Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Post-Higher Education Work stream

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Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) – Post-Higher Education Work stream

For international students who recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution and want to live, work and study in Australia for a temporary period.

What this visa lets you do

  • You can work in Australia.
  • You can bring your family with you.
  • You need a recent degree from a CRICOS-registered course.
  • This stream is for applicants who meet the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement with a degree-level qualification or higher.

Who is eligible (in simple words)

  • You recently graduated with an eligible Australian degree and meet the study requirement.
  • You are in Australia when you apply and you held a Student visa within the last 6 months.
  • You are generally 35 years or under at the time you apply (noting stated exceptions on the official site).
  • You meet English, health, character and health-insurance requirements.

Stay (general)

Usually between 2 and 3 years, depending on your qualification. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years.

How long can you stay

  • Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years
  • Masters (coursework and extended) – 2 years
  • Masters (research) – 3 years
  • Doctoral degree – 3 years
  • Graduate Diploma – default 2 years (may be longer if earlier study would have attracted a longer stay)

The visa starts on the date it is granted. You can travel in and out of Australia while it is valid.

Stays for Indian nationals (AI-ECTA)

  • Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years
  • Bachelor degree with first-class honours in STEM (including ICT) – 3 years
  • Masters (coursework, extended and research) – 3 years
  • Doctoral degrees (PhD) – 4 years

Cost and processing time

  • Cost for main applicant: From AUD 2,300. There is a charge for each family member who applies with you. Subsequent entrants (including children born offshore) pay the full Visa Application Charge.
  • Other possible costs: health examinations, police certificates, biometrics.
  • Processing time: use the visa processing time guide tool. Recent example figures indicate around 50% of applications in about 7 days and 90% in about 31 days. Times change; always check the tool.

You must find your own employment while on this visa.

Apply from

  • You can be in Australia (but not in immigration clearance) when you apply.
  • Subsequent entrants can be in or outside Australia when they apply.
  • All applicants can be in or outside Australia at the time of decision.

Travel and visa label

  • You can travel outside Australia and return while your visa is valid.
  • Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa.
  • Your visa is digitally linked to your passport; there is no label.

Processing caveats

  • Applications can take longer if forms are incomplete, more information is needed, or verification takes time.
  • Home Affairs cannot process your application if the wrong charge is paid.
  • You and any family members must follow visa conditions and Australian laws.

Include family

You can include members of your family unit in your application when you apply, if they are in Australia. You can add your children until a decision is made. You cannot add any other family members during that period.

After grant, family members can apply as subsequent entrants from in or outside Australia. All family members must meet health and character requirements.

English requirement (helpful summary)

Ensure you hold an accepted passport or provide a valid English test result that meets the current thresholds for this visa. If you need to take PTE, IELTS, TOEFL, OET or equivalent, plan ahead and keep results within the required validity window before you lodge.

Health examinations

Health exam results are generally valid for 12 months. You can complete them before or after you apply depending on the instructions. We can help you generate your HAP ID, find a panel clinic, and time your medicals correctly.

Second Post-Higher Education Work stream

For Temporary Graduates who hold a Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work or Replacement visa and graduated from an Australian institution located in a regional area. Lets you live, work and study in Australia temporarily.

  • Stay: between 1 and 2 years depending on the regional location of your education provider for the first 485 and the regional area where you lived while holding your previous 485.
  • Cost: From AUD 905.00 for the main applicant.

You must

  • Be 35 years or under at the time you apply (noting stated exceptions).
  • Be in Australia when you apply.
  • Hold a Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work, or Replacement stream and have previously held a 485 in Post-Higher Education Work or Post-Study Work as the main applicant.
  • Have a degree from a CRICOS-registered course at an education institution based in an eligible designated regional area that led to the grant of your first 485 (Post-Higher Education Work or Post-Study Work).
  • Have lived in an eligible designated regional area for at least 2 years immediately before you apply for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
  • Hold adequate health insurance for all applicants when you apply.

Quick checklist – what you need

  1. Valid passport and ID page scan.
  2. Award letter and final transcript from your Australian degree.
  3. Proof you meet the Australian Study Requirement (CRICOS, two academic years equivalent).
  4. Proof you held a Student visa in the last 6 months and are in Australia to apply.
  5. English test result or exempt passport (ensure it meets current thresholds and validity window).
  6. Adequate health insurance; HAP ID/medicals when requested.
  7. AFP receipt and character documents if asked.
  8. Partner/children documents if including family (IDs, relationship, dependency, health, character).

Let Guide2Heights apply for you

  • We check your eligibility, timing and stream choice.
  • We help with English test strategy and provide a PTE discount voucher.
  • We arrange medicals guidance, HAP ID and insurance options.
  • We prepare and lodge your ImmiAccount application and monitor to decision.

Information above is a student-friendly summary of the Post-Higher Education Work stream and the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream based on current public guidance. Always check the official Home Affairs pages for any updates before you apply.