Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa: Requirements, Streams, Age Limit, and 2026 Changes
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa has become one of the most expensive and most scrutinised post-study visas in the world. Since March 2026, the primary applicant fee alone sits at AUD $4,600 — a non-refundable sum that vanishes entirely if your application is refused for a procedural error or eligibility misunderstanding. Before lodging, you need to understand exactly which stream you qualify for, whether the age limit applies to you, and how the 2026 policy tightening affects your timeline.
What the 485 Visa Is For
The Subclass 485 is a temporary work visa granted to international graduates of Australian institutions. It lets you remain in Australia after finishing your studies to gain work experience — experience that most graduates need to accumulate the points or employer sponsorship required for permanent residency.
The visa does not lead directly to PR. It is a bridge — typically 2 to 3 years — during which you complete your skills assessment, sit (or resit) English tests to the required level, and either lodge an Expression of Interest for a skilled visa or secure employer sponsorship under the Skills in Demand framework.
The Two Main Streams: What Changed in 2026
Post-Higher Education Work Stream
This stream is for graduates holding a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree (coursework or extended), Master's degree by research, or PhD from an Australian institution.
Standard durations:
- Bachelor's degree (including honours) or Master's by Coursework: 2 years
- Master's by Research or PhD: 3 years
Under the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), Indian passport holders receive extended durations:
- Bachelor's with First Class Honours in STEM (including ICT): 3 years
- Master's degree (any): 3 years
- PhD: 4 years
The COVID-era two-year extensions that previously applied to health, teaching, and IT graduates were permanently abolished in mid-2024. Those extra years no longer exist.
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream (Previously "Graduate Work Stream")
This stream is for graduates of vocational education and training (VET) programs — associate degrees, diplomas, and trade qualifications. The maximum stay is up to 18 months.
Unlike higher education graduates, VET graduates face an additional hurdle: skill alignment. Your qualification must relate closely to an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), and you must provide evidence that you have applied for a formal skills assessment by the relevant assessing authority at the time you lodge the visa.
This is the critical difference between the two streams. Higher education graduates do not need a skills assessment at the time of lodgement. VET graduates do.
Applying for the wrong stream — a common error — results in a refusal and forfeiture of the entire application fee.
The Age 35 Limit
The maximum eligible age for most Subclass 485 applicants is now 35 years old at the time of application. This was reduced from 50 years of age.
Exceptions that retain the under-50 age limit:
- Applicants completing a Master's degree by Research
- Applicants completing a PhD
- Hong Kong passport holders
- British National (Overseas) passport holders
For the vast majority of students — those completing Bachelor's degrees, coursework Master's degrees, VET diplomas — the 35-year cap is absolute. A 36-year-old who just graduated from a standard Master's by Coursework is ineligible for the 485 regardless of their qualifications, work experience, or English scores.
If you are approaching 30 and planning a 3-year degree in Australia, calculate carefully whether you will still be under 35 at graduation.
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English Language Requirement
The minimum English score to be eligible for the Subclass 485 is IELTS 6.5 overall, with no band below 5.5. The equivalent PTE score is 58, with no communicative skill below 42.
Critically, the test results must have been achieved within 12 months of lodging your application. If your IELTS result is 13 months old at lodgement, it is invalid for this visa — even if you scored 7.0. Many graduates who passed their English test during their first year of study find they need to resit in their final semester.
The 485 Fee Doubling in March 2026
As of March 1, 2026, the Subclass 485 application fees are:
| Applicant | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Primary applicant | $4,600 |
| Adult secondary applicant (18+) | $2,300 |
| Child secondary applicant (under 18) | $1,160 |
A couple applying together must now pay AUD $6,900 before the visa is even assessed. These fees are strictly non-refundable. Citizens of specified Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste are exempt and pay reduced rates.
The Australian Study Requirement: 92 Weeks
To be eligible for the 485, you must have completed at least 92 weeks of CRICOS-registered study, completed in no less than 16 calendar months, while physically in Australia.
Study completed outside Australia — whether due to online units taken offshore, credit transfers from an overseas institution, or extended periods abroad — does not count toward the 92 weeks. Students who accelerated their degrees through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or heavy credit loads may find they fall short of 92 weeks despite holding a completed Australian qualification.
Check your total onshore study weeks before assuming you qualify.
The 6-Month Application Deadline
Applications must be lodged within 6 months of course completion. The course completion date is not your graduation ceremony date. It is the date you first satisfied all academic requirements and were advised in writing by your institution — typically the date your results were published or the date on your official completion letter.
Lodging one day after the 6-month window closes guarantees an automatic refusal, with no appeals mechanism and no refund. This deadline is enforced without exception.
Regional Extensions: Up to 2 Extra Years
Graduates who studied and lived in designated regional areas during their initial 485 visa may be eligible for a second 485 visa:
- Category 2 regional areas (Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Gold Coast, Canberra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong): +1 year extension
- Category 3 regional areas (all other regional, rural, and remote areas): +2 year extension
- Category 1 major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane): no extension
To claim the extension, you must prove you lived, worked, and studied exclusively in an eligible regional postcode throughout the initial 485 period.
What to Prioritise Before Lodging
Given the AUD $4,600 non-refundable fee and the strict eligibility requirements, every prospective 485 applicant should verify:
- Your age at likely lodgement date
- Whether your degree qualifies for the Post-Higher Education or Post-Vocational stream
- Your onshore study week count (92-week minimum)
- Whether your English test results will still be within the 12-month validity window
- The exact date on your completion letter — not your graduation ceremony
- Active Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) on the day of lodgement
The transition from Subclass 500 to 485 involves more moving parts than most graduates anticipate. A complete checklist and step-by-step timeline can prevent the kind of administrative errors that cost thousands of dollars and months of legal status.
Get the complete toolkit to plan your full Student Visa to 485 transition with a document checklist, timeline planner, and stream eligibility guide.
Get Your Free Australia Student Visa (500) + Post-Study Work Guide — Quick-Start Checklist
Download the Australia Student Visa (500) + Post-Study Work Guide — Quick-Start Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.