The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) allows eligible international graduates to stay, live and work in Australia temporarily after completing their studies. This 2026-2027 guide covers the latest 485 visa eligibility requirements, age limits, visa streams, stay periods, English requirements, costs and application process, including the Post-Vocational Education Work, Post-Higher Education Work and Second Post-Higher Education Work streams.
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Disclaimer: Australian immigration rules change often. This article is general information, not migration advice. Always confirm current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent (MARA-registered) before you apply.
Subclass 485 Visa at a Glance (2026-2027)
- Age: generally 35 or under when you apply, with limited exceptions for certain applicants, including some master's by research, doctoral and Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders.
- Streams: Post-Vocational Education Work, Post-Higher Education Work, and Second Post-Higher Education Work.
- Stay: up to 18 months for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream; usually 2 to 3 years for the Post-Higher Education Work stream; and 1 to 2 years for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
- Work rights: The Temporary Graduate visa allows eligible holders to live, work and study in Australia temporarily while the visa is valid, subject to visa conditions.
- Cost: From AUD $5,750 for the main applicant, with concessions available in limited circumstances. The exact cost depends on the visa stream and applicant circumstances.
What Changed in the Temporary Graduate Visa, and When?
The Australian Government changed the Temporary Graduate visa program from 1 July 2024 as part of broader migration reforms. The main streams were renamed and aligned more closely with the level of qualification used to meet the study requirement.
The current stream names are:
- Post-Vocational Education Work stream, formerly the Graduate Work stream.
- Post-Higher Education Work stream, formerly the Post-Study Work stream.
- Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, formerly the Second Post-Study Work stream.
The former Replacement stream has ceased and closed to new primary applicants from 1 July 2024. Family members of eligible Temporary Graduate visa holders may still be able to apply as subsequent entrants where the relevant rules allow.
The qualification you use to meet the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement determines which stream you can apply for. You cannot simply choose a stream based on which one offers a longer stay period, and other qualifications you hold are not used to determine your stream eligibility.
The 35-Year Age Cap: Does It Apply to You?
For most applicants, you must be 35 years of age or under when you apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). The age requirement applies across the three current Temporary Graduate visa streams, but specific exceptions allow some applicants to apply when they are under 50 years of age.
Who can still apply after 35?
The age exceptions are limited and depend on the visa stream and your circumstances. Applicants under 50 may still qualify if they:
- are using a master's degree by research or doctoral degree (PhD) to meet the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement for the Post-Higher Education Work stream;
- for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, previously used a master's degree by research or doctoral degree (PhD) to meet the requirements for the grant of their first Post-Higher Education Work or Post-Study Work stream visa; or
- hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas (BNO) passport.
These exceptions do not apply in exactly the same way to every stream. Being over 35 does not automatically make you ineligible, but you must meet the specific age exception and all other requirements for the stream you are applying for.
What if you are over the age limit?
If you do not qualify for a Temporary Graduate visa because of the age requirement, you may still have other Australian visa options depending on your qualifications, occupation, work experience and circumstances.
Possible alternatives can include employer-sponsored or skilled migration pathways. You may also be able to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect for eligible skilled visa pathways.
If you are approaching your 36th birthday, check the timing carefully because the Temporary Graduate visa age requirement is assessed when you apply, rather than simply based on your age when you graduated.
Which 485 Stream Is Right for You?
The qualification you use to satisfy the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement determines the stream you can apply for. The three current streams are designed for different types of qualifications and circumstances.
Post-Vocational Education Work stream (formerly Graduate Work)
The Post-Vocational Education Work stream is for graduates who meet the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement using an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification and whose qualification is relevant to an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.
You must nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), and your qualification must be closely related to that nominated occupation. You must also have a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority, or provide evidence that you have applied for one, and meet the applicable assessment requirements.
The Post-Vocational Education Work stream generally allows a stay of up to 18 months. Eligible Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders may be eligible to stay for up to five years.
Post-Higher Education Work stream (formerly Post-Study Work)
The Post-Higher Education Work stream is for international graduates who meet the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement using a bachelor's degree, master's degree or doctoral degree from an eligible Australian institution and course.
This is the main Temporary Graduate visa pathway for international students who complete degree-level studies in Australia and satisfy the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement.
You generally must have held a Student visa in the six months immediately before applying, have completed an eligible qualification within the required period, be in Australia when you apply, and meet the health, character, English-language and other visa requirements.
The Post-Higher Education Work stream normally allows a stay of two or three years, depending on the qualification. Eligible Indian nationals may receive longer stays under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), while eligible Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders may be eligible to stay for up to five years.
Second Post-Higher Education Work stream (formerly Second Post-Study Work)
The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream provides an additional temporary stay for eligible graduates who previously held a Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work or Post-Study Work stream and meet the applicable regional requirements.
To qualify, you generally must:
- be in Australia when you apply;
- continue to hold a valid first Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work or eligible Replacement stream;
- have obtained the degree used for your first Temporary Graduate visa from an eligible CRICOS-registered education provider in a designated regional area; and
- have lived only in a designated regional area for at least two years immediately before applying.
The length of the second Temporary Graduate visa depends on the designated regional area requirements. Graduates who studied and lived in eligible Category 2 areas may be eligible for an additional one year, while those who studied and lived in eligible Category 3 areas may be eligible for an additional two years.
The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream has specific eligibility rules, including restrictions based on which Temporary Graduate visa you previously held. For example, you generally cannot qualify as a primary applicant if your previous Temporary Graduate visa was granted in the Post-Vocational Education Work stream or if you previously held a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream visa.
Important: Always verify current requirements beforehand, as both your visa history and regional residence must strictly meet Department criteria.
How Long Can You Stay After Studying? Post-Study Duration in 2026
Post-study stay periods are determined primarily by your qualification (the former two-year extension for select degrees ended on 1 July 2024). Extended stays remain available for eligible Indian nationals under AI-ECTA, and up to 5 years for Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders.
Post-Higher Education Work stream: stay by qualification
- Graduate Diplomas: Standard stay is 2 years, provided stream eligibility requirements are met.
- Hong Kong & BNO Passports: Eligible for stays of up to 5 years.
- Indian Nationals (AI-ECTA): Eligible for extended stays of up to 3 to 4 years depending on degree level.
Note: Listed durations represent standard maximum periods rather than a guarantee. Always verify current criteria with the Department of Home Affairs before applying.
Other 485 Requirements to Check
In addition to meeting the stream-specific requirements, Temporary Graduate visa applicants need to satisfy several other eligibility and documentary requirements.
- Recent study: You generally must have completed the eligible qualification or qualifications in the six months immediately before the day you apply for the Temporary Graduate visa.
- Australian study requirement: You must have completed an eligible qualification, or combination of qualifications, that satisfies the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement.
- Two academic years: Two academic years of study equals 92 weeks of registered study. The study must have been completed in Australia over at least 16 calendar months while you held a visa that authorised you to study.
- CRICOS: The qualification or qualifications you rely on must meet the relevant CRICOS registration and course requirements. The study must generally have been undertaken at an Australian educational institution in Australia and taught in English.
- English: Applicants who are required to demonstrate English must meet the applicable English-language requirement. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, accepted tests for the Temporary Graduate visa include IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, CELPIP General, MET and LANGUAGECERT Academic, subject to the required scores and test conditions.
- English validity: The required English test result must generally have been achieved within the 12 months immediately before the day you apply for the visa.
- Passport exemptions: You can meet the English requirement by showing that you are a citizen of, and hold a valid passport from, the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland.
- Health and character: You and any family members included in the application must meet the applicable health and character requirements.
- Health insurance: You must meet the applicable health insurance requirements and maintain adequate health insurance where the relevant visa condition applies. Home Affairs lists condition 8501 for relevant Temporary Graduate visa holders.
- Australian Federal Police check: You may need to provide evidence of an Australian Federal Police check as part of your Temporary Graduate visa application.
The exact requirements can vary between streams. For example, applicants applying through the Post-Vocational Education Work stream have additional occupation, qualification and skills-assessment requirements.
How Much Does the 485 Visa Cost in 2026?
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) costs AUD $5,750 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026. A lower visa application charge applies in limited circumstances, including for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens.
The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream has a separate and lower application charge of AUD $2,265 for the main applicant, with concessions available in limited circumstances.
Additional charges apply for family members included in an application. You may also have other costs, such as health examinations, police certificates and biometrics, depending on your circumstances.
Note: Visa charges can change, so check the Department of Home Affairs' current visa pricing information and use its Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before lodging your application.
How to Apply for the Subclass 485 Visa: Step by Step
- Confirm your stream. Determine which qualification you are relying on to meet the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement. An associate degree, diploma or trade qualification may point to the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, while a bachelor's degree, master's degree or doctoral degree generally points to the Post-Higher Education Work stream. If you previously held an eligible Temporary Graduate visa and meet the regional requirements, you may be able to apply through the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
- Check your age. Make sure you are 35 years of age or under when you apply, unless you qualify for a specific age exception that allows applicants under 50 to apply.
- Confirm the Australian study requirement. Make sure your qualification or combination of qualifications satisfies the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement, including the applicable 92-week and 16-calendar-month requirements.
- Check the timing requirements. Make sure you meet the applicable requirement to have held a Student visa in the six months immediately before applying and that you completed the relevant eligible qualification within the required period before applying.
- Check the English requirement. If you are required to demonstrate English, make sure you take an approved test and achieve the required scores within the permitted validity period. Check the current accepted tests and scores before booking your test.
- Check health insurance. Make sure you meet the applicable health insurance requirements and have evidence of adequate health insurance where required.
- Prepare health, character and supporting evidence. Gather the required identity documents, qualification evidence, English evidence, police and character documents, and any health examination evidence requested by the Department. You may also need to provide evidence of an Australian Federal Police check.
- Complete any additional stream-specific requirements. If you are applying through the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, check your nominated occupation, MLTSSL eligibility, qualification relevance and skills-assessment requirements. If you are applying through the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, make sure you can demonstrate the required regional study and residence history.
- Lodge your application online and pay the charge. Apply through ImmiAccount and make sure you are in Australia when applying if the requirements for your stream specify that you must be in Australia. Pay the applicable visa application charge shown by the Department.
- Track your application. Monitor your ImmiAccount after lodging your application and respond promptly if the Department requests additional information or documents. You can also check the Department's current processing-time guide for a general indication of processing times.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Usually, no. The standard maximum age is 35 years or under when you apply. However, limited exceptions allow certain applicants under 50 to qualify, including eligible applicants who used a master's by research or doctoral degree to meet the relevant Temporary Graduate visa requirements and eligible Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders.
It depends on your stream, qualification and circumstances. The Post-Vocational Education Work stream generally allows a stay of up to 18 months. The Post-Higher Education Work stream generally allows two or three years depending on your qualification, with longer periods available to eligible Indian, Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders. The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream allows a stay of one or two years depending on the applicable regional requirements.
Yes. The Temporary Graduate visa allows you to work in Australia while the visa is valid, subject to your visa conditions. Unlike a Student visa, the Temporary Graduate visa does not have the same student work-hour limitation that applied while you were studying. Check VEVO or your visa grant letter for your specific conditions.
Not necessarily. The Department accepts several English-language tests, including IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, CELPIP General, MET and LANGUAGECERT Academic, subject to the applicable scores and test-date rules. Citizens of certain countries, including Canada, may be able to meet the English requirement based on their valid passport.
From 1 July 2026, the main Temporary Graduate visa application charge is AUD $5,750, subject to applicable concessions. The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream has a separate charge of from AUD $2,265. Additional charges can apply for family members and other costs may apply depending on your circumstances.
Some graduates can qualify for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. It is not a second 485 visa available to every graduate. You generally must have previously held an eligible Temporary Graduate visa as the main applicant, continue to hold an eligible first Temporary Graduate visa when you apply, have obtained the relevant degree from an eligible institution in a designated regional area, and have lived in an eligible designated regional area for at least two years immediately before applying.
The first Temporary Graduate visa cannot simply be extended. However, eligible graduates may be able to apply for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream or another Australian visa if they meet the relevant requirements.
No. The first Post-Higher Education Work visa is not generally restricted to regional Australia. However, regional study and residence are important eligibility requirements for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
The Australian study requirement generally requires an eligible qualification, or combination of qualifications, involving at least 92 weeks of registered study. The study must have been completed in Australia over at least 16 calendar months while you held a visa that authorised you to study. The qualification or qualifications must also meet the applicable CRICOS, course and other study requirements.
The Temporary Graduate visa can provide valuable post-study work rights in Australia, but eligibility depends on the exact qualification, visa history, age, English ability, study history and other circumstances. Because immigration requirements can change, use the Department of Home Affairs Temporary Graduate visa page as the final authority before lodging an application.
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