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 differs 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. Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders may stay up to 5 years. A Second Post-Higher Education Work stream visa (1 to 2 more years) exists only for graduates of regional institutions who then lived in a designated regional area for at least 2 years, so don’t plan around it unless that is you. The maximum age to apply is 35, or under 50 if you are using a research Master’s or PhD to qualify or you hold a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport.

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 adequate health insurance for your whole stay, and in practice that usually means Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC), often sold as “Graduate Cover” by the same insurers. Home Affairs accepts your student OSHC as evidence when you lodge, but you must arrange a 485-compliant policy before the visa is granted, and your OSHC ends when your student visa does, so plan for no gap in cover. Confirm the exact product with your insurer and the Home Affairs health insurance page. 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 rose sharply in March 2026 (to about AUD 4,600), and rose again to AUD 5,750 from 1 July 2026 for most primary applicants. Check the Home Affairs visa pricing estimator for the amount that applies to you and any family members. 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 overall (each test also has minimum sub-scores), with the test taken within 12 months before 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 completing your course (check your institution’s official completion date) – treat this deadline as absolute. 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 needs 485-compliant health cover, usually OVHC, not just 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.