Aus 485 Visa: What It Is, Eligibility, Costs & How To Apply

The Aus 485 visa—officially the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)—lets recent graduates of Australian CRICOS‑registered courses stay to live and work after study. There’s no points test or employer sponsorship, and the length of stay depends on your stream and qualification.

In this guide, you’ll get clear eligibility rules, how each stream works (including the second post‑higher education option), how long you can stay, English/health/character requirements, when a skills assessment is needed, costs, processing times, documents, and a step‑by‑step onshore application. We’ll also cover adding family, common refusal mistakes, PR pathways, and the key 2024–2025 updates.

Who can apply: core eligibility and stream-specific rules

If you’ve recently completed eligible study in Australia and want time to work and build experience, the Aus 485 visa could fit—provided you meet both the common rules and the stream‑specific extras. Here’s what Home Affairs and leading migration sources consistently require now.

• Core eligibility (all streams):

  • Age: Under 35 at lodgment (Hong Kong/BNO passport holders can apply up to 50).
  • Onshore application: Apply in Australia while holding an eligible visa.
  • Recent study: Apply within 6 months of course completion.
  • Australian study requirement: At least 2 academic years (92 CRICOS weeks) completed in Australia; typically at least 16 months spent studying onshore.
  • CRICOS course: Qualification(s) must be CRICOS‑registered.
  • English: IELTS 6.5 overall, no band below 5.5 (or equivalent), taken within the last 12 months.
  • Health insurance: OVHC for the full visa period.
  • First‑time holder: Not previously held a Temporary Graduate/Skilled Graduate visa.

• Post‑Higher Education Work stream: Bachelor, Master’s, Doctorate, Graduate Diploma/Graduate Certificate; no occupation list requirement.

• Post‑Vocational Education Work stream: Qualification linked to an occupation on the MLTSSL, and evidence you’ve applied for a relevant skills assessment (assessment outcome can follow).

Streams explained: post-higher education, post-vocational education, and second post-higher education

The Aus 485 visa is split into practical pathways that reflect what you studied and where. Choosing the right stream matters, because it sets your evidence, conditions, and how long you can stay. Here’s how each stream works in plain English.

Post‑Higher Education Work stream

Best for university grads, this stream covers Bachelor, Master’s, Doctorate and many Graduate Diploma/Graduate Certificate outcomes from CRICOS‑registered providers. There’s no occupation list to meet, which is why it’s generally the cleaner path for degree‑holders who satisfy the 2‑year Australian study rule, English, insurance, and onshore lodgment timing.

Post‑Vocational Education Work stream

Designed for trades and vocational pathways, this stream ties your qualification to an occupation on the Medium and Long‑term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). You must have applied for a suitable skills assessment at lodgment (the result can follow), and your Australian study must be closely related to that occupation (think Cert III in Carpentry for Carpenter).

Second Post‑Higher Education Work stream

This is a top‑up for degree‑holders who have already held a Post‑Higher Education Work/Post‑Study Work/Replacement visa and studied at an eligible regional campus. If you lived, studied, and remained in a qualifying regional area, you can gain an extra stay period—typically 1–2 years depending on location rules at the time.

How long you can stay and work

Your stay on the Aus 485 visa depends on your stream, qualification, and—sometimes—your passport. You have full-time work rights with no cap on hours and no occupation restriction, and included partners also have full work rights. You can travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid.

• Post‑Vocational Education Work: Up to 18 months.
• Post‑Higher Education Work: Bachelor/Master’s (coursework/extended) up to 2 years; Master’s (research) and PhD up to 3 years.
• Hong Kong/BNO passport holders: Up to 5 years.
• Indian nationals (AIECTA): Up to 4 years for eligible STEM/first‑class honors degrees.
• Second Post‑Higher Education Work: Extra 1–2 years if you studied and lived in an eligible regional area and previously held the higher‑education 485.

English, health, and character requirements

Beyond your qualification and timing, the Aus 485 visa hinges on proving recent English ability, meeting health standards, and showing good character. Get these wrong and even strong applicants can be refused, so line up the evidence before you lodge.

• English (recent test): IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5 (or equivalent). Your test must be taken within the last 12 months. Holders of UK, USA, NZ, Ireland, or Canada passports are typically exempt.
• Health insurance (OVHC): Maintain Overseas Visitor Health Cover for the entire intended visa period; show proof at lodgment and keep it active until decision.
• Health checks: Complete health examinations if directed by the Department; book promptly to avoid delays.
• Character (police check): Apply for your Australian Federal Police (AFP) check before you lodge and attach the receipt or result with your application.

Skills assessment: when you need it and how to get one

You only need a skills assessment for the Aus 485 visa if you’re applying under the Post‑Vocational Education Work stream. It must relate to an occupation on the MLTSSL and be handled by the occupation’s designated assessing authority. At lodgment, you can show evidence that you’ve applied for the assessment; the result can follow. Degree‑holders in the Post‑Higher Education stream don’t need one for the 485, though it’s often useful for future migration planning.

• Match your occupation: Choose the ANZSCO occupation that aligns with your Australian qualification and is on the MLTSSL.
• Find the authority: Check the Home Affairs list for the correct assessing authority and its criteria.
• Prepare documents: Passport, completion letter, transcripts, and any required employment/placement evidence.
• Lodge and keep proof: Submit the assessment application, pay the fee, and keep the receipt/acknowledgment for your 485 lodgment.
• Provide outcome when ready: Attach the result once issued; if still pending, your application evidence suffices at lodgment.

Costs and fees you should budget for

Budgeting for the Aus 485 visa goes beyond the application charge. Plan for the main fee, any dependent add‑ons, and several mandatory supporting costs like English testing, insurance, and police checks. Fees change regularly, so confirm the current schedule before you lodge.

• Visa application charge (VAC): Commonly around A$2,300 for the main applicant (as cited July 2025). Some streams (e.g., Second Post‑Higher Education) have lower charges reported from about A$765–A$1,945.
• Dependents: About A$1,150 per secondary applicant; A$480–A$580 per dependent child (stream‑dependent).
• OVHC (health insurance): Required for the full visa period; price varies by provider and length.
• English test fee: IELTS/PTE/OET (if applicable).
• AFP police check: Apply before lodgment; fee applies.
• Skills assessment (vocational stream only): Cost varies by assessing authority.
• Medical examinations (if requested): Pay per clinic schedule.
• Payment surcharge: Applies to card payments of the VAC.

Processing times and application window

Expect Aus 485 visa processing to take from about 3 months onward, with timing varying by stream and how complete your file is. The critical part is lodging on time and onshore—missing the window or key evidence can push you out of eligibility even before processing starts.

• Typical processing: Around 3+ months; delays are common if health checks, police clearances, or skills assessments are pending.
• Lodge window: Apply within 6 months of receiving your final results/completion letter.
• Onshore only: You must be in Australia holding an eligible visa when you lodge.
• English timing: Test taken within the last 12 months (if required).
• AFP check: Apply before you lodge and attach the receipt/result.
• Vocational stream: Evidence you’ve applied for a relevant skills assessment at lodgment.
• Bridging visa: Granted on valid onshore lodgment so you can remain lawful while the 485 is processed.

Documents checklist for a complete application

A strong Aus 485 visa file is complete, consistent, and clearly labeled. Gather everything before you lodge so you can avoid delays, bridging visa uncertainty, or a refusal for missing evidence. Start with the core items below, then add stream‑specific and family documents as needed.

• Passport: Biopage for you (and each dependent).

• Identity/civil docs (if applicable): Birth/marriage certificates, national ID.

• Completion letter: From your Australian institution showing course completion date.

• Academic transcript: Final official transcript; include CRICOS course/code details.

• English test result: IELTS/PTE/OET meeting 6.5 overall and 5.5 minimum per band; taken within 12 months (unless passport‑exempt).

• OVHC policy: Proof of health insurance covering the full intended visa period.

• AFP police check: Receipt or result; must be applied for before lodgment.

• Health examinations: Undertake if directed; attach results when available.

• Visa fee payment receipt: Proof of VAC payment at lodgment.

• Vocational stream add‑on: Evidence you’ve applied for the relevant skills assessment (receipt/acknowledgment) and course‑to‑occupation relevance (e.g., course outlines).

• Second Post‑Higher Education add‑on: Evidence of eligible regional study and residence tied to your previous 485 (e.g., campus location, residential proof).

• If including family: Passports, relationship evidence (marriage/de facto), children’s birth certificates, AFP checks (if required), and OVHC for each dependent.

How to apply step-by-step (onshore)

A clean, on‑time lodgment is everything for the Aus 485 visa. Follow this onshore sequence to protect your 6‑month window, avoid missing evidence, and secure the right bridging visa conditions while your application is processed.

1. Choose your stream and check timing: Confirm Post‑Higher Education or Post‑Vocational Education, and that you’re within 6 months of course completion.
2. Confirm English validity: Ensure IELTS/PTE/OET meets 6.5 overall, no band below 5.5, and is less than 12 months old (unless passport‑exempt).
3. Buy OVHC: Hold health insurance covering the entire intended 485 period.
4. Apply for AFP check: Submit your Australian Federal Police (AFP) application before lodging and keep the receipt/result.
5. Gather study evidence: Final completion letter, official transcript, CRICOS details; ensure the Australian study requirement is met.
6. Vocational stream only: Apply for the relevant skills assessment; keep the receipt/acknowledgment to attach at lodgment.
7. Prepare identity/civil docs: Passport bio page(s), birth/marriage certificates where applicable.
8. Lodge onshore: Submit your application while in Australia on an eligible visa and pay the visa application charge.
9. Receive bridging details: On valid lodgment, note your bridging visa grant and conditions.
10. Complete health checks if asked: Book promptly and upload results when available.
11. Upload any extras and monitor messages: Respond quickly to requests for more information.
12. Maintain OVHC and stay lawful: Keep insurance active until a decision; advise of any changes in circumstances promptly.

Adding family members to your application

You can include members of your family unit on an Aus 485 visa—specifically your spouse/de facto partner and dependent children. Each dependent must meet health and character requirements and be covered by OVHC for the full visa period. Partners included on a valid 485 share your visa length and have full work rights. Adding family increases the government fee, so line up evidence early to avoid processing delays.

• Relationship evidence: Marriage certificate or de facto evidence.
• Identity documents: Passports for all, children’s birth certificates.
• Health insurance: OVHC for each family member covering the intended stay.
• Character: AFP checks for dependents if required by the Department.

Common mistakes that cause refusals

Refusals on the Aus 485 visa often come from avoidable technical errors, not bad intentions. Before you lodge, sanity‑check these high‑risk points that Home Affairs and migration agents repeatedly flag.

• Lodging late: Applying more than 6 months after your final results.
• Applying offshore: You must lodge onshore while holding an eligible visa.
• English timing/score errors: Test older than 12 months or below IELTS 6.5 overall with 5.5 minimum per band (unless passport‑exempt).
• No AFP at lodgment: Failing to apply for the AFP check before you submit (attach receipt/result).
• No OVHC: Missing health insurance evidence at lodgment or coverage gaps.
• Study requirement shortfall: Less than 92 CRICOS weeks/insufficient onshore study time or non‑CRICOS course.
• Wrong stream evidence: Vocational stream without proof you applied for a relevant skills assessment or without an MLTSSL‑aligned occupation.
• Document gaps/mismatches: Missing completion letter/transcripts or dates that don’t align.
• Ineligible profile: Over the age limit (except HK/BNO) or previously held a Temporary/Skilled Graduate visa.

After the 485: work rights and pathways to PR

While on an Aus 485 visa you have full work rights with no cap on hours, can change employers freely, and can travel in and out of Australia. Savvy graduates use this time to build the evidence needed for permanent residence—especially higher English, a suitable skills assessment, and relevant post‑study work experience tied to their qualification or target occupation.

• Skilled visas: Skilled Independent (189) and State Nomination pathways (190 or 491) are popular options if you meet points, skills assessment, and other criteria.
• Employer sponsorship: Many graduates transition via employer‑sponsored pathways once they secure skilled roles with compliant employers.
• Regional strategy: Living and working in eligible regional areas can support state nomination policies and may align with a Second Post‑Higher Education 485 where applicable.

Practical next steps: lock in your skills assessment, book an up‑to‑date English test, maintain continuous employment in your nominated field, and keep documents organized for quick lodgment when you become eligible.

Recent updates in 2024–2025

Policy tweaks in 2024–2025 reshaped the Aus 485 visa. English settings tightened, an age cap now applies more broadly, the streams were realigned, and vocational applicants face clearer skills‑assessment evidence rules at lodgment. Below are the headline changes you should check before you lodge.

• English: IELTS 6.5 overall (min 5.5 each band) and test validity reduced to 12 months.
• Age: Under 35 at lodgment; Hong Kong/BNO passport holders can apply up to 50.
• Streams: Now Post‑Higher Education and Post‑Vocational; Second Post‑Higher Education continues for eligible regional grads.
• Vocational stream rule: Show proof you’ve applied for the relevant MLTSSL skills assessment at lodgment; the outcome can follow.

Key takeaways

The 485 is your post‑study bridge to experience and PR planning. Choose the right stream, check you meet age and study rules, and lodge onshore within six months with current English, OVHC and AFP in hand. Vocational stream needs skills‑assessment evidence at lodgment. For tailored strategy and a clean submission, talk to Simon Mander Consulting.

• Full work rights: Build paid experience immediately.
• Stay: 18 months (vocational); 2–3 years (higher ed); extras for regional second 485 and HK/BNO.
• Avoid refusals: Onshore within 6 months, English <12 months, AFP pre‑lodgment, OVHC active, skills‑assessment evidence (vocational).