Australia’s Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485 is the main post-study route many international graduates look at after completing eligible Australian study. But “the 485” is not one simple visa with the same rules for everyone. The qualification you use, your age, where and what you studied, your immigration history and when you apply all matter.
For degree-level graduates, the relevant pathway is currently called the Post-Higher Education Work stream. It replaced the former Post-Study Work stream.
This guide focuses on that degree-level route and explains the current practical framework without assuming that every Australian qualification automatically creates post-study work rights.
What the Post-Higher Education Work stream is
The visa allows eligible international graduates to live, work and study temporarily in Australia after completing qualifying degree-level study.
It is temporary. You must plan what comes after it rather than treating it as a permanent work visa.
Who this stream is for
The current Home Affairs rules say the Post-Higher Education Work stream is for recent graduates who have completed eligible degree-level qualifications from Australian CRICOS-registered education providers and meet the other subclass 485 requirements.
How long can you stay?
Current official guidance lists the standard stay periods as:
- Bachelor degree, including honours: 2 years.
- Master’s by coursework or extended master’s: 2 years.
- Master’s by research: 3 years.
- Doctoral degree: 3 years.
Special arrangements can apply to some nationalities and regional graduates, so use the current Home Affairs page for your exact case.
Age limit
The general current rule requires you to be 35 or under when you apply. There are exceptions, including some applicants using a master’s by research or doctoral qualification and certain Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders.
Age is therefore something to check before committing to a course if the 485 route is important to you.
You normally need to be in Australia when you apply
Current rules generally require the primary applicant to be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when applying for this stream.
Do not book international travel close to your planned application date without checking the current rule.
Student visa timing matters
The current framework requires you to hold an eligible visa and generally to have held a Student visa within the previous six months.
That six-month timing creates a real deadline. Do not wait indefinitely after finishing your course.
Your degree must be recent
Home Affairs currently requires the eligible degree to have been awarded within the six months immediately before the day you apply.
Begin document preparation before the university’s formal award date so you are not trying to organise everything at the end of the window.
Eligible qualifications
The degree-level stream currently recognises:
- bachelor degrees;
- bachelor honours degrees;
- master’s degrees by coursework;
- extended master’s degrees;
- master’s degrees by research;
- research doctorates;
- professional doctorates;
- higher doctorates.
Graduate diplomas have a narrower rule
A graduate diploma can qualify in limited circumstances where it follows a qualifying degree in the same or next academic year and the study is related to that earlier qualification. Do not assume every graduate diploma creates Post-Higher Education Work eligibility.
CRICOS and the Australian study requirement
Your study must meet Australia’s Temporary Graduate visa study requirement, and the course must be with a CRICOS-registered provider where the rule applies.
Check course registration and study structure before enrolment if the 485 route is part of your planning.
English evidence
You must provide evidence of the required level of English with the application, subject to the current exemptions and accepted tests.
Do not leave the English test until the final weeks if your previous result will expire.
Health insurance
Current rules require adequate health-insurance evidence for all applicants. Student health cover and post-study health cover are not necessarily identical, so confirm what policy you need after student status ends.
Australian Federal Police check
You must provide evidence that you applied for the required Australian Federal Police check when you submit the visa application.
Because this is an application-stage requirement, build it into your graduation checklist rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Work rights
The visa allows you to work in Australia during its validity. You are not limited to a single employer by the visa itself, although normal employment law and professional licensing rules still apply.
The visa does not find you a job
Home Affairs makes clear that you must find your own employment. A post-study visa creates legal work permission; it does not create a graduate job.
Use university careers services, internships and employer research before graduation.
Post-Higher Education versus Post-Vocational Education
Australia renamed and realigned the streams from 1 July 2024. Degree-level graduates use the Post-Higher Education Work stream. Graduates using associate degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications generally look at the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, which has different requirements including occupation and skills-assessment considerations.
Regional second 485 options
Some graduates who studied and then live, work or study in eligible regional areas may qualify for a Second Post-Higher Education Work visa.
The second visa can provide an additional 1 or 2 years depending on the regional category and other eligibility rules.
Do not choose a regional university only for the extra visa time
Regional incentives can be useful, but your course quality, employment market, housing, transport and personal fit still matter. A longer visa is not automatically more valuable if the destination offers weak opportunities in your field.
Indian nationals can have different stay periods
Australia’s current arrangements under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement provide different stay periods for eligible Indian nationals depending on qualification.
If this applies to you, check the current Home Affairs table rather than using the general 2- or 3-year summary.
Can you apply twice?
There are restrictions on receiving another primary subclass 485 where you previously held certain graduate visas. The regional second stream is a specific separate pathway, not a general right to repeat the first visa.
Immigration history matters
Visa cancellations, refusals and certain conditions can affect eligibility. If your immigration history is complicated, do not assume the standard checklist covers your case.
Professional registration may be separate
A visa can give you permission to work, but regulated professions can still require registration, licensing, supervised practice or local recognition.
Check professional requirements during study rather than after graduation.
Use the final study year strategically
A reader-first post-study plan should include more than the visa application:
- identify graduate employers;
- prepare a local CV and LinkedIn profile;
- complete internships or placements where possible;
- understand professional registration;
- budget for the period between graduation and stable work;
- check where employers in your field are geographically concentrated.
Budget for the transition
You may have visa costs, insurance, police checks, housing deposits, relocation and a period without full-time income. Build that into your Study Abroad Budget.
What comes after the 485?
The next step depends on your occupation, employer, skills, location and future immigration rules. Some graduates move into employer-sponsored or points-tested skilled routes; others leave Australia or continue study.
Do not assume the 485 itself is a direct permanent-residence guarantee.
A practical 485 timeline
- Before choosing a course: check CRICOS, qualification level, age and likely 485 eligibility.
- Final year: prepare employment strategy and documents.
- Before completion: check English validity, insurance and passport.
- After award: obtain completion evidence and apply for the AFP check.
- Within the permitted window: lodge the subclass 485 application.
- During the visa: build career experience and research the next lawful route early.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every Australian qualification gets the same post-study period.
- Using old “Post-Study Work” terminology without checking the current stream.
- Ignoring the 35-year age rule and its exceptions.
- Missing the six-month timing requirements.
- Forgetting English, AFP or insurance evidence.
- Assuming the 485 guarantees employment or permanent residence.
- Choosing a course only for migration hopes rather than academic and career fit.
Where this fits in StepOut’s study-abroad structure
This page owns Australia’s degree-level post-study work intent. Use the main Study Abroad pillar for the wider admissions-to-arrival journey and the University Offer Comparison guide before making a course decision.
What if your course finishes before the visa on your passport?
The relevant 485 timing is connected to course completion, visa history and the rules in force—not simply the expiry date printed on your Student visa. Once your provider confirms completion, begin the post-study process promptly rather than assuming you can wait until the Student visa is nearly finished.
Course packaging needs careful review
Some students complete more than one course in Australia. Whether multiple courses can be combined to satisfy the Australian study requirement depends on how they fit the current rules. Do not assume every package of certificates, diplomas and degrees can be stitched together for 485 eligibility.
Check your English evidence early
Accepted tests, score thresholds and validity periods can change. If your previous English test is old, schedule a new test with enough time for results and a possible retake. A late test can create unnecessary pressure inside the six-month post-completion window.
Regional study should still make career sense
The possible second regional 485 can be valuable, but location should fit your profession. Before choosing a regional campus, look at actual employers, placement opportunities, professional networks and transport—not only the extra immigration time.
Plan around the visa end date, not only the first job
The 485 period can pass quickly once you are working. Record the visa expiry date and review longer-term options well before the final months. Whether another skilled, employer-sponsored or study route is available depends on the rules in force and your circumstances at that time.
Keep employment and professional-registration records
Save contracts, payslips, position descriptions, professional registration documents and any skills-assessment material relevant to your occupation. These can become important if you later explore another skilled migration route.
Do not let regional incentives override career fit
Regional graduate options can add time, but only if the location also supports your profession, housing needs and personal circumstances. Extra visa time is less useful if you cannot build credible experience in your field.
Recheck Home Affairs before major decisions
Subclass 485 rules have changed several times in recent years. Revisit the official Home Affairs page before choosing a course, before applying, and again before planning the route that follows the 485.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Australian 485 visa for degree graduates?
Current standard periods are 2 years for bachelor’s and coursework/extended master’s degrees, and 3 years for master’s by research and doctoral degrees, subject to specific exceptions.
What is the current age limit?
The general limit is 35 or under at application, with listed exceptions.
Can I work full time on the visa?
The Post-Higher Education Work stream permits work during the visa period, subject to normal Australian employment rules and any conditions shown in VEVO.
Does a 485 lead automatically to permanent residence?
No. Permanent or longer-term skilled routes have separate eligibility requirements.
Reader-first rule: check 485 eligibility before choosing a course, not after graduation. Reconfirm the live Home Affairs rules immediately before applying.
