Subclass 485 - Temporary Graduate (First 485)
This is an onshore temporary visa designed for overseas students who have completed their studies in Australia but does not meet requirements for permanent visas. This visa may give them a chance to gain working experience, attend a professional year, or improve their English language skills before becoming eligible for a permanent visa.
A prospective primary applicant, in general,:
- must be under 50 years
- must be in Australia (unless eligible for covid-19 concession)
- must hold an eligible visa
- must meet Australian study requirement (ASR)
- meet English language requirements
- must have graduated recently
- must meet stream specific requirements (graduate work or post-study)
- must meet health and character requirements
- must have adequate health insurance
- must not have held 476 or 485 visa as a primary visa holder
- may include family members
An eligible visa is, generally, a student visa other than Foreign Affairs student or Defence Student or a family member student visa. In certain circumstances, an applicant may hold other substantive visa or a bridging visa or no visa.
Australian study requirement is satisfied if the applicant has completed 1 or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications for award by an Australian educational institution as a result of a course or courses:
(a) that are registered courses; and
(b) that were completed in a total of at least 16 calendar months; and
(c) that were completed as a result of a total of at least 2 academic years study; and
(d) for which all instruction was conducted in English; and
(e) that the applicant undertook while in Australia as the holder of a visa authorising the applicant to study.
The Australian study requirement must have been satisfied in the last 6 months (unless eligible for covid-19 concession).
English language requirement:
Stream Specific Requirements - Post-study Stream
An applicant must have held their first student on the basis of an application made on or after 5 November 2011.
The qualification used to satisfy Australian Study Requirement must be a result of study undertaken at Australian Qualifications Framework level seven or higher:
(a) Bachelor Degree;
(b) Bachelor (Honours) Degree;
(c) Masters by Coursework Degree;
(d) Masters by Research Degree;
(e) Masters (Extended) Degree and/or;
(f) Doctoral Degree.
STREAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS - GRADUATE WORK STREAM
An applicant must nominate a skilled occuapation on MLTSSL. The qualification used to satisfy Australian Study Requirement is closely related to the nominated skilled occupation.
An applicant needs to apply and obtain a positive skills assessment for the nominated skilled occupation.
Fees and Visa grant Period
Stream | Application Fee | Visa Period |
Post-study | $1,650 | 2-4 years* |
Graduate Work | $1,650 | 18 months |
*Post-study stream - visa grant period:
Bachelor: 2 year visa period
Bachelor with Honours: 2 year visa period
Master by Coursework: 2 year visa period
Master (extended): 2 year visa period
Master by Research: 3 year visa period
Doctorate: 4 year visa period.