?

Yes — international students can stay and work in Australia after graduation, but the pathway depends on your qualification, occupation, and long-term goals.

If you’re finishing a degree in Australia, you’re likely looking at the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) as your first step. This is the most common post-study visa and allows graduates to remain in Australia temporarily to gain work experience.

Let’s break it down clearly.

1️⃣ The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) has two main streams:

🔹 Post-Study Work stream

• For students who completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree
• No occupation list requirement
• Usually valid for 2–3 years (longer for some qualifications)
• Full work rights

This is ideal if you want flexibility to work in different roles and build local experience.

🔹 Graduate Work stream

• For qualifications linked to occupations on Australia’s skilled occupation lists
• Requires a skills assessment
• Usually valid for up to 18–24 months

This stream is more structured and is often used by students in trades, IT, engineering, or health fields.

For official visa details, you can check the Australian Government website:
👉 https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485

2️⃣ What Happens After the 485 Visa?

Staying in Australia long-term requires planning.

Many graduates use the 485 visa to:

• Gain local work experience
• Improve English scores
• Complete a skills assessment
• Secure employer sponsorship
• Increase points for migration

From there, possible next steps include:

• Employer-sponsored visas
• Skilled Independent visas
• State nomination pathways

Some graduates may qualify under the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) or Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), depending on their occupation and points score.

If your occupation appears on Australia’s Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List, your pathway to permanent residency can be more straightforward.

3️⃣ Key Things Many Students Overlook

From experience advising international graduates, here’s what often gets missed:

✔ Your degree alone doesn’t guarantee PR
✔ Your job must match your nominated occupation
✔ Salary and employer requirements matter
✔ Timing is critical (skills assessment + visa deadlines)

That’s why planning should start at least 6–12 months before graduation — not after.

4️⃣ Is Staying in Australia the Right Choice?

This is where career strategy matters.

Some students assume staying is automatic. Others stay without a long-term migration plan. The smarter approach is aligning:

• Your degree
• Your occupation
• Your visa pathway
• Your long-term career goals

If you’re unsure how your qualification fits into Australia’s migration system, this guide may help:
👉 https://brigenai.com/how-do-i-move-to-australia-for-work/

At BRIGENAI, we help international graduates understand both the career side and the visa side — because they go hand in hand.

Final Thoughts

Yes, international students can stay and work in Australia after graduation — but success depends on having a clear strategy.

The 485 visa gives you time.
What you do with that time determines whether you build a temporary experience… or a permanent future in Australia.