The 485 Graduate Visa: Stay and Work After You Study.
You've finished your degree in Australia. The 485 lets you stay on and work - which is exactly the time you need to build experience, lift your points, and set up your run at permanent residence. It's the post-study visa we work with every day.
Not just a stay-on visa. A launchpad.
The 485 is a temporary visa for people who've recently graduated from an Australian education provider. It lets you live, work and study here for a few years after you finish, with full work rights and no employer tying you down.
The time on your 485 is when you gain skilled work experience, sit a stronger English test, and get the skills assessment that all feed into a permanent residence application later. Used well, it's the breathing room that makes everything else possible.
Studied in Perth? If you finished at UWA, Curtin, Murdoch, ECU or Notre Dame, you're in a strong spot. WA study can open the door to state nomination, and Perth counting as regional means your skilled options later are better than most. See how study turns into PR.
Which stream you're in depends on what you studied.
Post-Higher Education Work
For graduates of a bachelor, masters or doctoral degree. The main route for university graduates, with length of stay depending on your qualification level.
Post-Vocational Education Work
For graduates with an eligible vocational or trade qualification. If you've trained in a trade Australia needs, this stream is built for you.
The rules around streams, age limits and length of stay have changed in recent years and continue to be reviewed. The detail that matters is whatever is current when you apply - we'll confirm exactly where you stand before you lodge.
Costs and timing (current as at March 2026 - verify at homeaffairs.gov.au). The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa application charge increased from 1 March 2026 and now starts at around AUD 4,600 for the main applicant, with dependants charged separately. You generally need to apply within six months of your course completion date, so timing can make or break your application. We give you a written quote covering both the government charge and our professional fee before you commit.
| 485 stream | Who it suits | Indicative stay |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Vocational Education Work | Eligible VET and trade graduates | Around 18 months |
| Post-Higher Education Work | Bachelor, masters or doctoral graduates | About 2 to 3 years, depending on your qualification |
| Second Post-Higher Education Work | Graduates who studied and live regionally | An additional 1 to 2 years |
Indicative stay periods reflect the settings current as at March 2026 and can change. Age and other eligibility limits apply, and some passport holders have different arrangements - for example, Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) holders, and Indian graduates under the AI-ECTA. We confirm what applies to your situation before you lodge.
The basic requirements.
- A recent eligible qualification from an Australian providerCompleted within the timeframe the rules allow for your stream.
- A student visa, plus meeting the study requirementsYou need to have held a student visa and satisfied the specific study obligations for your stream.
- Competent EnglishPlus the relevant health and character requirements.
- Under the age limit for your streamAge limits vary by stream and are set by the government. We confirm which applies to you.
Step by step.
We confirm you're eligible and in the right stream
We check your qualification, your study history, your English and your age - before you spend time or money on anything else.
We prepare and lodge your application inside the deadline
The 485 has tight timing. Apply too late after you finish and you can miss your window entirely - and that's a hard one to recover from.
We help you use those years to actually get somewhere
Once you're on the 485, we work with you on your skills assessment, English test, and points score so you're building toward PR - not just watching the time pass.
Make your 485 count.
Your 485 questions.
Where to from here.
Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)
Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.
Just finished studying?
The clock starts when you complete your course. Let's make sure you apply in time and in the right stream.