Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)

You must be 35 years of age or under when you apply. 

You can be under 50 years of age when you apply if you hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport.

You must be in Australia (but not in immigration clearance) when you apply for this visa.

Subsequent entrants can be in or outside Australia when they apply.

We will process your visa application if:

• you are in Australia and hold an eligible Student visa (not one supported by the Minister for Defence or the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade)
• you held a Student visa within the past 6 months and now hold a Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B granted based on a valid visa application
• you held a Student visa within the past 6 months and now hold a substantive visa.

To be eligible for this visa you must have completed your course within 6 months of applying.

If you previously held a subclass 485 or 476 visa as a primary applicant, you cannot be granted this visa as a primary applicant again. If you held one of these visas as a secondary applicant, you may be eligible to apply as a primary applicant.

You must have been awarded at least one associate degree, diploma or trade qualification in the 6 months immediately before the day you apply for your visa and meet the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement.

You can use more than one course to meet the 2 academic year component of the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement. Each course you use must be closely related to your nominated occupation.

On 25 November 2023, online study requirements returned to their pre-COVID state. Online study undertaken during the COVID concession period (1 February 2020 to 25 November 2023) will continue to count towards the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement.

For more information about eligible study see the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement.

The Department does not undertake pre-lodgement assessments of the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement or any other visa criteria. Once you make a valid application, a delegate will make an assessment based on the information available to them.

You will need to:

• nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
• hold an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification closely related to that occupation
• be assessed by a relevant assessing authority as having skills suitable for your nominated occupation.

Your application must include your nominated occupation. You cannot change your occupation after lodgement. Your qualification must be closely related to that occupation.

Your skills must be assessed by a relevant assessing authority as suitable for the nominated occupation.

Note: Assessing authorities may require a higher level of study than what is required for the Post-Vocational Education Work (PVEW) stream. Ensure that your skills and qualifications match the requirements of your nominated occupation, as set by the relevant assessing authority.

You must provide your valid skills assessment with your application. If you do not have a skills assessment, you must provide evidence that you have applied for one.

Skills assessments are valid for a maximum of 3 years, unless a shorter date is specified on the assessment.

To prove your English level meets the requirements, show us evidence that you are a citizen of and hold a valid passport from one of the following countries:

• The United Kingdom
• The United States of America
• Canada
• New Zealand
• The Republic of Ireland.

In the 12 months immediately before the day you apply for your visa, you must have scored one of the specified results below.

For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, note the following changes:

• OET does not currently provide overall test results on test score reports. Contact OET to obtain your overall score and include the required information in your application.
• The department accepts IELTS test results that include One Skill Retake (OSR) for a Temporary Graduate visa. Any OSR must be completed prior to lodging your application.
• The department accepts MET test results that include Single Section Retake (SSR) for a Temporary Graduate visa. Any SSR must be completed prior to lodging your application.

For further information, see English Language visa requirements.

Acceptable minimum scores – Test taken on or after 7 August 2025

Acceptable minimum scores – Test taken on or before 6 August 2025

Holders of British National (BNO) or Hong Kong passports must have scored one of the following in the 12 months immediately before the day they apply for their visa:

Acceptable minimum scores – Test taken on or after 7 August 2025 – Holders of British National (BNO) or Hong Kong passports

Acceptable minimum scores – Test taken on or before 6 August 2025 - Holders of British National (BNO) or Hong Kong passports

You and your family members must have and maintain adequate health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia. See what we consider adequate health insurance.

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa must meet our character requirement. 

If you are 18 years of age or older, you must:

• have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia booklet and
• sign an Australian Values Statement that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws.

If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.

We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.

In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused see Limitations on applications in Australia.

If applying for a visa from outside Australia see Can you go to Australia.

If you need immigration assistance, see Who can help with your visa application.