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SUBCLASS 485 VISA
Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa
Transition seamlessly from international study to full unrestricted work rights under the temporary graduate visa Australia program. Our MARA registered agent team evaluates subclass 485 eligibility, confirms 92-week Australian Study Requirement compliance, audits Post-Higher Education Work and graduate work stream visa rules, and manages your digital lodgement with complete transparency on processing times and fees.
Registered
Migration Professionals
Up to 3 Yrs
Post-Study Work Rights
4–10 Wks
Typical Processing Time
Full Rights
Unrestricted Australian Work
CORE CRITERIA
Subclass 485 Eligibility Requirements
Who is eligible for graduate visa Australia? Australia maintains strict statutory criteria for international graduates transitioning to post-study work. To lodge a valid application, you must satisfy key Department of Home Affairs rules.
Age Limit (35 Years or Under)
You must generally be 35 years old or younger when applying, unless you are a Masters (research) or PhD graduate (under 50) or hold an eligible passport.
6-Month Application Deadline
You must lodge your application within exactly 6 months of the official completion date of your CRICOS-registered Australian course.
Australian Study Requirement
You must have completed at least 92 CRICOS weeks of registered study in English across at least 16 calendar months while physically in Australia.
Recent English Proficiency
You must achieve an IELTS 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in each band) or equivalent PTE score from a single in-centre test taken within the last 12 months.
Active OVHC Insurance
You must transition from student health cover to an active Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) policy before lodging your application.
AFP National Police Check
You must provide evidence that you have applied for an Australian Federal Police (AFP) national police check before lodging your visa.
Avoid Common Disqualifying Mistakes: Applying even one day after the 6-month course completion deadline, submitting English test results older than 12 months, using an online/at-home English test, or failing to obtain a positive skills assessment for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream will result in immediate refusal and loss of your AUD $5,750 fee.
STEP-BY-STEP
How Our Migration Agent Team Handles Your Application
We manage your complete 485 visa australia workflow—ensuring your completion letters, English test validity, and stream selection comply with Departmental regulations.
01
Stream & Eligibility Audit
We evaluate your qualification to select the correct Post-Higher Education, Post-Vocational, or Second Regional stream.
02
English & Skills Verification
We audit your 12-month English test dates and coordinate MLTSSL skills assessments for vocational stream graduates.
03
AFP Police Check & OVHC
We ensure your AFP national police check is lodged and confirm your Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is active.
04
ImmiAccount Digital Lodgement
We submit your complete application online within the statutory 6-month window, coordinating the AUD $5,750 government fee.
05
Bridging Visa BVA & Grant
We verify your onshore Bridging Visa A (BVA) grants unrestricted work rights while awaiting your Subclass 485 decision.
EVIDENCE CHECKLIST
Documents Required for Subclass 485
A successful temporary graduate visa Australia application requires structured documentation proving academic completion, language competence, and health compliance.
Academic & Study Evidence
- Official course completion letter with start and end dates
- Certified academic transcripts from your educational provider
- Proof your qualification met the 92-week CRICOS requirement
- MLTSSL positive skills assessment (Vocational stream only)
Language & Health Evidence
- IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL results taken within the last 12 months
- Active Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) policy certificate
- Australian Federal Police (AFP) national check receipt
- Overseas police checks for countries lived in for 12+ months
Identity & Family Records
- Valid passport bio-data pages for primary applicant and family
- Marriage certificate or 12-month de facto cohabitation evidence
- Birth certificates for any dependent children included
- Evidence of regional residence (for Second Regional 485 stream)
INVESTMENT & TIMELINES
Costs & Processing Schedule
We believe in transparent budgeting so international graduates and sponsoring employers understand government application charges and professional fees.
Department of Home Affairs Fees
AUD $5,750
How much does subclass 485 visa cost? As of 1 July 2026, the primary applicant government visa application charge is AUD $5,750. Additional government fees apply if you include a partner (~$2,875) or dependent children (~$1,440).
* 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 qualification stream, skills assessment requirements, and regional extension eligibility before providing a clear, fixed-quote quotation without hourly billing.
* Our fee covers stream audits, document compliance checking, and full visa lodgement representation.
Typical Processing Timelines
4 – 10 Weeks
What is subclass 485 processing time? Most straightforward applications are processed between 4 to 10 weeks. While awaiting your decision onshore, your Bridging Visa A (BVA) provides unrestricted work rights once your student visa expires.
* Clean, decision-ready applications with verified English and AFP checks tend to be processed significantly faster.
MARN 2619225
Why Work With a Registered Migration Agent for Your Subclass 485?
Australia’s post-study work framework has experienced substantial regulatory updates, including the lowering of the age limit to 35 for most applicants and the shortening of English language test validity from two years down to 12 months. Following the fee increase to AUD $5,750 for a primary Subclass 485 application, an administrative mistake results in a significant financial loss alongside the loss of your post-study work rights.
A frequent cause of visa refusal is applying outside the strict 6-month course completion window, presenting English test results taken more than 12 months prior to lodgement, or choosing the wrong stream when your qualification requires an MLTSSL skills assessment. Furthermore, graduates seeking a second regional extension must prove strict adherence to regional residency and employment rules.
As your 485 visa migration agent team in Melbourne, we represent international graduates across all Australian states and territories. We conduct a forensic pre-lodgement audit of your completion dates, English test validity, and stream criteria—ensuring complete compliance with Australian Migration Regulations and protecting your AUD $5,750 investment.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear, direct answers regarding Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa rules, stay durations, costs, and regional extensions.
What is the Australia graduate visa?
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa is a post-study work visa that allows international students who have completed an eligible qualification at a CRICOS-registered Australian educational provider to live, study, and work in Australia with unrestricted work rights.
Who is eligible for graduate visa Australia?
To be eligible for the Subclass 485 visa, you must generally be 35 years of age or younger (or under 50 for Masters by Research and PhD graduates), hold an eligible Student visa within the past 6 months, meet the 92-week Australian Study Requirement, achieve an overall IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) within the past 12 months, and maintain active Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC).
How much does subclass 485 visa cost?
As of 1 July 2026, the Department of Home Affairs primary applicant government visa application charge for the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa is AUD $5,750. Additional government application charges apply if you include a spouse (~$2,875) or dependent children (~$1,440) in your application.
How long can I stay on subclass 485 visa?
Your stay duration depends on your qualification and stream: Post-Vocational Education Work stream graduates generally receive up to 18 months; Post-Higher Education Work stream Bachelor and Masters (coursework) graduates receive up to 2 years; and Masters (research) and PhD graduates receive up to 3 years.
Can I extend my graduate visa in a regional area?
Yes. If you graduated from a campus located in a designated regional area of Australia and have lived, worked, and studied exclusively in a regional area for at least two years while holding your first Subclass 485 visa, you can apply for a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream visa granting an additional 1 to 2 years of stay.
What is the graduate work stream visa skills assessment rule?
For the Post-Vocational Education Work stream (formerly the Graduate Work stream), you must hold a qualification linked to an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and provide a positive skills assessment from the designated Australian assessing authority.
Ready to Apply for Your Subclass 485 Visa?
Speak directly with registered MARN migration agents in Melbourne. Send us a message on WhatsApp to check your completion dates, English test validity, and stream eligibility.