The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets you live, study and work in Australia temporarily after you have finished your studies. Students are only able to access the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) once as a primary applicant.
This visa has two streams: Graduate Work stream: – For international students with an eligible qualification who graduate with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). A visa in this stream is granted for 18 months from the date of grant. Post-Study Work stream:– For international students who graduate with a higher education degree from an Australian education provider, regardless of their field of study. This stream is only available to students who applied for, and were granted, their first student visa to Australia on or after 5 November 2011. A visa in this stream can be granted for up to four years from the date the visa is granted, depending on the visa applicant's qualification. If you are applying as the main applicant, you and anybody else covered by the application must be in Australia when you apply for this visa and when your visa is decided. Family members who apply for this visa after the main applicant has been granted the visa may be in or outside Australia when they apply, but must not be in immigration clearance.
This visa allows you and your family to stay in Australia temporarily after you have finished your studies. While in Australia, you can:
It is important to note that it is your responsibility to seek your own employment. The Australian government is not responsible for arranging employment.
Eligible visas: You must hold an eligible visa to apply for this visa as the primary applicant. You could meet this requirement if any of the following applies to you:
The following are ineligible student visas:
In addition, you must not:
English language ability: Your visa application must include evidence that you have competent English. You can show this if you have either of the following:
The Australian study requirement:In the six months before you apply, you must meet the Australian study requirement. You meet this requirement if you can satisfy us that you have completed one or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications for award by an Australian educational institution as a result of a course(s):
English language proficiency courses or enabling programs cannot be used to meet the Australian study requirement. Health requirements: You must meet certain health requirements. The health examinations you need will depend on your personal circumstances, including your country of citizenship, time spent in another country during the last five years and your intended activities in Australia. The results of your health examinations are generally valid for 12 months. This applies to you and any dependent family members included in your application. You can find out whether you need to undergo health examinations, and arrange them where required, by using our My Health Declarations service. Character requirements: Australian Federal Police (AFP) certificate and overseas police clearance: You must meet certain character requirements. You must provide a police certificate from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age. Instructions on obtaining a certificate from an overseas government or law enforcement authority are available in the following document: Character requirements – How to obtain police certificates (513 Kb PDF). When you apply for this visa you must provide evidence of having applied for an Australian Federal Police check in the 12 months before you apply. This also applies to all dependent family members in the application who are 16 years of age or older. The AFP National Police Check Application Form is available from the Australian Federal Police website – either an online form or paper form. Visa applicants should tick Code 33 in Section 8 of the form. Fingerprints are not required. You will be issued with a 'National Police Check' certificate which will have a 'Complete Disclosure' in the heading if your AFP police check is successful. Debts to the Australian Government: You must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government before this visa can be granted. This also applies to all family members listed in your application.