Basic Eligibility
You must:
- be under 50 years of age
- hold an eligible visa
- have held a student visa in the last 6 months
- have a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course
- nominate one stream only – it is not possible to change visa streams after you apply
- attach specified evidence when you apply
Graduate Work stream
This visa is for international students who have recently graduated with skills and qualifications that are relevant to specific occupations Australia needs. It lets you live, study and work in Australia temporarily.
On the Graduate Work stream, you can:
- stay in Australia, usually for 18 months
- travel, work or study in Australia during your stay
You must find your own employment if we grant this visa.
How long you can stay in Australia?
The Graduate Work stream is a temporary visa. You can usually stay in Australia for 18 months. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years
The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
The visa starts on the date the Department of Home Affairs grant the visa.
Can you stay longer in Australia?
You can’t stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
You might be eligible for other skilled work visas.
Can you include family on this visa?
You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet the Department of Home Affairs health and character requirements.
You can add your children to the application until a decision on your application is made. You can’t add any other member of the family unit to your application during that period.
Your family can also apply to join you in Australia as a subsequent entrant after the visa is granted.
Where can you apply from?
You can be inside Australia but not in immigration clearance when you apply, and when the Department of Home Affairs grant your application.
Your obligations
You and your family must meet all visa conditions and follow Australian laws.
Where can you travel to?
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid. The time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa.
Visa label
The Department of Home Affairs will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
What are the eligibility requirements for the Graduate Work stream?
Age requirement
You must be under 50 years of age.
Have this visa
Eligible prospective subclass 485 visa applicants can make their visa application outside Australia during the concession period and be granted the visa while they are outside Australia.
The Department of Home Affairs will only process your visa application if:
- you are the main holder of a current student visa (but not one supported by the Defence or Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister);
- you held a student visa within the past 6 months before your application and you now have a Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B, granted on the basis of a valid application for a visa
- you held a student visa within the past 6 months before your application and you now hold a substantive visa
- you are outside Australia and you hold or have held an eligible student visa (but not one supported by the Defence or Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister).
Note: To be eligible for this visa you must have completed your course in the 6 months immediately before the day you apply.
Australian study requirement
In the past 6 months before you applied for this visa you must have met the Australian study requirement. You will meet this if you are awarded at least one degree, diploma or trade qualification and:
- your course was a CRICOS-registered course
- you successfully completed all course requirements
- your study was in English
- you completed your course as a result of at least two academic years (92) weeks study
- you completed your course in Australia in not less than 16 calendar months
- you held an Australian visa that allowed you to study
When applying for this stream of the subclass 485, the course or courses must have resulted in a degree, diploma or trade qualification.
Skills and qualifications
You will need to:
- nominate 1 occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and
- have a degree, diploma or trade qualification closely related to that occupation and
- be assessed by a relevant assessing authority as having skills suitable for that occupation
You must nominate the occupation when you apply, or the Department of Home Affairs can’t process your visa application. You can’t change the occupation you nominate after you apply.
The qualification must be closely related to that occupation.
Passport or English language requirement
You can either show that you hold a valid passport from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, or prove your English proficiency. To do this, show evidence that in the last 3 years, you achieved:
| Test | Score |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | Overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) | Total score of at least 64 with a minimum score of 4 for listening, 4 for reading, 14 for writing and 14 for speaking |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | Overall score of at least 50 with a minimum score of 36 for each of the 4 parts |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | At least B for each of the 4 parts |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced test | Overall at least 169 with a minimum score of at least 154 in each of the 4 test components |
Health insurance
You and your family members are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa.
Health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet the Department of Home Affairs health requirement.
Character requirement
You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa must meet the Department of Home Affairs character requirement.
Debts to the Australian government
If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.
Have you had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused?
If you have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused, you may not be eligible for this visa. Transparency is best when to comes to previous applications and visa cancellations. Speak with our team to discuss your best migration options going forward.
Are you wanting to apply for the Graduate Work stream?
If you’ve read through the above information regarding the Graduate Work stream and would like to apply, contact our team of registered migration agents today.
Post-Study Work stream
This visa is for international students who have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution. It lets you live, work and study in Australia, temporarily.
What can you do on the Post-Study Work stream?
On the Post-Study Work stream, you can:
- stay in Australia for between 2 to 4 years after you have finished your studies
- travel, work or study in Australia during your stay
You must find your own employment while on this visa.
How long can you stay in Australia for?
The Post-Study Work stream is a temporary visa. The length of your stay in Australia will depend on the level of your Australian study qualification.
- bachelor degree (including honours): 2 years
- masters by coursework: 2 years
- masters by research: 3 years
- doctoral degree: 4 years
- Hong Kong passport holders who successfully complete a bachelor, masters or doctoral degree: 5 years
Can you stay longer in Australia?
You can’t stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
You may be eligible to apply for a second Post Study Work stream visa. To do this, you must live, work and/or study in a regional area while holding your first post-study work visa. That visa must have been granted on the basis of a degree or higher from an Australian institution located in a regional area.
Current and future temporary graduate visa holders from Hong Kong will also have a pathway to permanent residency after 5 years.
You might be eligible for other skilled work visas. Discuss your migration options with our team today as there are a variety of skilled work visas available.
Can you include family on this visa?
You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet the Department of Home Affairs health and character requirements.
You can add your children to the application until a decision on your application is made. You can’t add any other member of the family unit to your application during that period.
Your family can also apply to join you in Australia as a subsequent entrant after the Department of Home Affairs grant your visa.
Where can you apply from?
You can be inside Australia but not in immigration clearance when you apply, and when the Department of Home Affairs grant your application.
Graduates impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions may also be able to apply for, and be granted this visa outside Australia.
Subsequent entrants can be in or outside Australia when they apply and when the Department of Home Affairs grant them the visa.
Your obligations
You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
Where can you travel?
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid. The time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa.
Visa label
The Department of Home Affairs will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
What are the eligibility requirements for the Post-Study Work stream?
Age requirement
You must be under 50 years of age.
Have this visa
This stream is only available if you applied for, and were granted, your first student visa to Australia on or after 5 November 2011.
If you held your first student visa prior to this date, even as a child on your parent’s student visa, then you will not be eligible to apply for this stream.
Eligible prospective subclass 485 visa applicants can make their visa application outside Australia during the concession period and be granted the visa while they are outside Australia
The Department of Home Affairs will process your visa application if:
- you are the main holder of a current student visa, (but not one supported by the Defence or Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister)
- you held a student visa within the past 6 months before your application and you now have a Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B, granted on the basis of a valid application for a visa
- you held a student visa within the past 6 months before your application and you now hold a substantive visa
- you are outside Australia and you hold or have held an eligible student visa, (but not one supported by the Defence or Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister).
Note: To be eligible for this visa you must have completed your course in the 6 months immediately before the day you apply.
Eligible qualification at degree-level or above
The Post-study Work stream of the subclass 485 visa is for international students with eligible qualifications, regardless of their field of study. You must have also met the Australian study requirement within the past six months.
Qualifications required
The qualification that you have completed must be an eligible degree. This means a:
- bachelor degree
- bachelor (honours) degree
- masters by coursework degree
- masters (extended) degree
- masters by research degree
- doctoral degree
If you have studied a standalone diploma or trade qualification, you are not eligible to be granted a visa in this stream.
Australian study requirement
You must meet the Australian study requirement. You will meet this if you have at least one degree, diploma or trade qualification and:
- your course was a Commonwealth Register of Institutions and courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)-registered course
- you successfully completed all course requirements
- the study was in English
- you completed your course as a result of at least two academic years (92 weeks) study
- you completed your course in Australia in not less than 16 calendar months
- you held an Australian study visa that allowed you to study.
Student visa holders affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions, can count online study towards the Australian Study Requirement.
Have studied with an Australian education provider
Your course must have been with an Australian education provider who is registered on CRICOS and offer degree-level programs.
Have this passport or English language requirement
You can either show us that you hold a valid passport from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, or prove your English proficiency. To do this, show evidence that in the last 3 years, you achieved:
| Test | Score |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | Overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) | Total score of at least 64 with a minimum score of 4 for listening, 4 for reading, 14 for writing and 14 for speaking |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | Overall score of at least 50 with a minimum score of 36 for each of the 4 parts |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | At least B for each of the 4 parts |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced test | Overall, at least 169 with a minimum score of at least 154 in each of the 4 test components |
Adequate health insurance
You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. Medical insurance helps limit your financial liability. You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa.
Health requirement
You and any family who apply for the visa with you must meet the Department of Home Affairs health requirement.
Character requirement
You and any family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa must meet the Department of Home Affairs character requirement.
Debts to the Australian Government
If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.
Have you had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused?
You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia. Ensure you discuss this with our team of migration options as it can have severe consequences on your visa application.
Are you wanting to apply for the Post-study Work stream?
If you’re wanting to apply for the Post-study Work stream and have read through the above information, contact our team of registered migration agents today to begin your visa application.
Second Post-Study Work stream
This visa is for holders of a first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream who graduated with a degree from an Australian institution located in a regional area. It lets you live, work and study in Australia, temporarily.
On the Second Post-Study Work stream you can:
- stay in Australia for between 1 and 2 years
- travel, work or study in Australia during your stay.
You must find your own employment while on this visa.
How long can you stay in Australia?
The Second Post-Study Work stream is a temporary visa. The length of your stay in Australia will depend on where you studied and graduated from as the holder of a student visa and where you live as the holder of your first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream.
If you:
- studied and live in Category 2 area (1 year)
- studied and live in Category 3 area (2 years)
Can you stay longer in Australia?
No – You can’t stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
Can you include family on this visa?
When you apply for the visa you can include members of your family unit however, family members who apply for the visa must meet the Department of Home Affairs strict health and character requirements.
You can add your children to the application until a decision on your application is made. You can’t add any other member of the family unit to your application during that period.
Where can you apply for this visa from?
Temporary Graduate post-study work stream visa holders and accompanying dependents must be in Australia to apply for a second Temporary Graduate post-study work stream visa.
Graduates affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions may be able to be granted this visa outside Australia.
Subsequent entrants can be in or outside Australia when they apply and when the Department of Home Affairs grant them the visa.
Your obligations
You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
Where can you travel to?
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while your visa is valid. The time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa.
Visa label
The Department of Home Affairs will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
What are the eligibility requirements of the Second Post-Study Work stream?
Age requirement
You must be under 50 years of age.
Have this visa
This stream is only available if you applied for, and were granted your first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream. You must continue to hold a valid first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream when you apply for the second Temporary Graduate post-study work stream visa.
Eligible prospective second subclass 485 visa applicants and accompanying dependents must make their visa application in Australia but during the concession period they may be granted the visa while they are outside Australia.
Subsequent entrants, like your family members, may make their visa application in or outside Australia once you hold your visa.
Have studied with an Australian education provider in a designated regional area
You must have obtained your qualification that led to the grant of your first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream, from an Australian education provider who is registered on CRICOS and offer degree-level programs. The campus that you studied at must have been based in a designated regional area.
Lived in a designated regional area
As the holder of the first Temporary Graduate Post-Study Work stream visa, you must have lived only in a designated regional area for at least 2 years immediately before applying for the second Temporary Graduate post-study work stream visa. To do this, show us evidence that in the last 2 years, you resided in a designated regional area.
Designated regional areas are divided into two categories: Category 2 “Cities and Major Regional Centres” and Category 3 “Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas”.
If you have lived only in a Category 2 area, you can only be granted an additional 1-year visa.
If you have lived only in a Category 3 area, you can only be granted an additional 2-year visa.
The table below provides a guide on the residence and study requirements for the second Temporary Graduate post-study work stream visa:
| Residence location on first subclass 485 in the post-study work stream | Study location on student visa | Visa length for second 485 post-study work stream visa |
| Category 1 – Major cities: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne (Non-Regional) | N/A | Not eligible |
| Category 2 – Designated city or major regional centre | Category 1 – Major cities: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne (Non-Regional) | Not eligible |
| Category 2 – Designated city or major regional centre | Category 2 – Designated city or major regional centre | 1 extra year |
| Category 2 – Designated city or major regional centre | Category 3 – Regional centre or other regional area: (All other locations) | 1 extra year |
| Category 3 – Regional Centre or other regional Area: (All other locations) | Category 1 – Major cities: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne (Non-Regional) | Not eligible |
| Category 3 – Regional centre or other regional area: (All other locations) | Category 2 – Designated city or major regional centre | 1 extra year |
| Category 3 – Regional centre or other regional area: (All other locations) | Category 3 – Regional centre or other regional area: (All other locations) | 2 extra year |
Work and study in designated regional area
If you worked and/or studied while you held your first Temporary Graduate post-study work stream visa, the work and study must have been in the designated regional area. You may be asked to provide further information or evidence of your work or study.
Adequate health insurance
You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia.
You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa.
Health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet the Department of Home Affairs health requirement.
Character requirement
You and any family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa must meet the Department of Home Affairs character requirement.
Debts to the Australian Government
If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.
Have you had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused?
If you have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused in Australia, you might not be eligible for this visa. It’s important that you are honest and transparent with any previous applications or cancellations as it can impact your visa application.
Discuss your migration options with our team today.
Are you wanting to apply for the Second Post-study Work stream?
If you’re wanting to apply for the Second Post-study Work stream, contact our team of registered migration agents and immigration lawyers today. Our team can assist you through the visa application process.