Post-Study Work Visa Australia: Duration, Eligibility & PR Pathways

What Is the Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485?

The Temporary Graduate visa is for eligible international students who have recently completed an Australian qualification. Depending on your stream and circumstances, it may allow you to:

• Live in Australia temporarily after graduation.
• Work full-time without student visa work-hour limits.
• Gain Australian work experience.
• Study further if needed.
• Include eligible family members in the application.

Main 485 Visa Streams

Stream	Who It Is For	Important Notes
Post-Higher Education Work stream	Graduates with eligible higher education qualifications such as bachelor, master, or doctoral degrees.	Stay period depends on qualification, passport, regional study, and current Home Affairs rules.
Post-Vocational Education Work stream	Graduates with eligible vocational qualifications connected to an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.	A skills assessment may be required depending on the stream and occupation.
Second Post-Higher Education Work stream	Some graduates who studied and lived in eligible regional areas.	Eligibility depends on where you studied, where you lived, and current regional rules.

485 Visa Duration in 2026

Temporary Graduate visa duration depends on the stream, qualification level, passport, regional study eligibility, and current policy settings. Avoid relying on old duration tables because visa settings have changed in recent years.

Factor	Why It Matters
Qualification level	Bachelor, master, doctoral, and vocational qualifications may have different stay periods.
Stream	Post-Higher Education and Post-Vocational Education streams have different eligibility rules.
Regional study	Some graduates may be eligible for a second 485 visa if they meet regional requirements.
Passport or special arrangements	Some passport holders may have different arrangements under current rules.

General Eligibility Factors

Eligibility depends on your stream and circumstances. Common factors include:

• Holding or having held an eligible student visa.
• Completing a CRICOS-registered Australian qualification.
• Meeting the Australian study requirement, where applicable.
• Applying within the required timeframe after course completion.
• Meeting English, health, character, and insurance requirements.
• Meeting age requirements and any stream-specific criteria.

Documents Usually Needed

• Passport.
• Course completion letter.
• Academic transcript.
• English test result or accepted evidence, if required.
• Health insurance evidence, usually OVHC.
• Police check or character documents, if required.
• Skills assessment documents, if required for your stream.
• Partner or dependent documents, if including family members.

Regional Study and the 485 Visa

Students who study and live in eligible regional areas may be able to access additional Temporary Graduate visa options, depending on their stream and circumstances. Regional rules can be specific, so always confirm whether your campus and residence location meet the current requirements.

Regional study can also be useful for broader planning because it may support local work experience, state nomination options, and regional employment connections.

485 Visa and PR Planning

The 485 visa does not guarantee permanent residency. However, it can give graduates time to build work experience, improve English scores, complete skills assessment steps, and prepare for skilled migration, employer sponsorship, or state nomination pathways.

Pathway	How 485 Time Can Help
Skilled migration	Gain skilled work experience, prepare English test results, and complete skills assessment.
State nomination	Build local connections and meet state-specific work or residence requirements.
Employer sponsorship	Find skilled employment and build a relationship with an eligible employer.
Further study	Improve qualifications if the next pathway requires a stronger academic or professional profile.

Common 485 Visa Mistakes

• Using old stream names or outdated duration information.
• Applying outside the required timeframe after course completion.
• Missing English test, health insurance, or character documents.
• Choosing the wrong stream for your qualification.
• Assuming all courses qualify for the same stay period.
• Forgetting that skills assessment may be needed for some vocational pathways.
• Leaving PR planning until the visa is close to expiry.

Work Rights on a 485 Visa

Temporary Graduate visa holders generally have broad work rights, which means they can work full-time, part-time, casually, or with multiple employers. This can help graduates gain Australian workplace experience after study.

How to Prepare Early

1. Check 485 eligibility before your course finishes.
2. Request your completion letter and transcript as soon as possible.
3. Book English testing early if required.
4. Arrange suitable health insurance.
5. Confirm whether your pathway requires a skills assessment.
6. Plan your career and migration strategy before lodging the visa.

Last Reviewed: 7 May 2026

This article was reviewed for 2026 accuracy. Temporary Graduate visa rules, stream names, duration, costs, and eligibility settings can change. Always confirm current requirements on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website before applying.

• Current stream names include Post-Higher Education Work and Post-Vocational Education Work.
• 485 visa duration depends on stream, qualification, regional eligibility, passport, and current rules.
• The 485 visa can support career and PR planning, but it does not guarantee permanent residency.