2025 Update: Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485)

So what is the Australian 485 visa? The Australian 485 visa is a visa for new graduates. The 485 visa is a temporary work visa for international students who have completed a course of 92 weeks or more in Australia. The duration of this visa can last from 2 years to 5 years depending on the program you study in Australia. This is a good opportunity for you to extend your stay in Australia to increase your eligibility for other types of permanent or skilled visas.

The Australian Government has announced changes to the temporary graduate visa in its latest Migration Strategy. These changes will apply from 1 July 2024.
The length of stay has been changed as follows:
Bachelor degrees (including honours) up to 2 years
Masters degrees (coursework and long-term) up to 2 years
Masters degrees (research) and doctoral degrees (PhD) up to 3 years
The maximum age to apply for a 485 visa is 35 years

The 485 visa is an attractive option for international students who want to stay in Australia to work after graduation. To apply for an Australian 485 visa, you need to meet a number of conditions:

For the post-study work visa:

• Age: Under 35 years of age when applying (there are some exceptions)

• Visa eligibility: Applicants must be in Australia (not in the process of entering), and have held a student visa or Bridging Visa A/B in the 6 months before applying.

• Education: Completed a bachelor's degree or higher in Australia in the 6 months before applying, from a CRICOS-registered education institution.

• English language requirements: Provide IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, OET or Cambridge C1 Advanced, or a valid passport from an English-speaking country.

• Health insurance: Must have adequate health insurance for themselves and their families for the duration of their stay in Australia.
  And some other requirements on health, immigration history, ...

For post-study work visa:

• Age: 35 years old or under 35 years old when applying (there are some exceptions).
  Visa validity: Must be present in Australia when applying (not during the entry process). Visa will only be processed if you have a valid student visa or Bridging Visa A/B in the previous 6 months.

• Education requirements: Have a qualification related to the occupation on the "skilled occupation list".

• Skills and qualifications: Have applied for a thorough assessment for your chosen occupation on the MLTSSL list

• English proficiency: Provide IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, OET or Cambridge C1 Advanced certificate.

• Health insurance: Must have full health insurance for yourself and your family during your stay in Australia.
  And some other requirements on health, immigration history, .

The fee for a 485 visa is AUD 1,945 per application. In addition to the main cost, you may incur additional fees for health checks, police checks, and biometrics. To estimate the total cost of your visa, you can use the Visa Fee Estimator, but note that this does not include other incidental costs. What’s more, you will be exempt from paying the application fee for subsequent 485 visa applications.

Applying for a 485 visa is a valuable opportunity for you to stay in Australia after completing your studies. In order for this process to go smoothly, it is essential to understand each step and prepare thoroughly. Here is a detailed guide on the steps to apply for the 485 Australian visa:

Step 1: Before you apply, you should start preparing all the paperwork to apply for the 485 Australia visa once you are confirmed to have completed your studies. Required documents include:

• Proof of identity

• Academic Documents

• English Certificate

• Health Insurance

• Judicial record

• Documents proving marital status

• Documents on dependents

Step 3: Apply for a 485 visa online

• Create or sign in to ImmiAccount

• Attach documents as required

• Pay the Visa Application Charge (the application will not be processed until you pay the fee).

• Note that:

  • Choose the type of visa carefully because it cannot be changed after application.

  • A valid application must be filed within the eligibility period; Late applications will not be accepted.

  • Applications will be processed in accordance with Eastern Australian Standard Time (AEST) or Eastern Australian Daylight Saving Time (AEDST) as applicable.

Step 4: After submitting your application, you will receive a notification once your application has been successfully submitted. Please visit ImmiAccount to check the status of your profile and make additional requests (if applicable).

Note that:

• You can be in or out of Australia (not in immigration status) pending the result.

• Maintain a valid visa during the processing of the application. If your current visa expires before a decision is made, a temporary visa will allow you to stay in Australia legally.

Step 5: Wait for the visa result

• If your visa is approved, you will receive your visa number, visa issuance date, and accompanying conditions.

• If your visa is refused, you will receive a reason for the refusal along with information about your right to appeal.

Note that the application fee will not be refunded if the application is rejected.

The Temporary Graduate Visa (485) is the golden key for international students to have the opportunity to stay in Australia longer, gain more work experience as well as seek opportunities to settle in this fertile country. To learn more about the Priority Policy and the right route to study abroad, you can contact IDP today for free support!

You will be advised by IDP's experts on choosing a school, choosing a major that suits your aspirations, guiding you to make an application for admission, and practicing an Australian student visa interview, with a success rate of up to 95%. IDP is always ready to provide free accommodation services, health insurance and international student benefits, air ticket bookings, and pre-departure briefing sessions.

Immediately attend IDP's Study Abroad Day and events of the year to meet directly with representatives of schools, and review study records on the spot.

You can also actively find out information about the school through the IDP Live application with the Fastlane feature, which supports finding the right course, quickly receiving the results of admission documents with the time shortened by 2-3 times.

Contact IDP to start your Australia study abroad consultation today!