Introduction to Temporary Graduate Visa 485 for International Students: Guide

The Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa is the most common first step after finishing an Australian degree – but several details catch people out, from a health insurance requirement that’s genuinely different from your student visa cover, to a visa application fee that’s risen sharply in 2026. Getting these details right before you apply matters more than treating it as a formality.

What the 485 visa actually is, and its two streams

Following reforms effective 1 July 2024, the visa has two streams. The Post-Higher Education Work stream covers graduates of a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral degree in any field. The Post-Vocational Education Work stream covers qualifications closely linked to occupations on the relevant skilled occupation list. It’s a temporary work visa – not a direct pathway to permanent residence – but it lets you live and work in Australia without needing a job offer first, giving genuine time to find skilled work or pursue a further visa. For how this fits into your broader after-study plan, see our after-study options overview.

How long it actually lasts

Duration is tied to your qualification level, not a flat “2 to 4 years” as often claimed: up to 2 years for a Bachelor’s degree (including Honours) or a coursework Master’s, up to 3 years for a research Master’s or a PhD. The previous 2-year bonus extension for graduates in verified skill-shortage areas was discontinued in mid-2024, so don’t plan around it. The maximum age to apply is 35 (50 for Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders).

The health cover trap: OVHC, not OSHC

This is the detail that catches the most people out. Your student visa required Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) – but the 485 visa requires a different product entirely: Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC), often sold as “Graduate Cover” by the same insurers. Applying with OSHC instead of OVHC is a genuine ground for refusal, not a minor paperwork issue. You need OVHC confirmed to start from the day your student visa expires, with no gap in cover. If you’re not clear on how OSHC works or what it doesn’t cover in the first place, our OSHC guide explains the product you’re moving away from.

Cost: the fee has risen sharply in 2026

The visa application charge increased substantially through 2026: it roughly doubled from 1 March 2026, and rose again to AUD 5,750 from 1 July 2026 for most applicants. Passport holders from a specified group of Pacific nations and Timor-Leste continue to pay a separate, lower rate. This fee is not refunded if your application is refused, which makes getting your eligibility, English test timing and health cover right before you lodge genuinely important, not just a formality.

Eligibility: English, timing and the application itself

You need an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (no individual band below 5.5) or a PTE Academic score of 55, with the test taken within 12 months of your application date – test validity was reduced from three years to one year, so an older test result you sat during your degree likely won’t qualify anymore. You must apply within 6 months of your course completion date (the date on your official Completion Letter, or when results were formally released, whichever is later) – this deadline is absolute, with no extensions or discretion. Applications are lodged through ImmiAccount with your completion documents, English test results and health cover evidence.

What comes after your 485

Many graduates use the 485 as a bridge toward a skilled migration pathway rather than an end in itself, and it is worth checking where you stand on that path well before your 485 expires rather than scrambling in the final months. Start with our skills assessment and occupation list guide to check whether your qualification counts, then see our field-specific guides for IT and engineering graduates or nursing and healthcare graduates if either applies to you.

Bottom line

The 485 visa gives genuine, valuable time to work in Australia after graduating, but three details are easy to get wrong: it requires OVHC, not your old student OSHC; the application fee has risen to AUD 5,750 from July 2026; and your English test needs to be current within 12 months, not from earlier in your degree. Confirm all three well before your 6-month application window closes.