485 Visa Australia – 2026 Requirements, Updates & How to Apply Correctly
By Nilesh Nandan – Australian Immigration Lawyer, MyVisa® Immigration Lawyers
This blog is intended for discussion purposes only and does not constitute advice. You should seek independent legal advice before relying on any information provided on this site.
Immigration policies, systems, and processes can change without notice. I’d like to know your own experience with the immigration challenges noted above — feel free to contact me.
Table of Contents
- Introduction: why the 485 visa matters more than ever
- What is the 485 visa in Australia?
- Key 2024–2025 changes to the 485 visa
- The three 485 visa streams explained
- Comparison table: Post-Higher Education vs Post-Vocational Education vs Second Post-Higher Education
- Core eligibility: common rules across the 485 visa streams
- From study to 485 visa to PR: understanding the flow
- Common mistakes international students make with 485 visa applications
- Hypothetical examples: how the rules apply in real life
- If your 485 visa is refused
- 485 visa Australia – FAQs
- Book a consultation to assess your 485 visa eligibility
- Closing note and signature
Introduction
For most international students, the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa is the bridge between study and whatever comes next. It is often the first time you are no longer a “student” in the eyes of the law, but a working graduate in Australia. It is also the moment where a lot can go wrong. A small mistake in timing, English scores, course choice or stream selection can cost you years of future options.
My name is Nilesh Nandan. I am an Australian Immigration Lawyer and Head of Practice at MyVisa. In this guide I will walk you through the 485 visa Australia as it now operates in 2025 – including the three revised streams, the major changes that took effect from 2024 onwards, and the way I think about the 485 strategy for my international student clients. I will also show you how the 485 fits into a realistic pathway towards permanent residency (PR), and what to do if things go off track.
What is the 485 visa in Australia?
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is a temporary visa that allows international students who have recently completed eligible studies in Australia to live, work and study here for a further period. The Department of Home Affairs describes it as a visa for “recent international graduates” and divides it into separate streams based on the level of your qualification and your location.
In simple terms, the 485 visa is designed to:
- Give you time to gain post-study work experience in Australia
- Allow you to upgrade your skills or complete further study
- Give you breathing room to plan your next visa or PR pathway
Historically there were two main streams: the Post-Study Work stream and the Graduate Work stream. From 1 July 2024, these have been renamed and restructured.
Key 2024–2025 changes to the 485 visa
The Temporary Graduate visa program has been significantly reshaped as part of the government’s wider migration reforms. The Department of Home Affairs now highlights the following changes:
- The Post-Study Work stream is now called the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
- The Graduate Work stream is now called the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.
- There is a separate Second Post-Higher Education Work stream for certain graduates who studied and then live/work in designated regional areas.
- The maximum age for most 485 applicants has been reduced to 35 years, with limited exceptions for certain higher degrees and some passport holders.
- The previous two-year extension of post-study work rights has effectively ended, with the Department of Education confirming that the extended work rights program is no longer available from mid-2024.
- English language requirements have been increased, with higher minimum overall scores and minimum scores in each band, and changes to accepted tests from 2024–2025 onwards.
For you, as an international student or recent graduate, these changes matter because they tighten the window in which you can qualify, and they emphasise the importance of choosing the right stream and planning your timeline carefully.
The three 485 visa streams explained
1. Post-Higher Education Work stream
The Post-Higher Education Work stream is for graduates who have completed an eligible degree-level qualification or higher – for example a Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral degree in Australia. It allows you to live, work and study in Australia temporarily after your studies.
Key features include:
- Requires completion of an eligible degree from a CRICOS-registered course
- Length of stay generally depends on the level of your qualification and where you studied (with possible additional time if you qualify later for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream)
- You can usually work full-time and bring eligible family members as dependants.
2. Post-Vocational Education Work stream
The Post-Vocational Education Work stream is for graduates whose highest relevant qualification is at the associate degree, diploma or trade qualification level and who have studied in a field that is closely related to an occupation on the skilled occupation lists.
Key features include:
- Your qualification must be relevant to a nominated occupation on the skilled occupation list
- In many cases you will need a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority (for example, VETASSESS or trades assessing bodies)
- The visa duration is typically shorter than the Post-Higher Education Work stream, and again it is temporary
3. Second Post-Higher Education Work stream
The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream is for graduates who already hold a Post-Higher Education Work (or certain related) 485 visas and who have studied and then lived in designated regional areas.
Key features include:
- You must meet study, visa and regional residence requirements linked to your first 485 visa
- This visa gives you additional time in Australia to live and work after your first 485, particularly if you have been in a regional area
- You continue to have broad work rights and can usually include eligible family members
Comparison table: Post-Higher Education vs Post-Vocational Education vs Second Post-Higher Education
| Feature | Post-Higher Education Work stream | Post-Vocational Education Work stream | Second Post-Higher Education Work stream |
| Typical qualification level | Bachelor, Masters, Doctoral, some graduate diplomas/certificates that meet the higher education study requirement. | Associate degree, diploma or trade qualification tied to a skilled occupation. | Previous eligible degree plus existing 485 visa held in a regional context. |
| Main purpose | Post-study work for higher education graduates | Post-study work for vocational and trade graduates in occupations Australia needs | Extra time in Australia for graduates who studied and lived in regional areas |
| Work rights | Generally full-time | Generally full-time | Generally full-time |
| Family members | Can often include eligible family members | Can often include eligible family members | Can often include eligible family members |
| Link to skilled occupation list | Not usually tied to occupation lists | Closely tied to skilled occupation lists and skills assessment in many cases | Not primarily about occupation; focused on regional study and residence |
| Regional focus | May be studied anywhere, but regional study can later support a Second stream | Not specifically regional, though regional study can still help your PR plans | Explicitly requires regional study and/or residence for eligibility. |
Core eligibility: common rules across the 485 visa streams
Each stream has its own detailed criteria, but there are several common threads that trip people up. At a high level, you should expect to satisfy the following (in addition to stream-specific rules).
- Age limit – in most cases, you must be under a specified age (commonly 35 for many cohorts, with limited exceptions for certain research degrees and some Hong Kong/BNO passport holders).
- Recent Australian study – you must have completed an eligible qualification or qualifications that meet the Australian study requirement within a defined period.
- Appropriate student visa history – you must usually have held a qualifying student visa while completing your course and at certain times before applying.
- English language requirement – you must meet the current English language test and score settings applicable at the time you apply.
- Health and character – you must meet the usual health and character requirements, including providing police certificates and undergoing medicals where requested.
- No outstanding debts – if you or your family owe a debt to the Australian government, you are expected to have repaid or arranged to repay it.
These are headline points only. The detail is where many applicants stumble, especially where courses are packaged, completed over multiple providers, or where there have been gaps or changes along the way.
From study to 485 visa to PR: understanding the flow
One of the most useful ways to think about your 485 visa is as a bridge in a longer journey rather than a stand-alone status. Here is a simplified flow many of my clients follow:
- Study in Australia – on a student visa, you complete your CRICOS-registered course (or courses) that you have chosen with a long-term goal in mind.
- Apply for a 485 visa – within the required timeframe after course completion, you apply for the right 485 stream based on your qualification level and occupation.
- Gain skilled work experience – on your 485 visa you seek work in your field at the appropriate ANZSCO skill level, and you maintain proper records (payslips, contracts, tax, super).
- Meet PR criteria – you use that work experience, plus your age, English, qualifications and possibly regional residence, to qualify for a skilled visa (for example 189, 190, 491) or employer-sponsored PR, or in some cases a partner visa.
- Apply for PR – either from your 485 visa, or from a bridging visa after lodging a PR or partner visa, you move towards permanent residence if you meet the criteria.
At each step, your choices either open up or close down later options. That is why I am a strong believer in mapping your 485 strategy deliberately rather than just “taking whatever is available” after graduation.
Common mistakes international students make with 485 visa applications
By the time students find me, some have already made errors that cannot be undone. The most common problems I see include:
- Wrong stream selection – for example, a vocational graduate choosing the wrong stream and then discovering the occupation and skills assessment requirements too late.
- Timing mistakes – lodging too early or too late in relation to course completion and visa expiry, or not having the right evidence at the time of application.
- Assuming old rules still apply – relying on outdated information about extensions or age limits that no longer reflect the 2024–2025 changes.
- Weak English planning – leaving English testing to the last minute and failing to meet the updated thresholds, or relying on tests taken outside the valid window.
- Inadequate evidence of study requirement – poorly documented course histories, transfers, or credit arrangements that do not clearly show compliance with the Australian study requirement.
- Ignoring condition 8503 or other restrictions – occasionally, graduates discover a “No Further Stay” or other condition too late, limiting what can be applied for onshore.
These issues are avoidable with proper advice and early planning, particularly in the final six to twelve months of your studies.
Hypothetical examples: how the rules apply in real life
Example 1 – Bachelor graduate aiming for skilled PR
Sarah completes a Bachelor of Information Technology at a CRICOS-registered university in Sydney. She applies under the Post-Higher Education Work stream within the required time after finishing her course. She uses her 485 visa period to gain experience as an ICT Business Analyst, and with a positive skills assessment and strong English, later transitions to a skilled visa through a state-nominated pathway.
Example 2 – Trade graduate using the Post-Vocational Education Work stream
Ravi completes a Certificate III plus Certificate IV in commercial cookery and hospitality management that together meet the Australian study requirement and tie directly to the occupation of Chef on the skilled occupation list. He applies for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, obtains the required skills assessment, and uses his 485 visa to build Australian work experience in a regional restaurant to support a future 491 or 190 application.
Example 3 – Regional graduate using the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream
Li finishes her Masters in Engineering at a campus located in a designated regional area and is granted a Post-Higher Education Work stream 485 visa. She then lives and works in that regional area for the required period. When eligible, she applies for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, giving her extra time in regional Australia to secure a skilled job and strengthen her PR prospects.
These are hypothetical examples only, but they illustrate the way planning your course choice, location, 485 stream and occupation together can create a coherent pathway rather than a series of disconnected moves.
If your 485 visa is refused
A refusal decision on a 485 visa can be devastating. In many cases there will be a right of review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), but strict time limits apply. In some circumstances, refusals can also lead to bars on making further applications while in Australia, and they can affect your ability to move into other visas later.
If you have received a refusal, it is critical to understand:
- Why the visa was refused – for example, English, timing, study requirement, incorrect stream, health or character
- Whether you have an ART appeal right and the deadline
- How a refusal may interact with other parts of the law such as the section 48 bar on some onshore applications
- Whether there is a realistic strategy to fix the issue through review, a fresh application, or in rare cases ministerial intervention
On the MyVisa site, you will find more information about visa refusals, as well as pages dealing with ministerial intervention and appeals. For a 485 refusal, getting targeted advice early is often the difference between salvaging your position and running out of options.
485 visa Australia – FAQs
What is the 485 visa in Australia?
The 485 visa is the Temporary Graduate visa that lets recent international graduates live, work and study in Australia for a limited time after completing eligible study. It has three streams: Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Vocational Education Work and Second Post-Higher Education Work.
What are the main 485 visa requirements?
You must normally meet an age limit, satisfy the Australian study requirement with an eligible qualification, hold or have held a qualifying student visa, meet the English language requirement, and satisfy health and character criteria. Each stream then adds its own specific rules.
How long does 485 visa processing take?
Processing times vary and are updated periodically by the Department of Home Affairs. Factors include the volume of applications, the completeness of your documents, security and health checks, and whether further information is requested. It is important to apply well before your student visa expires. Check here for approximate time of processing.
Can I include my family on a 485 visa?
In many cases you can include eligible family members, such as a partner and dependent children, either at the time of application or as subsequent entrants. They will usually have similar work and study rights to you as the primary visa holder.
Can I extend my 485 visa?
The 485 visa itself is a temporary visa with fixed stay periods. In limited situations, some graduates may qualify for a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream visa, particularly where they have studied and lived in designated regional areas. The previous two-year post-study extension program has been discontinued.
What English score do I need for the 485 visa?
You must meet the English language requirement that applies at the time you lodge your application. This usually involves achieving at least a specified minimum overall score and minimum scores in each band on an approved English test, within a valid test window. The thresholds were increased in 2024 and accepted tests have been updated, so always check the latest settings before you book a test.
Can I apply for PR from a 485 visa?
Many graduates use their 485 visa as a stepping stone to permanent residency, often through skilled visas (subclass 189, 190, 491), employer-sponsored visas, or in some cases partner visas. Whether you can do this depends on your age, skills, work experience, English, occupation and other factors.
What happens if my 485 visa is refused?
You may have a right to review at the ART, but strict deadlines apply. A refusal can also affect whether you can make further applications onshore. Professional advice is strongly recommended so that you understand your appeal rights, any section 48 implications, and whether another pathway is realistic.
Book a consultation to assess your 485 visa eligibility
The 485 visa Australia framework is no longer something you can safely navigate on guesswork or old information. The names of the streams have changed, the age limit is tighter for many, English requirements have risen, and the extended post-study work rights program has been wound back.
At the same time, the 485 visa remains a powerful bridge between graduation and a longer-term future in Australia if you use it well. Your course choices, your occupation, your location and your timing all matter.
Book a consultation with me to assess your 485 visa eligibility. In that consultation we can:
- Check which 485 stream you realistically qualify for
- Map out a sensible Study → 485 → PR pathway based on your actual profile
- Identify any red flags early, such as timing risks, age limits or English scores
- Plan your evidence and documents so your application is as strong and clean as possible
You can also explore related pages on MyVisa, including our home page, Student Visa, Partner Visa, and our information on Visa Refusals and Ministerial Intervention options for other kinds of visa problems.
This blog is intended for discussion purposes only and does not constitute advice. You should seek independent legal advice before relying on any information provided on this site.
Immigration policies, systems, and processes can change without notice. I’d like to know your own experience with the immigration challenges noted above — feel free to contact me.
MyVisa: Nilesh Nandan, Attorney at Law
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) GDLP MBA(IntBus)
Head of Practice
