Last updated: 30 March 2026

485 Visa Requirements: Graduate Work and Post-Study Streams

The subclass 485 temporary graduate visa has a clear set of requirements — but they are not identical across both streams. The graduate work stream asks for a skills assessment and an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). The post-study work stream drops both of those conditions but requires a higher-level qualification. Both streams share a common foundation: the Australian Study Requirement, the age limit, English, health, and character.

This page sets out every requirement, explains how they apply differently across the two streams, and flags the issues that most often catch applicants off guard.

Overview: Who Each Stream Is For

Before reviewing requirements in detail, it helps to understand what problem each stream is designed to solve.

The graduate work stream is for graduates whose Australian qualification is directly linked to an occupation on the MLTSSL. It is a shorter visa — 18 months — but it provides a clear connection between study, occupation, and skills recognition. A nursing graduate, a civil engineering graduate, or an accountancy graduate with an eligible occupation links their degree directly to a profession on the skills list and uses that connection to qualify.

The post-study work stream is broader. It does not require an occupation on any list, and it does not require a skills assessment. Any graduate of an eligible bachelor degree or higher qualification can use this stream — the visa duration then scales with the qualification level, from two to four years. Most applicants use the post-study work stream because of its flexibility and longer stay periods.

Both streams are issued under the subclass 485 visa. You can only be granted one 485 in your lifetime, so choosing the right stream matters. If you qualify for both, the post-study work stream generally offers more time.

The Australian Study Requirement

The Australian Study Requirement (ASR) is the foundational eligibility criterion for both streams. Without it, neither stream is available to you.

To meet the ASR, you must have:

• Completed at least two academic years of study
• The study must have been in a registered course in Australia
• Your course must have been delivered by an Australian institution with a registered provider number
• All study must have been completed in Australia — online-only study or study delivered offshore does not count toward the two-year minimum
• You must apply for the 485 within two years of completing your qualifying course

The two-year window runs from the date your course formally ended — the date of your last assessment, or the date that appears on your completion documentation from your institution. If your final exam was in November 2024, your application must be lodged before November 2026.

Study at multiple institutions can be combined to meet the two-year minimum, provided each institution was a registered provider and all study was conducted in Australia. A one-year diploma at one school followed by a two-year bachelor degree at another counts, for example — you would meet the ASR with the combined duration.

Common issues with the Australian Study Requirement:

• Deferring or taking extended leave during your course can reduce the counted study duration. If you took more than 12 months away from your enrolled course, the time you were on leave typically does not count toward the two years.
• Studying online while outside Australia — if COVID or other circumstances caused you to study from offshore for an extended period, check whether that time counts. There have been specific concessions for certain cohorts; confirm your position with the Department of Home Affairs or a migration agent before applying.
• Two-year course duration requirement for the post-study work stream specifically — the post-study work stream requires your principal course to have been at least two academic years in duration. A six-month graduate certificate or a one-year graduate diploma studied alone (without a longer prior course) would not satisfy this requirement for the post-study work stream, though it might still be part of a qualifying study package.

Age Requirement: Under 50

You must be under 50 years of age at the time you lodge your 485 application.

This means your birthday must not have passed before your application is lodged. If you turn 50 on 15 June and you lodge on 14 June, you are within the limit. If you lodge on 15 June, you are not.

The 485 age threshold is 50 — higher than the 45-year threshold used in the General Skilled Migration points test. This distinction matters because many graduates considering a 485 are also thinking about their long-term PR options, and a few are approaching mid-career age. You can use the 485 as long as you are under 50, regardless of whether you would also be eligible for a points-tested visa.

There is no minimum age requirement for the 485.

English Requirement

Both streams require you to demonstrate at least functional English. This is the lowest of the English thresholds used across the Australian migration system — lower than the “competent English” required for most PR visas.

Functional English is defined as:

• IELTS: average band score of 4.5 across Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking (no individual band minimum at this level)
• PTE Academic: average score of 30
• TOEFL iBT: total score of 32
• OET: Grade C in all four components
• Cambridge C1 Advanced: 147

Your test result must have been completed within the period accepted by the relevant authority — most English tests are valid for three years from the test date. Confirm your test expiry before lodging.

Graduate work stream — additional consideration

For the graduate work stream, you also need a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your MLTSSL occupation. Many assessing authorities (Engineers Australia, Australian Computer Society, CPA Australia, and others) set their own English requirements that are higher than functional English. These are separate from the 485 visa’s own English requirement. Meeting the visa’s English threshold does not guarantee you will meet the assessing authority’s threshold. If you are targeting the graduate work stream, check your specific assessing authority’s English requirements early in the process.

Exemptions

Passport holders from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland are generally exempt from providing an English test for the 485 — the Department treats these as native or equivalent English-speaking backgrounds.

Health Requirement

You must meet the health requirement for the 485 visa. This involves a medical examination conducted by a Department of Home Affairs approved panel physician — you cannot use any other doctor for this purpose.

The health requirement is assessed after lodgement. Once you lodge your application through ImmiAccount, the Department will send you a health referral. You then book your examination at a panel physician using your HAP ID (Health Assessment Processing ID), which is generated when you lodge.

What the medical examination involves:

• A general physical examination by a panel physician
• Chest X-ray (for applicants over a certain age — typically 11 years and older)
• Blood tests may be required depending on your age and country of origin
• Additional specialist referrals can be requested if the panel physician identifies areas requiring further assessment

Your included secondary applicants — partner and dependent children — also need to meet the health requirement. All secondary applicants included in your application should book their medical examinations at the same time.

Results from your medical examination are transmitted electronically from the panel physician directly to the Department. You typically do not receive a paper result to submit yourself.

Tuberculosis screening

Applicants from certain countries are required to undergo tuberculosis (TB) screening. This is a specific test conducted during the medical examination and applies to applicants who have been in high-prevalence countries for cumulative periods. The panel physician will advise whether this applies to you at the time of your examination.

Character Requirement

Both streams require you to meet the character requirement. This is assessed based on the information you provide in your application and through police clearance certificates.

Police clearances

You must provide police clearance certificates from:

• Every country where you have lived for 12 months or more (cumulative) in the past 10 years
• Australia, if you have lived here for 12 months or more (this applies to most 485 applicants who studied in Australia)

Australian Federal Police (AFP) clearances are obtained through the AFP website. International clearances are obtained from the relevant law enforcement authority in each country — the Department of Home Affairs provides guidance on how to obtain these for most countries.

Police clearances have an expiry, and the Department requires them to be current. AFP clearances are generally valid for 12 months. If your clearance expires before your application is decided, you may need to obtain a fresh one.

What affects character assessment

The Department assesses character based on the totality of your background. Criminal charges, convictions, or findings of guilt — even for minor offences in Australia or overseas — must be disclosed. Failure to disclose relevant information is treated as a separate character issue and can affect the outcome of your application even if the underlying matter would not have caused a problem had it been disclosed.

Graduate Work Stream: Additional Requirements

If you are applying through the graduate work stream, you must meet two additional criteria that do not apply to the post-study work stream.

1. Occupation on the MLTSSL

Your nominated occupation must appear on the MLTSSL at the time you lodge your application. If your occupation is removed from the MLTSSL before you lodge, you would need to switch to the post-study work stream (if you qualify) or reassess your options.

The MLTSSL is a list maintained by the Department of Home Affairs. It is reviewed and updated periodically. Before applying, confirm your intended occupation is on the current MLTSSL and that you can meet the skills assessment requirements for that occupation.

2. Positive skills assessment

You must hold a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated MLTSSL occupation at the time you lodge your 485 application. The skills assessment must:

• Be from the authority designated for your specific occupation under the MLTSSL
• Be in a positive outcome — a negative or incomplete assessment is not sufficient
• Be current — different authorities set different validity periods for their assessments, commonly two to three years

Assessing authorities by occupation type (examples):

Allow significant lead time for skills assessments. Processing times vary by authority — some take six to eight weeks, others take four to six months in peak periods. Start the skills assessment process as early as possible during your final year of study rather than waiting until after graduation.

Post-Study Work Stream: Qualification Requirements

The post-study work stream has no occupation or skills assessment requirement, but it has specific requirements for the qualifying qualification itself.

Qualifying qualifications for the post-study work stream:

• Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7)
• Bachelor Honours degree (AQF Level 8)
• Graduate Certificate (AQF Level 8) — provided as part of a longer package
• Graduate Diploma (AQF Level 8)
• Masters by coursework (AQF Level 9)
• Masters by research (AQF Level 9)
• Doctoral degree (AQF Level 10)

Your principal course must have been at least two academic years in duration. If your master’s degree was a one-year accelerated program, it may or may not meet this requirement depending on the course structure — check with your institution and a migration agent before assuming it qualifies.

Duration of the post-study work stream visa by qualification:

The regional study bonus applies if your principal qualifying course was studied at a campus in a designated regional area of Australia. Not all campuses of regional universities qualify — the relevant test is whether the campus is in a designated regional area, not just whether the university has “regional” in its name.

Visa Conditions

Once granted, the 485 carries several standard conditions:

• No study restriction — you can study while on a 485 without it affecting your visa
• Full work rights — there are no restrictions on hours, employer, or occupation
• Must hold health insurance — Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) or equivalent must be maintained for the duration of the visa
• No restriction on travel — you can leave and re-enter Australia while your 485 is valid; the 485 is not a bridging visa and does not cease on departure
• Must remain under 50 — there is no ongoing age obligation after grant; the age threshold only applies at the time of application

What Happens If You Cannot Meet a Requirement

If you cannot meet a specific requirement, your options depend on which requirement is the issue.

Age over 50: The 485 is not available. However, if you are already in Australia and hold a valid visa, your substantive visa conditions may allow you to remain while you explore other pathways, including employer-sponsored options.

Australian Study Requirement not met: You cannot apply for the 485. If you are close to the two-year mark and have a short gap, check with a migration agent whether supplementary courses or professional placements can contribute to meeting the requirement.

English below functional level: Sit a recognised test and reach the minimum score before lodging. There is no partial exemption for nearly meeting the threshold.

Skills assessment negative (graduate work stream): You cannot use the graduate work stream. Check whether you qualify for the post-study work stream instead — the post-study stream does not require a skills assessment.

Health or character issues: These are assessed case by case. A previous medical condition or a minor criminal record does not automatically result in a refusal. The Department considers the nature, recency, and context of any concern. Disclose accurately and, if you have a known issue, seek professional advice before lodging.

For a broader view of how the 485 connects to permanent residency pathways, see our guide on pathways from the 485 to permanent residency. For a full overview of the visa including duration, costs, and application steps, see the subclass 485 temporary graduate visa overview.

Frequently Asked Questions About 485 Visa Requirements

What English level do you need for the 485 visa?

You need at least functional English for the 485 visa — an IELTS average of 4.5 across all four bands, or equivalent scores in PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, or Cambridge C1. The graduate work stream does not require a higher English score than the post-study work stream at the visa application stage, though your skills assessment authority may set its own benchmark. Passport holders from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland are generally exempt from providing a test result.

Can you apply for the 485 if you are over 45?

Yes, provided you are under 50 at the time you lodge the application. The 485 age limit is 50, not 45. The 45-year age threshold applies to the General Skilled Migration points test for visas such as the subclass 189 skilled independent visa — not to the 485 itself. You can hold a 485 up to the age of 50 regardless of whether you are eligible for a points-tested visa.

Does the Australian Study Requirement apply to both 485 streams?

Yes. Both the graduate work stream and the post-study work stream require you to meet the Australian Study Requirement — at least two academic years of study in a registered course in Australia, completed in the two years before you apply. The requirement is the same regardless of which stream you use, and study completed offshore or through online-only delivery while outside Australia generally does not count toward the two-year minimum.