Updates to Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa settings
The Australian government has announced extended post-study work rights for international students who graduate with select qualifications from an Australian higher education provider.
The additional two years of work rights apply to an extensive list of occupations and eligible qualifications in areas of skills shortage including health, teaching, engineering, and agriculture.
Effective from 1 July 2023, eligible students will have post study work rights increased to
4 years for select Bachelor degrees
5 years for select Masters degrees
6 years for all Doctoral degrees
This is good news for students who have chosen or plan to study at the regional campus of an Australia university as the current additional year of post-study work rights will be retained.Alice Guan, IDP registered MARA agent
Changes to international student work hours
From 1 July 2023, the working hour cap for international students will be increased from 40 to 48 hours per fortnight.
Read more about this announcement on the Department of Education's website
Do you want to work in Australia after graduating?
Congratulations! If you're graduating soon or have just graduated, you might be wondering what’s next for you. Want to gain work experience and develop your skills? You can apply for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485). It’s important to note that the 485 visa has three different streams:
Graduate Work stream
Post-Study Work stream, and
Second Post-Study Work stream
The cost of the visa and the length of your stay will depend on which stream you apply for. To help you discover more about the 485 visa, processing time, eligibility, and estimated fees, here’s an overview of each stream, an international students’ post study journey in Australia and answers to some frequently asked questions.
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Post-Study Work stream
Overview
If you have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution, you can work and live in Australia temporarily with this visa. You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply. Graduates affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions are now able to apply for and be granted a Temporary Graduate visa outside Australia – they must hold or have held an eligible Student visa. See the COVID-19 and the border website.
Stay
This visa allows you to stay in Australia usually for 18 months - 6 years, depending on your qualifications and streams.
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid and the time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa. Current and future temporary graduate visa holders from Hong Kong will also have a pathway to permanent residency after 5 years.
For other applicants, you might be eligible for other skilled work visas. Try the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ visa finder to find out options for work.
Cost and processing times
The visa costs AUD $1730 for the main applicant but there is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you. You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa Pricing Estimator. Processing time is approximately 8- 10 months.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) - Post-Study Work stream you must:
be under 50 years of age
have applied for and been granted your first student visa on or after 5 November 2011
hold an eligible visa
have held a student visa in the last 6 months
have a recent degree in a CRICOS-registered course
provide evidence of adequate health insurance for all applicants when you apply
provide evidence you have applied for an AFP check when you apply
provide evidence of the required level of English with the application
For more details about the stream, click here.
IELTS Requirement
You need an overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts.
Second Post-Study Work stream
Overview
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. You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply. However, accompanying dependents must be in Australia to apply for a second Temporary Graduate post-study work stream visa.
Stay
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)
You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. Additionally, you can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while your visa is valid.
Cost
The visa costs AUD $680 for the primary applicant but there is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you. You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa Pricing Estimator.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) – Second Post-Study Work stream you must:
be under 50 years of age
be in Australia when you apply for this visa
hold a Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream as the main applicant
have a recent degree in a CRICOS-registered course from an education institution based in an eligible designated regional area, that led to the grant of your first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream
have lived in an eligible designated regional area for at least 2 years before applying for the second Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream
provide evidence of adequate health insurance for all applicants when you apply
For more details about the stream, click here.
Graduate Work stream
Overview
If you have recently graduated from a course relating to an occupation where there is a skill shortage in Australia. This visa allows international students to live, work and study in Australia and include members of the family unit in your application when you apply. Graduates affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions are now able to apply for and be granted a Temporary Graduate visa outside Australia – they must hold or have held an eligible Student visa. See the COVID-19 and the border website.
Stay
Temporarily increased to 24 months for visas granted from 1 December 2021. However, Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years. It’s granted with multiple entries so you can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid. Important to note that the time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa. Also, you can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. But, you might be eligible for other skilled work visas so use the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ visa finder to find out options for work.
Cost and processing times
The visa costs AUD $1,730 for the primary applicant but there is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you. You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa Pricing Estimator. Processing time is approximately 9 - 13 months
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) - Graduate Work stream you must:
be under 50 years of age
have an eligible visa
have held a student visa in the last 6 months
have a qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list
have applied for a skills assessment in your nominated occupation on the skilled occupation list (waived until 1 June 2023)
provide evidence of adequate health insurance for all applicants when you apply
provide evidence you have applied for an AFP check when you apply
provide evidence of the required level of English with the application
For more details about the stream, click here.
IELTS Requirement
You need an overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts.
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An international student's post study journey and FAQs
International student, Alex started her Australian journey four years ago. She shares why she chose to move to Australia and describes her post study journey and job search.
We have also gathered all the answers to the questions we get asked the most about applying for the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485). Click on the link below to discover more.
Immigration and the law
Legislation about immigration changes frequently. For example, in June 2021 Australia added 22 new occupations to its priority migration list. So, it’s important to check the Australian Department of Home Affairs website for changes that may apply to you. And, if you are interested in Australian student visas, work visas, or looking to migrate permanently, you need to lodge an application with the Australian Government. You may want to consider getting support from a lawyer or migration agent.