Subclass 485 (temporary residence) Visa - you may be eligible if you're currently in Australia and studying a bachelor degree (or higher)

Are you studying a bachelor degree or higher in Australia and did you obtain your current student visa after 5 November 2011? 

You may be eligible for the subclass 485 (temporary residence) visa.

This visa has two streams:

• Graduate work stream – for international students who graduate with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL): Schedule 1. A visa in this stream is granted for 18 months.
• Post-Study work stream – for international students who graduate with an eligible qualification. 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, depending on the applicant's qualification.

To be eligible graduates must have completed their studies in Australia while on a qualifying student visa. A qualifying student visa is a subclass 572, 573 or 574.

English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) Sector, Schools Sector and Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector students are not eligible unless they subsequently complete an eligible qualification on a qualifying student visa.

Applicants who have undertaken studies while on other visas that allow study, such as dependents of Temporary Work (Skilled) (subclass 457) visa holders, are not eligible for this visa.

In addition, applicants must:

• be in Australia
• be under 50 years of age
• have attained an eligible qualification within six months of applying for the visa.

Post-study work stream

Graduates of an Australian bachelor degree (including honours), masters by coursework degree, masters (extended) degree, masters by research degree or doctoral degree can apply for this stream, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements.

The visa is only available to graduates who applied for their first student visa (including subclasses 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576 or 580) on or after the introduction of the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement on 5 November 2011.

Graduate work stream

This stream is for international students who have recently graduated with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation in demand in the Australian labour market, as determined by the Skilled Occupation List. Applicants in this stream must have completed a trade qualification, diploma or degree. Successful applicants are granted a visa of 18 months validity.