What is the Temporary Graduate visa?
Subclass 485 is a temporary visa for eligible graduates of Australian institutions. The available stream depends on the qualification completed, the applicant's circumstances and, for some applicants, regional study and residence. The visa generally provides unrestricted work rights while it is in effect. It does not guarantee a job, sponsorship, a skilled-visa invitation or permanent residence.
Temporary Graduate visa streams
Post-Vocational Education Work
Generally for eligible applicants with an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification connected to a nominated occupation. Skills-assessment requirements apply. The stay is usually up to 18 months.
Post-Higher Education Work
Generally for eligible applicants with a degree-level or higher qualification. A skills assessment is not generally required. The stay is usually 2 to 3 years, depending on the qualification and current rules.
Second Post-Higher Education Work
For certain former regional students who hold, or have held, an eligible first Temporary Graduate visa. A skills assessment is not generally required. The stay is usually a further 1 to 2 years, depending on the regional category and current rules.
Stream names and requirements can change. Check the current Home Affairs stream page before lodging.
Longer stay periods for certain applicants
There is no general STEM extension available to all subclass 485 holders. The former extension for selected degrees ceased from 1 July 2024. Different stay periods may still apply to certain applicants because of their passport and qualification. Depending on the current rules, this can include specified first-class honours qualifications in STEM or ICT, master's qualifications and doctoral qualifications. Some specified passport holders may also have separate stay settings. These are stay-period rules within the relevant subclass 485 stream, not a separate extension visa. The applicant's passport, qualification, stream and date of application should be checked before a stay period is quoted.
Main eligibility points to check
The exact criteria depend on the stream. Common issues include:
Age
Most applicants must be 35 years of age or under when applying. Different age settings can apply to specified passport holders and certain research-degree graduates.
Recent Australian study
The completed qualification and study must meet the Australian study requirement and the rules for the selected stream.
Visa history
The applicant must meet the current requirements concerning a Student visa held within the relevant period and any previous Temporary Graduate visas.
English
The applicant must provide an accepted English-language test result unless a passport-based exemption applies. The required scores and validity settings must be checked at the time of application.
Health insurance
Adequate health insurance must be maintained as required.
Health and character
The usual health and character requirements apply.
Application timing and location
The current lodgement rules must be checked against the applicant's completion date, visa status and location.
Meeting one requirement does not establish eligibility for the visa as a whole.
Post-Vocational Education Work stream
This stream is intended for eligible graduates with vocational qualifications relevant to an occupation specified for the stream. The qualification must be closely related to the nominated occupation, and the applicant must satisfy the applicable skills-assessment requirements. A course title or job title is not enough on its own. The occupation, qualification, assessing authority and assessment pathway should be checked together before the application is prepared.
Skills assessment for the vocational stream
Applicants for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream need to meet the skills-assessment criteria that apply to their nominated occupation. The relevant assessing authority decides the assessment outcome under its own rules. Timing matters. Depending on the occupation and authority, the visa application may require evidence that the skills assessment has been applied for or obtained at the relevant stage. The current Home Affairs criteria and the assessing authority's instructions should be checked before lodgement. Kritin Global can help identify the relevant occupation and authority, review the document plan and coordinate the application. It cannot guarantee a positive skills assessment or visa outcome.
Post-Higher Education Work stream
This stream is generally relevant to eligible graduates with an Australian bachelor's degree, honours degree, master's degree or doctoral degree. The stay period depends on the qualification and the settings in force when the application is assessed. A skills assessment is not generally required for this stream. Applicants must still satisfy the applicable age, Australian study, English, health insurance, health, character and visa-history requirements.
Second Post-Higher Education Work stream
This stream may be available to certain graduates who studied and lived in a designated regional area and who hold, or previously held, an eligible Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work stream or the former Post-Study Work stream. Eligibility is not based on regional study alone. The institution's location, the applicant's residence, the first 485 visa and the period spent in the relevant regional area must all meet the current rules.
English-language evidence
Home Affairs specifies accepted tests, minimum scores, test-validity periods and passport exemptions. These settings have changed over time, so an old score table should not be used for a new application. Check the current Home Affairs English requirements before booking a test or relying on an existing result.
Visa cost and processing time
The visa application charge depends on the stream, family members and circumstances at lodgement. Other costs may include health examinations, police certificates, English testing and professional fees. Confirm the current amount through the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before lodging.
Documents commonly considered
The required evidence varies, but an application may include:
Passport and identity documents
Completion letter and academic transcript
Evidence addressing the Australian study requirement
English-language evidence or passport evidence for an exemption
Health-insurance evidence
Skills-assessment evidence for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream
Police certificates and other character documents where required
Relationship and identity evidence for accompanying family members
Documents relevant to regional study and residence for a second-stream application
This is not a universal checklist. Documents should be selected for the applicant's stream and circumstances.
How the application process works
Step 1: Identify the correct stream
Check the qualification, occupation requirements, regional history and previous visa history.
Step 2: Check the time-sensitive criteria
Confirm age, English evidence, health insurance, visa status and the current lodgement rules.
Step 3: Prepare stream-specific evidence
This may include skills-assessment evidence or proof of regional study and residence.
Step 4: Confirm the current visa charge
Use the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before payment.
Step 5: Lodge the application
Submit the required form and supporting evidence through ImmiAccount.
Step 6: Monitor the application
Respond carefully and within the stated period if Home Affairs requests more information.
Common problems to avoid
Selecting a stream that does not match the completed qualification
Assuming the age rule is still 50 for all applicants
Relying on an English test without checking the current scores and validity rules
Treating the graduation ceremony date as the only relevant date
Using an occupation that is not closely related to the vocational qualification
Lodging vocational-stream evidence without checking the assessing authority's current process
Assuming regional study automatically gives access to a second 485 visa
Quoting a fixed processing time without checking the current Home Affairs guide
How Kritin Global Can Help
Kritin Global helps make the subclass 485 process clear - from selecting the correct stream to preparing documents, lodging the application and responding to Home Affairs. Support is also available for vocational-stream skills assessments and eligible second regional-stream applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer
Fees and eligibility criteria are reviewed periodically. Always verify current figures and process requirements at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging. This page is general information - contact us for advice specific to your situation.
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