How to use the subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa after studying in Australia
If you’ve just finished your Australian degree or diploma and you want to stay on to work, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is the pathway built for you. It lets international graduates live, study, and work in Australia temporarily after completing their studies — and as a Filipino who has invested years in an Australian qualification, it’s worth understanding exactly how it works.
Basic eligibility
Before you look at the two streams below, you need to meet a core set of requirements. According to the Department of Home Affairs, you must:
- be aged 35 years or under when you apply (exceptions apply)
- hold an eligible visa at the time of application
- have held a Student visa in the last 6 months
- have a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course
- apply for your eligible stream — you cannot change streams after you apply
- attach required evidence when you apply
That last point about streams is important. There are two pathways under subclass 485, and choosing the wrong one is not something you can fix after lodgement.
Stream 1: Post-Higher Education Work stream
This stream is for graduates who completed a degree-level qualification or higher at an Australian institution through a CRICOS-registered course. If you finished a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, this is your stream.
The visa lets you work in Australia, and you can bring your family with you. The stay period is usually between 2 and 3 years, depending on your qualification. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years under this stream.
The application charge starts from AUD 4,600.00.
Stream 2: Post-Vocational Education Work stream
If your Australian qualification is an associate degree, diploma, or trade qualification — rather than a full degree — this is the stream for you. There is an additional requirement here: your qualification must be relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list.
Like the higher education stream, this visa lets you work in Australia and bring your family. The stay period is up to 18 months. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years.
The application charge also starts from AUD 4,600.00.
Fee changes from 1 March 2026
The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that from 1 March 2026, visa application charges for the Temporary Graduate visa have increased. A lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application. The source page does not specify the exact lower amount at the time of writing — check the individual stream pages on the Home Affairs website for the current figures.
Processing times
The Home Affairs page does not publish a fixed processing time for subclass 485. It directs applicants to use the visa processing time guide tool on the immi.homeaffairs.gov.au website, which shows times for recently decided applications. The department notes this is a guide only and is not specific to your individual application.
What to do next
The subclass 485 is a genuine bridge between your student years and longer-term pathways in Australia — whether that means gaining skilled work experience for a future employer-sponsored or points-tested visa, or simply building your life here while you weigh your options. Get your documents in order early, confirm your stream before you lodge, and check the current fee on the official page before you apply.
You cannot change streams after you apply — so confirm your eligibility for the correct stream before you lodge your application.
First published by the Department of Home Affairs — Immigration and citizenship website. Read the full source at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/
This is general information, not migration advice. For your specific case, consult a MARA-registered agent — find one in our directory.
