The 485 visa — the Temporary Graduate visa — is how you stay in Australia after you finish studying, to work and build up experience. The catch that trips up more people than any other is this: you must pick the right stream when you apply, because you cannot change streams afterwards. This guide is built around that decision. By the end you’ll know which of the three streams is yours, how long each one lasts, the age-35 rule and its exceptions, and the six-month window that catches late applicants out. Last verified 14 October 2026.
Key facts at a glance
| Visa cost | From AUD 5,750.00 (first visa); from AUD 2,265.00 (Second Post-Higher Education Work) |
|---|---|
| Stay | 18 months (Post-Vocational); usually 2–3 years (Post-Higher Education); 1–2 years (Second) |
| Age limit | 35 or under when you apply (exceptions apply) |
| Key precondition | You must have held a Student visa in the last 6 months |
| Stream changes | Not possible after you apply |
| Last verified | 14 October 2026 |
The mistake that costs people the most
When you lodge your 485 application, you choose a stream. Once it’s lodged, you cannot switch streams — not while it’s being processed, not after a refusal. If you pick the wrong one, your options are to withdraw and start again, or to have the application refused. So the most valuable five minutes you’ll spend on this visa is working out which stream actually matches your qualification. Do that before you touch the application form.
Which stream are you?
There are three streams, and your qualification decides which one applies. This is not a preference — it is a test you either pass or fail.
| Post-Vocational Education Work | For an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification relevant to an occupation Australia needs. You must nominate an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list and get a skills assessment from the correct assessing authority. Stay: up to 18 months. |
|---|---|
| Post-Higher Education Work | For a degree or higher from an Australian institution (a CRICOS-registered course). No skills assessment is needed. Stay: usually 2–3 years, depending on your qualification. |
| Second Post-Higher Education Work | For people who already hold a Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work or Replacement visa and whose qualifying degree came from an Australian institution in a regional area. Stay: 1–2 years. |
The clean dividing line is degree versus below degree. If your highest qualification is a bachelor’s degree or above from an Australian institution, you are in the Post-Higher Education Work stream. If your highest qualification is an associate degree, a diploma or a trade qualification, you are in the Post-Vocational stream — and that stream is the only one that requires a skills assessment and an occupation nomination.
If you studied in a regional area, read the “second visa” section below before you apply, because it affects the length of your first visa and your eligibility for an extension.
It also helps to know what comes next. The 485 is a bridge: many graduates use it to build the Australian work experience and English scores they need for a points-tested 189 Skilled Independent visa, or to line up an employer who can sponsor them on a 482 Skills in Demand visa.
What you can do while you hold it
All three streams give you the same core rights. You can work in Australia — for any employer, not a nominated one, which is what makes the 485 so useful for building experience. You can study. You can travel in and out of Australia as many times as you like while the visa is valid. And you can bring your family with you, including them in your application.
What the 485 does not give you is permanence. It is a temporary visa with a fixed end date, and there is no automatic next step at the end of it. That is precisely why the stream you choose matters so much: it decides how many months you have to convert your graduation into the work experience, English score or sponsorship you need for a longer-term visa.
The study requirement, in plain terms
To be eligible, you need a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course. Two words in that sentence do the work. “CRICOS-registered” means the course is registered for international students — most university and TAFE courses are, but short courses and some private programs are not. “Recent” means the qualification has to fall within the timeframe the Department sets for the study requirement; a degree you finished years ago won’t qualify.
If you’re in the Post-Vocational stream, your qualification also has to be relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list, and that is what ties your application to a nominated occupation and a skills assessment. In the Post-Higher Education stream there is no occupation nomination and no skills assessment — the degree itself is the qualification. Read the official study requirement carefully before you lodge, because getting it wrong is one of the few errors you cannot fix after the fact.
The age-35 rule and its exceptions
You must be aged 35 years or under when you apply. This is assessed at application, not at graduation, so if you turn 36 the week after you lodge, you’re fine — if you turn 36 the week before, you are not. The Department states that exceptions apply, and the most significant one is for Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders, who may stay for up to 5 years. Because the exception list can change, confirm your situation against the official visa page rather than assuming you qualify.
The six-month window after your Student visa
You must have held a Student visa in the last six months before you apply. This is not six months from your graduation — it is six months from when you last held the Student visa, and it is easy to let it slip if you graduate, travel home for a few months, and only then start thinking about the 485. If you leave it too long, you lose access to the visa entirely. Plan your application around this window, not around your graduation date.
You also need a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course. Not every course counts, and the qualification must be recent, so check that your course and timing satisfy the study requirement before you lodge.
Regional study and the second visa
If you completed your degree at an Australian institution located in a regional area, you may be eligible for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, which gives you another 1–2 years after your first 485. The exact length depends on where the institution was located and where you have been living while you held your first Temporary Graduate visa. The idea is to encourage graduates to stay and work in regional Australia, so the location of both your study and your residence matters.
To be clear about the sequence: the second visa is not something you choose at the start. You apply for it after you already hold a Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work or Replacement visa, and you must have studied regionally to qualify.
Step-by-step: how to apply
- Confirm which stream matches your qualification before anything else. Degree or higher → Post-Higher Education Work. Associate degree, diploma or trade → Post-Vocational Education Work.
- Check the six-month rule. You must have held a Student visa in the last six months, and you must hold an eligible visa now.
- Confirm your qualification is recent and from a CRICOS-registered course.
- If you’re in the Post-Vocational stream, sort your skills assessment. You must nominate an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list and provide evidence that you have at least applied for a skills assessment — the Department cannot process your application without it. Post-Higher Education applicants don’t need one.
- Gather your evidence and attach it when you apply. The Department states you must attach the required evidence at the time you lodge — not later.
- Lodge your application with the correct stream selected. Remember: no changes after this point.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the wrong stream. You cannot change it after you apply. Match the stream to your qualification, not to what a friend did.
- Missing the six-month window. It runs from when you last held your Student visa, not from graduation.
- Assuming the Post-Vocational stream needs no skills assessment. It is the one stream that does, and you must show you have at least applied for one.
- Attaching evidence late. The Department expects the required evidence with the application.
- Relying on an old fee figure. The official cost is From AUD 5,750.00 for a first 485. Some third-party sites still quote older numbers — use the official page.
- Forgetting the age clock. You must be 35 or under when you apply.
FAQ
Can I change my 485 stream after I apply?
No. The Department is explicit that it is not possible to change streams after you apply. Choose carefully before you lodge.
What does the 485 cost?
From AUD 5,750.00 for the Post-Vocational Education Work and Post-Higher Education Work streams, and from AUD 2,265.00 for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. Concessions apply in limited circumstances. See our guide to Australian visa fees for how the charges break down.
Do I need a skills assessment?
Only if you apply in the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, which requires an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list. Post-Higher Education Work applicants do not need one.
How long can I stay?
Up to 18 months in the Post-Vocational stream; usually 2–3 years in the Post-Higher Education stream depending on your qualification; 1–2 years in the Second Post-Higher Education stream. Hong Kong and BNO passport holders may stay up to 5 years.
What if I studied in a regional area?
You may be eligible for a second 485 visa under the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, adding 1–2 years, depending on where you studied and where you live.
Can I bring my family?
Yes — all three streams allow you to include family members. Check the official page for the evidence required for each person.
Visa fees are indexed on 1 July each year. The figures here were verified on 14 October 2026 — always confirm the current amount with the Visa Pricing Estimator before you lodge.
Official sources
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — Department of Home Affairs
- Post-Vocational Education Work stream — Department of Home Affairs
- Post-Higher Education Work stream — Department of Home Affairs
- Second Post-Higher Education Work stream — Department of Home Affairs
- Skills assessment — Department of Home Affairs
- CRICOS registered courses — Australian Government
AU0061 publishes general information, not personal migration advice. Visa rules and fees change, and eligibility depends on your individual circumstances. Always confirm the current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs or a MARA-registered migration agent before you act on anything in this guide.