The Post Study Work visa (Subclass 485, officially the Temporary Graduate visa) lets eligible international graduates live and work in Australia after finishing their studies. You generally need to be under 35, hold a CRICOS-registered qualification completed in Australia, and apply within 6 months of your course finishing. Depending on your stream, you can stay between 18 months and 3 years.
That's the short version. The rules changed several times between 2024 and 2026, so if you read an older guide, some of it is probably out of date. Here's what actually applies now.
What Is the Post Study Work Visa (Subclass 485)?
The 485 visa is a temporary visa issued by the Department of Home Affairs. It's not a work visa tied to a specific employer. Once you have it, you can work for any employer, in any job, with no sponsorship needed. Most graduates use this period to gain local work experience, save toward a skills assessment, or look for an employer willing to sponsor them onto a longer-term pathway, such as the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and eventually permanent residency.
It's worth being clear about what the 485 visa is not. It's not a guaranteed path to permanent residency, and it doesn't come with any job placement support. It's essentially a window of time to work while you figure out your next move.
Who Can Apply? Key Eligibility Requirements
Age limit
Most applicants must be under 35 years old when the Department receives the application (down from the previous limit of 50). Requirements and age cutoffs can change, so always confirm with the Department of Home Affairs before applying (source: Department of Home Affairs, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au).
There are some exceptions. Graduates with a Master by Research or PhD from a CRICOS-registered Australian institution may be eligible up to an older age limit, and Hong Kong SAR or British National (Overseas) passport holders also get an extended age allowance. If you're close to the cutoff, this is exactly the kind of detail worth checking with a migration agent rather than guessing.
English language requirement
You now generally need an IELTS score of 6.5 overall (or an equivalent test), up from the previous 6.0 benchmark, and your test result is only valid for 12 months from a single sitting. Verify the exact accepted test list and minimum band scores for your specific test provider directly with the Department of Home Affairs, since these details can be updated without much notice.
Study and course requirements
You need to have completed a CRICOS-registered course while physically in Australia on a student visa, generally around 92 weeks (about 2 academic years) of study. Requirements and processing times can change, always confirm with the Department of Home Affairs before applying.
The 485 Visa Streams and How Long You Can Stay
There are three streams, and which one applies to you depends on your qualification level.
Post-Higher Education Work stream. For bachelor's, master's, and doctoral graduates. Duration is generally 2 years for a bachelor's degree, and up to 3 years for a research master's or PhD. Verify the exact duration for master's by coursework, since sources differ on whether it aligns with the bachelor's or the research-degree timeline, and this is the kind of detail that's easy to get wrong secondhand.
Post-Vocational Education Work stream. For graduates of diploma, advanced diploma, or trade-qualification courses linked to Australia's skills needs. Duration is typically around 18 months.
Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. For graduates who studied at a regional campus, offering a longer stay in some cases as an incentive to work outside major cities.
Because these durations and eligibility details shift with each policy update, treat any specific number here as a starting point, not a final answer. Confirm your exact entitlement with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent before you commit to a plan.
How Much Does the 485 Visa Cost?
As of the most recent update to the visa application charge, the government fee for a primary applicant is AUD 5,750, having risen from AUD 4,600 earlier in the same year and AUD 2,300 before that (source: Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au). Requirements and fees can change, always confirm the current charge with the Department of Home Affairs before applying, since visa application charges are typically reviewed and adjusted each financial year. Extra charges apply for a partner or dependent children included in your application, and additional costs like health checks, police checks, and English tests are separate from the government fee.
How to Apply for the 485 Visa: Step-by-Step
- Check your eligibility against age, English, and study requirements before you spend money on the application.
- Gather your documents: passport, Confirmation of Enrolment / CRICOS records showing your course length, English test results, health insurance (OSHC), and health and character documents.
- Confirm your 6-month window. You must apply within 6 months of your course completion date. Miss it, and there's no exception, your application won't be accepted.
- Choose your stream based on your qualification level and, if relevant, whether you studied regionally.
- Lodge your application through ImmiAccount and pay the visa application charge.
- Wait for processing. Processing times vary and are published by the Department of Home Affairs. Verify current processing times before making firm plans around them, as they shift with application volumes.
If any part of your situation is unusual, an expired student visa, a break in study, a change of course, it's worth talking to a MARA-registered migration agent before you lodge. This article is general information, not legal or migration advice for your individual circumstances.
What You Can Do With a 485 Visa
You get full work rights, meaning no cap on hours and no restriction to your field of study. Many graduates use this time to build local experience, get an Australian reference, and pursue employer sponsorship toward the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), which can lead to permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme. Others use the 485 period to complete a skills assessment for an independent skilled migration pathway. If you're weighing up Australia against other APAC destinations for your long-term career, it helps to map out the post-study options in each country side by side before deciding where to study.
Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
- Applying after the 6-month deadline. There's no grace period.
- Underestimating the age cutoff. If your birthday falls near the application date, apply early.
- Assuming your English test is still valid. The 12-month validity window catches people out often.
- Not checking which stream you actually qualify for. Regional study, vocational courses, and research degrees each lead to different outcomes.
FAQs
Can I extend a 485 visa once it expires?
Extensions and pandemic-era top-ups have largely been removed. Most graduates need to transition to a different visa, such as an employer-sponsored or skilled visa, once the 485 ends. Confirm current extension options with the Department of Home Affairs.
Can my partner or children come with me on a 485 visa?
Yes, dependents can generally be included in the application, but this adds to the total visa application charge. Requirements and processing times can change, always confirm with the Department of Home Affairs before applying.
Do I need a job offer before I apply?
No. The 485 visa doesn't require sponsorship or a job offer. You can search for work after the visa is granted.
If you want to talk through your specific situation, brigenai's AI Advisor is available 24/7 to answer questions about the 485 visa and other work pathways in your own language, and you can read real Life-Path Stories from graduates who've been through this exact process in Australia.
