Student and Graduate Visa
Student and graduate visas provide pathways for international students to study in Australia, receive family support where needed, and remain temporarily in Australia after graduation to gain work experience.
3. Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) allows international students who have recently completed their studies in Australia to remain in the country temporarily to live, work, and gain practical experience.
This visa provides graduates with an opportunity to develop their professional skills and gain Australian work experience after completing their studies.
The visa is designed for students who have completed a qualification from an Australian CRICOS-registered education provider and who held a Student Visa within the last six months before applying.
What You Can Do with a Temporary Graduate Visa
With a valid Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485), you may live in Australia temporarily after completing your studies, work in Australia without restriction, study further if you wish, travel in and out of Australia while the visa remains valid, or include eligible family members in your visa application.
This visa provides graduates with an opportunity to build professional experience that may assist with future skilled migration pathways.
Streams of the Temporary Graduate Visa
There are two main streams under the Temporary Graduate visa.
Post-Higher Education Work Stream
This stream is designed for graduates who have completed degree-level qualifications in Australia.
• Eligible qualifications include bachelor’s degree, bachelor honours degree, master’s degree (coursework, extended or research), and doctoral degree (PhD)
• The length of stay depends on the qualification completed:
• Bachelor degree – usually 2 years
• Master’s degree – 2 to 3 years
• Doctoral degree – 3 years
• For Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, the duration could be up to 5 years
• Indian passport holders may have varied durations due to the Australia India – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA)
• Graduates can work in any occupation and do not need a nominated occupation or skills assessment
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
This stream is designed for students who have completed vocational education and training (VET) qualifications, such as diplomas or trade qualifications.
• The qualification must be relevant to an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List)
• Applicants must nominate an occupation related to their qualification
• Applicants must obtain or apply for a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority
• Successful applicants may stay in Australia for up to 18 months
Other Key Eligibility Requirements
• Age Requirement: Applicants must generally be 35 years of age or younger at the time of application. Certain exceptions may apply for research degree graduates or specific passport holders.
• Australian Study Requirement: Applicants must have completed a CRICOS-registered course in Australia that meets the Australian study requirement. The qualification must have been completed within six months before the visa application.
• Current or Recent Student: Visa applicants must hold an eligible visa in Australia when applying and have held a Student Visa within the last six months.
• English Language Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate a sufficient level of English language ability through approved tests such as IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge C1 Advanced. Minimum score requirements depend on the specific test accepted by the Department of Home Affairs.
• Health and Character Requirements: Applicants must meet Australia’s health and character requirements, including undergoing medical examinations if required, providing police clearance certificates, and applying for an Australian Federal Police check when lodging the visa application.
Family Members
Applicants can include eligible family members in their visa application, including partners and dependent children. Family members must also meet Australia’s health and character requirements. Family members may also apply later as subsequent entrants if they were not included in the original visa application.