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SUBCLASS 485 VISA
Graduate Visa Australia
Transition from your Australian studies to valuable professional career experience under the graduate visa Australia program. Whether you are applying under the post-higher education work stream, the vocational graduate work stream visa, or seeking a regional extension, our MARA registered agent graduate visa team manages your eligibility, skills assessments, and digital lodgement from start to finish.
96%
Agency Approval Rate
3 Streams
Higher Ed, Vocational & Regional
Up to 3 Yrs
Full-Time Work Rights
35 & Under
Standard Age Limit
CORE CRITERIA
Subclass 485 Eligibility & Visa Streams
Australia’s temporary graduate program encompasses three distinct pathways for international alumni. To qualify across any subclass 485 visa stream, you must satisfy essential statutory thresholds.
Post-Higher Education Work Stream
For graduates of an eligible Australian bachelor, masters, or doctoral degree, granting up to 2 to 3 years of full work rights without requiring a skills assessment.
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
The updated graduate work stream visa for diploma and trade graduates whose qualification aligns with a skilled occupation and requires a positive skills assessment.
Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream
Allows existing post-higher education work stream holders who graduated from and lived in a designated regional area to apply for an additional 1 to 2 years.
35 Years Age Threshold
You must be aged 35 years or under when applying, with exemptions up to age 50 available for Masters by Research, PhD, and Hong Kong/BNO passport holders.
Australian Study Requirement
You must have completed at least two academic years (92 weeks CRICOS registered) of study in Australia and lodge within 6 months of course completion.
English & Police Check Ready
You must provide recognized English language test results and proof of an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check at the exact time of application lodgement.
Avoid Common Disqualifying Mistakes: Applying after you have turned 36 (unless eligible for research or passport exemptions), selecting the wrong stream in ImmiAccount, failing to apply for your AFP police check before lodgement, or allowing your health insurance to lapse between student and visitor cover will result in immediate refusal.
STEP-BY-STEP
How Our Migration Agent Team Handles Your Application
We manage your transition from a student visa to full Australian working rights—ensuring stream selection, completion dates, and supporting documents are error-free.
01
Stream Selection & Age Audit
We evaluate your completion letters and age against statutory rules to choose between post-higher education, vocational, or regional streams.
02
Skills Assessment & AFP Setup
For vocational stream applicants, we coordinate your skills assessment application and verify that your AFP police check is lodged correctly.
03
Health Insurance Transition
We guide your switch from Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) to an approved Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) policy required for grant.
04
ImmiAccount Digital Lodgement
We submit your complete application online within your 6-month completion window, coordinating the AUD $5,750 government fee.
05
BVA Work Rights & Grant
We confirm your onshore Bridging Visa A (BVA) is active with full work rights, managing Departmental liaison through to your visa grant.
EVIDENCE CHECKLIST
Documents Required for Subclass 485
A successful graduate visa Australia application requires structured evidence proving Australian study compliance, language proficiency, and background clearance.
Academic & Qualification Records
- Official completion letter stating date course requirements were met
- Certified academic transcripts showing 92+ weeks of CRICOS study
- Positive Skills Assessment outcome (for vocational stream only)
- Proof of regional campus study (for second regional stream)
Language & Health Evidence
- Valid English test results achieved within Department timeframes
- Active Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) policy letter
- Medical examination completion slips (if requested by Home Affairs)
- Previous student visa grant notice showing enrollment history
Identity & Police Checks
- Valid passport bio-data pages for primary applicant and partner
- Australian Federal Police (AFP) national police check receipt
- Overseas police certificates from countries lived in for 12+ months
- Marriage certificates or de facto evidence for included partners
INVESTMENT & TIMELINES
Subclass 485 Cost & Processing Schedule
We believe in transparent budgeting so graduates and sponsoring employers understand updated government charges and professional representation fees.
Department of Home Affairs Fees
AUD $5,750
Following the fee update, the primary applicant government charge is AUD $5,750 for Post-Higher Education and Vocational streams. The Second Regional stream is AUD $2,265. Additional fees apply for partners (~$2,875).
* Fees are set by the Department and subject to change — confirm current fees during your initial assessment.
Our Agency Service Fee
Case-Dependent
Our professional service fees are tailored to the specific complexity of your case. We evaluate your stream eligibility, skills assessment needs, and partner inclusion before providing a clear, fixed-quote quotation without hourly billing.
* Our fee covers stream audits, AFP/health guidance, and full digital ImmiAccount representation.
Typical Processing Timelines
2 – 16 Weeks
Processing times vary by stream. Higher education stream applications are frequently processed within weeks, whereas vocational work stream visas requiring skills assessments can take up to 4 months.
* Clean, decision-ready applications with front-loaded AFP and English evidence are processed faster.
MARN 2619225
Why Work With a MARA Registered Agent for Your Graduate Visa?
Australia’s temporary graduate framework has undergone substantial restructuring, renaming the graduate work stream visa to the Post-Vocational Education Work stream and tightening the standard age ceiling to 35 years. With the government application charge standing at AUD $5,750 for a standard lodgement, an administrative mistake or visa refusal represents a severe financial loss and can jeopardize your permanent residency journey.
A frequent cause of visa refusal is lodging an application before obtaining proof that an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check has been submitted, allowing the 6-month post-completion window to expire, or selecting a qualification that does not match the required CRICOS stream rules. For vocational graduates, ensuring your trade qualification corresponds to an approved Skilled Occupation List is critical.
As a MARA registered agent graduate visa team in Melbourne, we represent international graduates and employers across Australia. We conduct a forensic pre-lodgement audit of your completion records, verify your stream eligibility, ensure seamless Bridging Visa A (BVA) work rights, and protect your AUD $5,750 investment every step of the way.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear, direct answers regarding Subclass 485 Graduate Visa streams, age limits, costs, and work rights.
What is the Subclass 485 Graduate Visa?
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa allows international students who have recently graduated from an Australian educational institution to live, work, and study in Australia temporarily. It provides full-time work rights to build local professional experience.
What are the different streams available under the 485 visa?
There are three primary streams: the Post-Higher Education Work stream for bachelor, master, or doctoral graduates; the Post-Vocational Education Work stream (formerly the Graduate Work stream) for diploma and trade graduates in skilled occupations; and the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream for graduates of regional Australian institutions.
What is the age limit for the Subclass 485 visa?
The standard age limit across the Post-Higher Education and Post-Vocational Education streams is 35 years or under at the time of application lodgement. Exceptions apply for Masters by Research and Doctoral (PhD) graduates, as well as Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders, who remain eligible up to 50 years of age.
How much does the Subclass 485 visa cost?
Following the Department of Home Affairs fee update, the base government application fee for the primary applicant is AUD $5,750 for the Post-Higher Education and Post-Vocational Education Work streams. The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream fee is AUD $2,265. Additional charges apply for dependent partners and children.
Do I need a skills assessment for the Subclass 485 visa?
A positive skills assessment from a relevant assessing authority is mandatory for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, and your trade or diploma qualification must align with an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List. A skills assessment is not required for the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
How long can I stay in Australia on a 485 graduate visa?
Stay durations depend on your qualification: Post-Vocational Education Work stream holders receive up to 18 months; Bachelor and Masters (coursework) graduates receive 2 years; Masters (research) and PhD graduates receive 3 years; and regional graduates may be eligible for an additional 1 to 2 years under the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
Ready to Apply for Your Subclass 485 Graduate Visa?
Speak directly with registered MARN migration agents in Melbourne. Send us a message on WhatsApp to verify your stream eligibility, 35-year age rules, or regional extension options.