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.
Previously known as the "Graduate Work Stream"
Subclass 485 – Post Vocational Education Work Stream is a temporary visa that allows International Students to live, study and work, once they have recently graduated with skills and qualifications in demand in Australia. With this visa, you can:
Subclass 485 – Upcoming Updates
The Department has outlined that the:
There are 4 main streams to the Subclass 485 visa.
This stream allows International Students to live, study and work once they have recently graduated with skills and qualifications in demand in Australia.
This stream allows International Students to live, study and work once they have completed any course of study at a degree level or above for two years.
This stream allows holders of a Temporary Graduate visa (first Higher-Education Work stream) who graduated with a degree from an Australian institution located in a regional area.
To be eligible for a Post-Vocational Education Work Stream visa, you must:
To be eligible for this visa you must have completed your course in the 6 months immediately before the day you apply.
This means that, to be eligible for the visa, you must be:
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.
Provisional visa applicants need to undertake health examinations (medicals) to be granted Subclass 485 visa.
To meet this requirement:
You can use one or more courses to meet the 2 academic year component, but each course used must be closely related to your nominated occupation.
You will need to:
You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa.
Applicants and all secondary applicants aged 16 years and over must apply for an AFPCC check, at the time of application for the visa.
You can either show that you hold a valid passport from:
or prove your English proficiency through an English test (within the last 3 years).
Test | Score |
---|---|
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | Overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts |
Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) | Total score of at least 64 with a minimum score of 4 for listening, 4 for reading, 14 for writing and 14 for speaking |
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | Overall score of at least 50 with a minimum score of 36 for each of the 4 parts |
Occupational English Test (OET) | At least B for each of the 4 parts |
Cambridge C1 Advanced test | Overall at least 169 with a minimum score of at least 154 in each of the 4 test components |
To begin your 485 visa journey, you must:
The qualification must be closely related to that occupation, and you are unable to change the occupation once you apply.
Once you have applied for/received a Skills Assessment, we will assist you with collating relevant documents (such as AFPCC) and drafting your visa application for lodgement.
Once you have provided all your documents, our Agent will begin finalising and lodging your visa application.
Once your visa application is lodged, we will wait to hear from the Department. Usually, the Department will respond by sending you a “Request for Further Information” requiring you to complete a health assessment (medicals) and any other documents they need to finalise your application.
We have summarised a cost estimate for a Post-Vocational Education Work stream application.
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
Paid directly to the agency (i.e.; BUPA in Australia) that conducts your medical checks
Paid directly to Australian Federal Police that conducts your character checks
To be granted this visa, your qualification(s) completed must be closely related to your nominated skilled occupation.
For this, the skills underpinning your qualification must be directly transferable to that occupation. For example, if you nominate ‘Registered Nurse’ as your occupation, a degree in Nursing would meet this requirement, but a degree in IT would not.
Note: this is not required for applications lodged between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023).
Yes, you must have a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation to be granted this visa. You must provide evidence when you apply that you have at least applied for a skills assessment.
No, you must be in Australia to lodge 485 visa application.
However, Graduates affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions are now able to apply for and be granted a Temporary Graduate visa outside Australia – if they hold or have held an eligible Student visa.
Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years.
This will depends on the length of course and exemptions received. Please contact our team for an assessment.
Yes, Subclass 485 provides full working rights.
You must apply for your 485 visa within 6 months of completion of your Australian studies.
If you held your student visa immediately before applying for Subclass 485, the work rights on the bridging visa will come into effect when your student expires. However, we recommend that you check your VEVO to confirm this.
You must maintain adequate health care coverage while holding your Subclass 485. If you do not, your 485 can be cancelled by the Department of Home Affairs.
Unit 7, 242-244 Caroline Springs Blvd
Caroline Springs VIC 3023