Temporary Graduate Visa

This temporary visa is for international students who have recently graduated from an Australian educational institution. Depending on your situation, the visa is valid for 18 to 48 months and allows you to live, study, and work in Australia temporarily after you have finished your studies.

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Students are only able to access the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) once as a primary applicant. You and any dependant applicants must be in Australia when you apply for this visa and when your visa is decided. Family members who apply for this visa after the main applicant has been granted the visa may be in or outside Australia when they apply, but must not be in immigration clearance.

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This visa has three streams and the length of a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) depends on the stream that you applied in. If your family joins you in Australia on this visa, their visas will be valid while your visa is valid.

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• Graduate Work Stream - This visa is for international students who have recently graduated with skills and qualifications that are relevant to specific occupations Australia needs. It lets you live, study and work in Australia temporarily.

• Post-Study Work Stream - This visa is for international students who have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution. It lets you live, work and study in Australia, temporarily.

• Second Post-Study Work Stream - This visa is for holders of a Temporary Graduate visa (first Post-Study Work stream or Replacement 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.

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IMPORTANT - The Australian government has implemented significant changes to the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa program starting July 1, 2024.

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The existing Graduate Work and Post-Study Work streams have been renamed and restructured:

• Post-Vocational Education Work Stream: This replaces the Graduate Work stream and is for international graduates with Associate Degrees, Diplomas, or Trade qualifications aligned with Australia's Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).

• Post-Higher Education Work Stream: This replaces the Post-Study Work stream and is for graduates with Bachelor's Degrees (including Honors) or Master's Degrees (coursework or extended).

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Reduced Age Limit

The maximum age for applicants in both Post-Vocational and Post-Higher Education streams has been reduced to 35 years old. However, there are exceptions for holders of Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) passports, who can apply up to age 50.

 

Changes to Visa Grant Periods

The previous two-year extension for select degrees is no longer offered. New maximum stay periods are:

• Bachelor's Degree (including Honors): Up to 2 years

• Master’s Degree (coursework and extended): Up to 2 years

• Masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) – up to 3 years.

• Post-Vocational Education Work stream - up to 18 months.

 

Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may be able to stay for up to 5 years.

 

Indian Nationals and the AI-ECTA

Indian nationals with qualifications under the Australian Indian Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) will have specific visa grant periods determined by their qualification level.

• Bachelor's degree (including Honours) – up to 2 years

• Bachelor's degree (with first class Honours in STEM, including ICT) – up to 3 years

• Masters (coursework, extended and research) – up to 3 years

• Doctoral degrees (PhD) – up to 4 years.

 

 

Unaffected Stream: Second Post-Study Work Stream

The Second Post-Study Work Stream remains unchanged and maintains its current eligibility requirements.

 

Important Dates

The Replacement Stream for students impacted by COVID-19 restrictions ceased on July 1, 2024.

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