Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

The Temporary Graduate Visa (TGV) Subclass 485 allows international graduates to live, work, and study in Australia temporarily after completing their Australian studies.

Eligibility and the duration of the visa vary based on the graduate’s qualifications and streams available, which have been restructured and updated in the new migration strategy.

From 1 July 2024 there are three streams:

The Post-Vocational Education Work Stream (formerly the Graduate Work Stream);
The Post-Higher Education Work Stream (formerly the Post Study Work Stream); and
The Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream (formerly the Second Post-Study Work Stream).

The maximum stay period ranges from 18 months up to 4 years depending on the level of qualification, with special provisions extending up to 5 years for Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, and tailored durations for Indian nationals.

Employers seeking to sponsor or hire foreign workers can visit our Australian Employer Services page.

Key Requirements

Post-Vocational Education Work stream
Post-Higher Education Work stream
Second Post-Higher Education Work stream
English Language Requirements
What you can do with the 485 visa

Post-Vocational Education Work Stream

The Graduate Work stream has been renamed to the Post-Vocational Education Work Stream. This change reflects a shift to focus more on specific vocational skills in alignment with Australia's strategic skills needs.

Age Requirement and Exemptions

Eligibility now includes applicants who are 18 to 35 years of age, with an exemption still available for Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders who are eligible up to 50 years of age.

Qualification Criteria

Applicants must hold an associate degree, diploma, or trade qualification, which must be closely related to their nominated occupation listed on the https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list (MLTSSL). After you open the page, select the 485 visa in the filter.

Those with a degree-level qualification or higher are no longer eligible for this stream and should consider the Post-Higher Education Work stream.

Australian Study Requirement

Applicants must have completed 1 or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications in the six months immediately before the day of application, which was awarded by an Australian educational institution as a result of a course or courses:

that are registered (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)) courses; and
that were completed in a total of at least 16 calendar months; and
that were completed as a result of a total of at least 2 academic years study (92 weeks CRICOS); and
for which all instruction was conducted in English; and
that the applicant undertook while in Australia as the holder of a visa authorising the applicant to study

Stay Period and Extensions

The maximum stay allowed under this stream remains at 18 months. For Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders, this can extend to up to 5 years.

Post-Higher Education Work Stream

Formerly the Post Study Work Stream and now renamed to the Post-Higher Education Work Stream, the changes reflect a renewed focus on higher education qualifications and their alignment with national skills shortages.

Age Requirement and Exemptions

The age limit is 18 to 35 years of age, with an exemption for Masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) graduates and Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders up to 50 years of age.

Qualification Criteria

Applicants must hold either a Bachelor Degree; Bachelor (Honours) Degree; Masters by Coursework Degree; Masters by Research Degree; Masters (Extended) Degree and/or; Doctoral Degree.

Those with a vocational-level qualifications are not eligible for this stream and should consider the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.

Australian Study Requirement

Applicants must have completed 1 or more degrees in the six months immediately before the day of application, which was awarded by an Australian educational institution as a result of a course or courses:

that are registered (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)) courses; and
that were completed in a total of at least 16 calendar months; and
that were completed as a result of a total of at least 2 academic years study (92 weeks CRICOS); and
for which all instruction was conducted in English; and
that the applicant undertook while in Australia as the holder of a visa authorising the applicant to study

Stay Periods

The stay periods are as follows:

Bachelor degree (including honours) – up to 2 years
Masters (coursework and extended) – up to 2 years
Masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) – up to 3 years
Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for up to 5 years.

Stay Periods for Hong Kong and British National Overseas Passport Holders

These passport holders may be eligible for a stay of up to 5 years, reflecting Australia’s commitment to supporting these groups.

Stay Periods for Indian Nationals

Following the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), the stay periods for Indian nationals are:

Bachelor degree (including honours) – up to 2 years
Bachelor 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.

Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream

Formerly the Second Post-Study Work Stream, now renamed to the Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream.

Holders of a first Temporary Graduate Visa in the Post-Higher Education Work stream who graduated with a degree from an Australian institution located in a regional area will be granted an additional stay period of 1 or 2 Years depending on the:

Regional location of your institute from where you completed your study for the first post study visa; and
Regional area that you lived in as the holder of your first post study temporary graduate stream visa.

If you lived and studied in a Cities and Major Regional Centres area, you can be granted this visa for 1 year.

If you lived and studied in a Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas region, you can be granted this visa for 2 years.

Designated Regional Areas

State or Territory	Category	Grant Period	Postcodes
New South Wales	Cities and major regional centres	1 Year	2259, 2264 to 2308, 2500 to 2526, 2528 to 2535 and 2574
New South Wales	Regional centres and other regional areas	2 Years	2250 to 2258, 2260 to 2263, 2311 to 2490, 2527, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2739, 2753 to 2754, 2756 to 2758 and 2773 to 2898
Victoria	Cities and major regional centres	1 Year	3211 to 3232, 3235, 3240, 3328, 3330 to 3333, 3340 and 3342
Victoria	Regional centres and other regional areas	2 Years	3097 to 3099, 3139, 3233 to 3234, 3236 to 3239, 3241 to 3325, 3329, 3334, 3341, 3345 to 3424, 3430 to 3799, 3809 to 3909, 3912 to 3971 and 3978 to 3996
Queensland	Cities and major regional centres	1 Year	4019 to 4022, 4025, 4037, 4074, 4076 to 4078, 4207 to 4275, 4300, 4301, 4303 to 4305, 4500 to 4506, 4508 to 4512, 4514 to 4519, 4521, 4550, 4551, 4553 to 4562, 4564 to 4569, 4571 to 4575
Queensland	Regional centres and other regional areas	2 Years	4124, 4125, 4133, 4183, 4184, 4280 to 4287, 4306 to 4498, 4507, 4552, 4563, 4570, 4580 to 4895
Western Australia	Cities and major regional centres	1 Year	6000 to 6038, 6050 to 6083, 6090 to 6182, 6208 to 6211, 6214 and 6556 to 6558
Western Australia	Regional centres and other regional areas	2 Years	All postcodes in Western Australia not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above
South Australia	Cities and major regional centres	1 Year	5000 to 5171, 5173 to 5174, 5231 to 5235, 5240 to 5252, 5351 and 5950 to 5960
South Australia	Regional centres and other regional areas	2 Years	All postcodes in South Australia not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above
Tasmania	Cities and major regional centres	1 Year	7000, 7004 to 7026, 7030 to 7109, 7140 to 7151 and 7170 to 7177
Tasmania	Regional centres and other regional areas	2 Years	All postcodes in Tasmania not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above
Australian Capital Territory	Cities and major regional centres	1 Year	All postcodes in the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory	Regional centres and other regional areas	-	None
Northern Territory	Cities and major regional centres	-	None
Northern Territory	Regional centres and other regional areas	2 Years	All postcodes in the Northern Territory
Norfolk Island	Cities and major regional centres	-	None
Norfolk Island	Regional centres and other regional areas	2 Years	All postcodes in Norfolk Island
Other Territories	Cities and major regional centres	-	None
Other Territories	Regional centres and other regional areas	2 Years	All postcodes in a Territory other than the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory or Norfolk Island

English Language Requirements

The minimum score required for a TGV increased on 23 March 2024, and the test validity window for a TGV decreased from 3 years to 1 year. TGV applicants now need to provide evidence that they have completed an English Language test within 1 year immediately before the date of the visa application.

English Language proficiency level	Test component	IELTS	PTE Academic	Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)	OET (Medical Professions Only)
English Scores requirement	Overall Score (with a min. score each area)	6.5	57	176	B
	Listening	5.5	43	162	B
	Reading	5.5	48	162	B
	Writing	5.5	51	162	B
	Speaking	5.5	42	162	B

What you can do with the 485 visa

Post-Vocational Education Work Stream stay for up to 18 months (5 years for Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders)
Post-Higher Education Work Stream stay for up to 3 years (5 years for Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders, and up to 4 years for Indian Nationals)
Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream stay up to 2 years depending on where you lived and studied
Travel, work, and study
Bring your immediate family (spouse, dependants) with you

At This is Australia, we understand that the Temporary Graduate Visa application process can be stressful for everyone involved. For professional services, contact one of our qualified migration agents.