Last updated: 30 March 2026

Subclass 485 Visa: Temporary Graduate — Your Bridge from Study to Skilled Migration

You finished your Australian qualification. Now you need time — time to work, build experience, improve your English score, and position yourself for a PR pathway. The subclass 485 temporary graduate visa is what gives you that time. It holds your place in Australia while you take the steps that actually lead to permanent residency in Australia. This guide covers both streams, the requirements, how to apply, what it costs, and where the 485 takes you next.

What Is the Subclass 485 Visa?

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is a temporary visa that allows recent graduates of eligible Australian qualifications to stay in Australia after their student visa ends. It is issued by the Department of Home Affairs and sits within the temporary skilled migration framework as a post-study pathway.

The 485 is not a permanent visa. It does not grant permanent residency, and holding one does not count as permanent residence for citizenship purposes. What it does provide is a lawful period of stay in Australia with full work rights — no employer restrictions, no hours cap, no occupation limitations — during which you can build the profile that makes you competitive for a PR visa.

Two things make the 485 strategically important for graduates targeting PR. First, it is one of the only temporary visas that allows you to gain Australian skilled work experience without needing an employer to sponsor you first. Second, Australian work experience is one of the highest-value factors in the General Skilled Migration points test — so the years you accumulate on a 485 directly improve your scores when you eventually apply for a 189, 190, or 491.

The visa is available to graduates who completed their study in Australia within the past two years and who held a student visa at some point during their enrolment. You must be under 50 at the time of application. You cannot apply from outside Australia.

What Are the Two 485 Streams?

The subclass 485 has two distinct streams with different eligibility criteria, duration, and target applicants. Choosing the wrong stream — or not understanding which one applies to you — is a common source of confusion. Here is how they differ.

Graduate Work Stream vs Post-Study Work Stream

Graduate Work Stream suits graduates whose qualification is directly linked to an MLTSSL occupation — for example, a civil engineering degree linked to Civil Engineer (ANZSCO 233211), or a nursing degree linked to Registered Nurse (ANZSCO 254411). You must lodge a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority alongside your application. The trade-off for this extra step is a straightforward eligibility pathway if your occupation is on the list.

Post-Study Work Stream is the more commonly used stream. It does not require your qualification to match a specific occupation, and it does not require a skills assessment. You simply need to have completed an eligible higher education qualification — bachelor degree, graduate diploma, masters, or doctorate — at an Australian institution. Duration is determined by the level of your highest qualifying qualification.

Post-Study Work Stream duration by qualification:

If you studied in a designated regional area of Australia and your principal course of study was completed at a regional campus, you may qualify for an extended stay of up to two additional years on top of the standard post-study duration.

What Are the 485 Visa Requirements?

Meeting the eligibility criteria for the 485 is not automatic simply because you graduated in Australia. There are specific requirements tied to your study history, visa history, age, and status at the time of application.

Core requirements for both streams:

• You must be under 50 years of age at the time you apply
• You must be in Australia when you lodge the application
• You must have held a student visa at some point in the 6 months before applying
• You must have completed an eligible Australian qualification within the past 2 years (the course must have been with a registered provider and lasted at least 2 academic years for the post-study stream)
• You must meet the health requirement — a medical examination is required
• You must meet the character requirement — police clearances are required
• You must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) or equivalent private health insurance for the duration of the visa
• You must have at least functional English (IELTS 4.5 average, or equivalent)

Additional requirement for the Graduate Work Stream only:

• Your nominated occupation must be on the MLTSSL at the time of application
• You must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for that occupation

One point that catches applicants off guard: you must have lodged your 485 application while on a substantive visa (or bridging visa). If your student visa has already expired and you are not on a bridging visa, you may no longer be eligible. Timing your application — ideally before your student visa expires — is important.

How Do You Apply Step by Step?

The 485 application is lodged through ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs online portal. There is no paper form option. The process moves in a clear sequence, and preparation before lodgement is what determines how smoothly it goes.

Step 1: Confirm you are eligible before your student visa expires Check your visa expiry date and calculate whether you are within the two-year window from your course completion date. If your student visa is close to expiring, lodge before it does so you remain on a substantive visa at the time of application.

Step 2: Obtain your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and academic transcripts You will need official documentation from your Australian institution confirming your qualification, the dates of study, and the campus location (relevant if claiming regional study benefits).

Step 3: Complete an approved English language test (if needed) You will need evidence of at least functional English. If you sat IELTS, PTE, or another test during your student visa, check whether it is still within the valid period.

Step 4: For Graduate Work Stream — obtain your skills assessment Contact the relevant assessing authority for your MLTSSL occupation. Allow additional time for this step, as assessment processing can take several weeks to months depending on the authority.

Step 5: Obtain health insurance (OSHC) Arrange cover before you lodge. You will need to provide your OSHC policy details in your application.

Step 6: Lodge your application through ImmiAccount Log in to ImmiAccount, select the subclass 485 application, and complete all sections. Upload your supporting documents. Pay the visa application charge at the time of lodgement.

Step 7: Complete health and character requirements After lodgement, you will receive prompts to complete your medical examination through a Department-approved panel physician and to provide police clearance certificates.

Step 8: Await the decision Once your application is finalised and all documents are submitted, the Department will assess and make a decision. You will be notified through ImmiAccount.

How Long Does Processing Take?

Processing times for the subclass 485 vary based on how complete your application is at lodgement, whether you applied under the Graduate Work or Post-Study Work stream, and current Department caseloads. The Department publishes indicative processing times on its website, which are updated regularly.

As a general guide based on published Department data:

The Graduate Work Stream tends to take longer than the Post-Study Work Stream because the Department must verify the skills assessment outcome from a third-party authority in addition to reviewing standard documents.

The most reliable way to keep processing on track is to lodge a complete application from day one. This means having your health examination booked, your police clearances in progress, and all supporting documents uploaded at the time of lodgement rather than waiting for Department requests.

If the Department sends you a request for further information, you will have a set timeframe to respond. Delays in responding extend your overall processing time. You can monitor your application status through ImmiAccount.

While your application is being processed, you will be on a bridging visa if your student visa has already expired. The bridging visa allows you to remain lawfully in Australia and generally maintains your work rights, though specific conditions vary.

How Much Does the 485 Cost?

The 485 is one of the lower-cost visa types in the skilled migration program. The base visa application charge for the primary applicant is $1,895 as of the date of this page. This figure is set by the Department and reviewed periodically — confirm the current charge on the Department of Home Affairs website before lodging.

Visa application charges are non-refundable if your application is refused or withdrawn after lodgement. Skills assessment fees paid to third-party assessing authorities are also non-refundable regardless of outcome.

For a couple applying together (primary applicant plus partner), the visa application charges alone total $2,845. When you add medicals, police clearances, OSHC, and any skills assessment or English test costs, the full cost of the application is typically $3,500 to $5,000 for a single applicant and higher for families.

How Does the 485 Lead to Permanent Residency?

The subclass 485 is not a direct PR pathway — but it is a strategically valuable stepping stone. The years you spend on a 485 working in a skilled occupation in Australia are the same years that build your points score, your employer relationships, and your eligibility for the pathways that do lead to PR.

Here is how the 485 connects to the main permanent residency routes:

485 to 189 (Skilled Independent)

The subclass 189 skilled independent visa is a points-tested permanent visa with no state nomination or employer sponsor required. Working on a 485 in your nominated occupation accumulates Australian skilled work experience points — up to 20 points for 8 to 9 years, with 5 points for 1 to 2 years. If your occupation is on the MLTSSL and your points score becomes competitive during your 485 period, the 189 is the most direct route to unrestricted PR.

485 to 190 (State Nominated)

The subclass 190 adds 5 bonus points through state or territory nomination. If your points score is not quite competitive for a 189 invitation, the 190 may be achievable sooner. States nominate based on their own occupation needs and requirements — some occupations that are highly competitive for the 189 may be easier to access through a specific state’s 190 program. The trade-off is a two-year obligation to live and work in the nominating state.

485 to 491 (Regional)

The subclass 491 regional visa adds 15 points through regional nomination or sponsorship by an eligible relative. For graduates whose points score is not competitive for the 189 or 190 at the end of their 485, the 491 offers a way forward — particularly if you are open to living and working in a regional area. The 491 then leads to the subclass 191 permanent regional visa after three years.

485 to 186 (Employer Nominated)

If you find an employer willing to sponsor you for permanent residency during your 485, the subclass 186 employer nomination scheme is a direct-to-PR pathway. This typically requires two years of full-time work with the sponsoring employer in an eligible occupation. The 485 period gives you the time to build that employment relationship and meet the work tenure requirement.

Decision framework for choosing your next step from the 485:

What Documents Do You Need?

Assembling documents before you lodge avoids delays and ensures you can respond quickly if the Department requests additional information. The following documents are typically required for a subclass 485 application.

Identity and personal documents

• Current passport (all pages with stamps)
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate or de facto evidence (if including a partner)
• Change of name documentation (if applicable)

Study evidence

• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your Australian institution
• Academic transcripts and certificate of completion for your qualifying qualification
• Evidence that your course was at least 2 academic years in duration
• Evidence of campus location (if claiming regional study bonus)

Visa history

• Evidence that you held a student visa within the 6 months before applying (your student visa grant letter or visa label)

English proficiency

• Approved English test results (IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, or Cambridge C1)
• Minimum: functional English (IELTS 4.5 average or equivalent)

Health and character

• Medical examination (completed through a panel physician after lodgement)
• Police clearance certificates from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years

Health insurance

• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy confirmation covering the full visa period

Graduate Work Stream only

• Positive skills assessment outcome letter from the relevant assessing authority
• Evidence linking your qualification to your nominated MLTSSL occupation

All documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. The Department may request additional documents after lodgement — respond promptly and completely to any such requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 485 a pathway to PR?

The 485 is not itself a PR visa, and holding one does not count toward the residency period required for citizenship. It is, however, an important stepping stone. The Australian work experience you gain on a 485 adds directly to your General Skilled Migration points score, and those points determine your competitiveness for the 189, 190, and 491 permanent pathways. The 485 also gives you time to find an employer willing to sponsor you for a subclass 186 permanent visa. Most graduates who reach PR through the skilled migration system spent part of that journey on a 485.

How long does the 485 visa last?

Under the post-study work stream, the duration is 2 years for a bachelor degree or graduate diploma, 3 years for a masters by coursework, and 4 years for a masters by research or doctorate. Regional study graduates may receive additional time — up to 2 extra years — on top of the standard duration. The graduate work stream grants 18 months regardless of qualification level.

Can you work on a 485 visa?

Yes. The subclass 485 grants full work rights from the date of grant. There is no restriction on the number of hours you can work, the employer you work for, or the occupation you work in. This makes it one of the most flexible temporary visas in Australia’s immigration system for graduates building toward PR.

What is the difference between the two 485 streams?

The graduate work stream requires your qualification to be directly linked to an occupation on the MLTSSL, and you must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority before lodging. It grants 18 months. The post-study work stream has no occupation requirement and no skills assessment requirement — it is available to graduates of any eligible bachelor degree or higher qualification, with duration determined by the qualification level. Most graduates use the post-study work stream because it is broader in scope and offers longer stay periods.

Can you apply for 485 from outside Australia?

No. You must be in Australia when you lodge the subclass 485 application. You must also have held a student visa at some point in the 6 months immediately before your application date. If you left Australia after graduating and your student visa has since expired, you will not be eligible to apply for the 485 from offshore or upon re-entry.

What Should You Do Next?

The 485 is a time-limited window, and how you use it shapes the entire trajectory of your migration journey. The first priority is applying before your student visa expires — once it lapses, your eligibility options narrow.

Start by confirming which stream you qualify for. If your qualification links to an MLTSSL occupation and you want the graduate work stream, contact the relevant assessing authority now and understand their evidence requirements. Skills assessments take time and need to be in hand before you lodge.

If you qualify for the post-study work stream, gather your study evidence, confirm your OSHC cover, and prepare your application through ImmiAccount. The sooner you lodge, the sooner your work rights are confirmed and the clock on your Australian work experience starts running.

While you are on the 485, use that time deliberately. Calculate your current points score and identify the gap between where you are and where you need to be for the PR pathway that fits your situation. Every year of Australian skilled work experience adds points. A higher English test result adds more. A Professional Year in accounting, IT, or engineering adds five points.

If you are not yet sure which PR pathway fits your profile, a MARA-registered migration agent can review your full situation — qualification, occupation, points, employment history, and preferences — and give you a clear read on your options before you commit to a strategy.