Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485)

This visa allows you and your secondary applicants included in your visa application to live, work and study anywhere in Australia for up to 4 years, where:

  • under the Graduate Work stream, the visa is valid for 18 months; and
  • under the Post-study Work stream, the visa is valid for 2 years if you have a bachelor or masters (by coursework) degree, 3 years if you have a masters (by research) degree, and 4 years if you have a doctoral degree.

This visa does not have a points test.

Eligibility – you:

  • are under 50 years of age at the time you submit your visa application;
  • hold an eligible visa*;
  • meet the Australian study requirement in the last 6 months immediately before you submit your visa application#;
  • have an overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 components (viz. speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a single International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test taken no more than 3 years before you submit your visa application^;
  • meet the requirements of the stream under which you are applying for the visa~;
  • and your secondary applicants are in Australia when you submit your visa application and when your visa application is decided;
  • and your secondary applicants pass health examinations;
  • and your secondary applicants pass police checks for each country you and your secondary applicants have lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years since turning 16 years of age; and
  • and your secondary applicants have health insurance in Australia.

* Eligible visas –:

  • you hold an eligible Student Visa (i.e. a Student Visa (subclass 572, 573 or 574) not funded by a government on condition that you return to your home country after graduation); or
  • you have held an eligible Student Visa in the past 6 months and:
    • you now hold a Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B after applying for any visa other than an ineligible Student Visa; or
    • you now hold a substantive visa other than an ineligible Student Visa; or
  • you held an eligible Student Visa that was cancelled and in the past 28 days the Migration Review Tribunal has notified you of a decision to set aside and substitute the cancellation or of the Minister's decision not to revoke the cancellation; and
  • you must not have:
    • had a visa application refused or cancelled since last entering Australia unless you now hold a substantive visa; and
    • any condition attached to the current visa that prevents you from applying to remain in Australia, such as 'No further stay' condition 8503, 8534 or 8535. If you have condition 8503 or 8534 attached to the current visa, you should submit your visa application using paper form 1409, which includes an application to have the condition waived.

# Australian study requirement –:

  • you have completed a Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) registered course at an Australian university/institution in Australia:
    • conducted in English;
    • of at least 2 academic years (i.e. 92 weeks) in duration; and
    • lawfully in no less than 16 months; and
  • you have been awarded a bachelor, masters or doctoral degree.

^ Not required if you are a citizen of and hold a valid passport from Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom or United States of America.

~ Stream requirements –:

  • Graduate Work stream:
    • you nominate an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list that is closely related to your qualifications; and
    • you pass a skills assessment for your nominated occupation.
  • Post-study Work stream:
    • you hold a first Student Visa issued on or after 5 November 2011; and
    • you have completed a bachelor, masters or doctoral degree at an Australian university/institution in Australia in the past 6 months immediately before you submit your visa application.

Go back to FAQs on Migration to Australia.


The above content is general in nature and is not intended to address your specific circumstances. We welcome the opportunity to have a chat with you and assist you with your legal issues or concerns. Talk with us and see the difference.

Updated December 2019.