Australian Subclass 485 Visa (Temporary Graduate Visa)

An Opportunity to Stay, Work, and Plan Your Future After Graduation

For many international students, studying in Australia is not simply the end of an educational journey; it can also mark the beginning of a long-term professional and migration pathway.

The Australian Subclass 485 Visa (Temporary Graduate Visa) is one of the most important post-study visa options, allowing eligible graduates to remain in Australia after completing their studies, gain work experience, and plan for future migration pathways such as skilled visas or employer-sponsored visas.

This is a temporary visa and does not directly provide permanent residency. However, for many graduates, it represents an important step toward entering the Australian labour market.

Benefits of the Australian Subclass 485 Visa

Visa holders can generally:

✓ Live in Australia;
✓ Work in the Australian labour market without work restrictions;
✓ Include eligible family members;
✓ Gain Australian work experience;
✓ Pursue future migration pathways;
✓ Travel to and from Australia during the visa validity period.

Subclass 485 Visa Costs

The application fee for the Subclass 485 visa is determined by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and may change.

The final cost of the application depends on factors including:

The primary applicant;
Accompanying family members;
Medical examination costs;
Document translation;
Police clearance certificates;
Health insurance.

Applicants should always check the current application fee through official Department of Home Affairs sources before lodging their application.

Subclass 485 Visa Processing Time

Processing times for this visa are not fixed and depend on various factors, including:

Whether the application and supporting documents are complete;
The selected stream;
The number of applications being processed;
Whether additional assessment is required by the Department of Home Affairs.

Applicants should therefore check the latest processing times published by the Department of Home Affairs before applying.

General Eligibility Requirements for the Subclass 485 Visa

Applicants must generally meet the following key requirements:

1. Age Requirement

Normally, applicants must:

Be under 35 years of age.

Certain groups, such as:

Master by Research graduates;
PhD graduates;

may be eligible up to the age of 50.

2. Australian Study Requirement

Applicants must:

Have completed one or more eligible courses in Australia;
Have completed a course registered on CRICOS;
Have completed at least the equivalent of two academic years of Australian study (92 CRICOS weeks);
Have undertaken their studies in Australia in accordance with the relevant student visa requirements;
Generally have completed their course within 6 months before applying.

3. Australian Presence Requirement

Applicants generally need to:

Be physically present in Australia when applying;
Hold a valid visa or otherwise have lawful status in Australia.

In many cases, a Bridging Visa may be granted after the previous visa expires to maintain lawful status while the application is being processed.

English Language Requirement

Applicants must meet the English language requirements applicable to the Subclass 485 visa.

The accepted tests and minimum scores may change and should be checked against the latest Department of Home Affairs requirements.

Accepted tests may include:

IELTS;
PTE Academic;
TOEFL iBT;
OET;
Other approved English language tests.

Important:
The English test result must be valid within the specified period before the visa application is lodged.

Health Insurance

Subclass 485 visa holders must maintain appropriate health insurance throughout their stay in Australia.

For many applicants, the appropriate type of insurance is:

Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC)

This is different from Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Australian Federal Police Check (AFP Police Check)

Applicants who have lived in Australia must comply with the requirements relating to an Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Check.

In many cases, submitting the AFP application and providing the relevant documentation at the appropriate time is an important part of the visa process.

Types of Subclass 485 Visa

The Subclass 485 visa has two main streams:

1. Post-Higher Education Work Stream

This stream is designed for graduates of higher education qualifications such as:

Bachelor Degree;
Master Degree;
Doctoral Degree.

The length of stay generally depends on the qualification obtained and the applicant’s circumstances.

In general:

Bachelor and Master by Coursework graduates usually receive shorter periods of stay;
Master by Research and PhD graduates generally receive longer periods.

2. Post-Vocational Education Work Stream

This stream is designed for applicants holding qualifications such as:

Diploma;
Associate Degree;
Trade Qualification.

Key requirements for this stream include:

The qualification must be related to an eligible occupation;
A Skills Assessment from the relevant assessing authority may generally be required;
The connection between the applicant’s studies, skills, and nominated occupation must be demonstrable.

This visa is generally granted for 18 months.

At SilkVisa Australia, each applicant’s circumstances are assessed to identify the most suitable post-study pathway based on their individual situation.

Including Family Members

Where eligible, the primary applicant may include:

Their spouse or partner;
Dependent children.

Family members must also meet the relevant health, character, and documentation requirements.

Does the Subclass 485 Visa Lead to Permanent Residency?

No. The Subclass 485 visa does not directly provide permanent residency.

However, it can provide a valuable opportunity for applicants to:

Gain Australian work experience;
Increase their migration points;
Apply for skilled visas such as Subclass 189, 190, or 491;
Explore employer-sponsored pathways such as Subclass 482 or 186, if eligible.

Who Is the Subclass 485 Visa Suitable For?

This visa is generally suitable for people who:

✓ Have completed their studies in Australia;
✓ Intend to enter the Australian labour market;
✓ Want to gain international work experience;
✓ Have a long-term migration plan.

Conclusion

The Subclass 485 Visa is one of Australia’s key post-study pathways, giving graduates the opportunity to gain work experience after completing their studies and better plan their future migration pathway.

Given the ongoing changes to Australian migration legislation, choosing the correct stream and carefully assessing factors such as age, English proficiency, field of study, and long-term migration objectives are extremely important.

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