Unlimited work rights
Unlike the student visa's 48-hour limit, the 485 allows unlimited work. Full-time, any occupation, change jobs freely, even start a business.
Fee Now $4,600 · Post-Study Work · 1-4 Years
Subclass 485, the bridge between study and PR.
The Subclass 485 is the visa that turns an Australian qualification into a working life in Australia. It gives graduates one to four years of unrestricted work rights: a bridge between study and permanent migration. From 1 March 2026 the application fee doubled to $4,600. This changes the maths for many graduates, but the visa remains one of the most valuable in the system for those with a clear pathway.
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What the 485 gives you
Four things your student visa does not.
The 485 is different from the student visa in every practical way that matters for building a career in Australia.
Time to build a pathway
The 485 gives you time in Australia to build experience, complete a skills assessment, and improve your English. Not the destination. The bridge.
Family included
Your partner and dependent children can be included on the same application. Partner gets the same unrestricted work rights.
Study rights
You can study during the 485 period. Useful for pursuing professional qualifications, or adding Australian study points to your skilled migration profile.
The two streams
Your qualification picks your stream.
Higher education graduates get longer 485 periods. VET graduates get shorter ones. The stream is set by the qualification, not chosen by the applicant.
Post-Higher Education Work
For graduates of Australian bachelors, masters, or doctorate degrees. Typically 2 years for bachelors and coursework masters, 3 years for masters by research, 4 years for doctorates.
Post-Vocational Education Work
For graduates of eligible VET qualifications, usually Certificate III, IV, or Diploma in a CSOL occupation. Typically 18 months.
Eligibility for the Subclass 485
Six things every applicant must satisfy.
These are the core criteria. Missing any one closes the 485 pathway entirely.
Recent Australian qualification
Eligible Australian qualification completed. 485 must be applied for within 6 months of course completion. Missing this window closes the pathway.
Two-year study rule
Your qualification must be based on at least 2 years of study in Australia. A single one-year Masters is usually not enough unless stacked with other qualifications.
Age under 35
485 is for graduates under 35 at the time of application. Exceptions for doctorate and masters by research graduates, and for Hong Kong passport holders under specific arrangements.
English language
Competent English required, typically IELTS 6 or equivalent across all four components.
Onshore at application
You must generally be in Australia when you apply for the 485. Limited exceptions apply.
Health insurance
Adequate health insurance required for the 485 period. Your OSHC student health cover ends when the 485 begins, so you need to arrange replacement cover.
The 1 March 2026 fee increase
$4,600. Double what it used to be.
The largest single fee increase applied to any Australian visa in the last decade. The Government's justification was to align graduate visa fees with their actual value in the skilled migration pathway. The change has significantly shifted how graduates weigh their post-study options.
The new cost$4,600 for the main applicant. Additional applicants (partner, children) also have increased fees on top of the main applicant fee.
Why it mattersFor graduates without a clear PR pathway, the 485 used to be a relatively low-cost insurance visa. Now it is a significant investment that needs to make strategic sense.
Who still benefitsGraduates with a clear CSOL occupation, a realistic skilled migration or employer sponsorship pathway, or those already employed in their field. The 485 remains valuable despite the cost.
Who might skip itGraduates without a clear permanent pathway, or who are returning home anyway. For them, $4,600 may not deliver corresponding value. We will tell you honestly if this applies to you.
Using the 485 to build PR eligibility
Five moves during your 485 period.
The 485 only makes sense if you use the time productively. Here is what successful graduates do.
Build Australian work experience
485 time counts as Australian work experience for the skilled migration points test. Every year of Australian skilled work is worth points.
Complete your skills assessment
Most skills assessments need post-qualification work experience. The 485 gives you time to build this experience and complete the assessment.
Improve your English score
Sitting IELTS or PTE while on the 485 counts for points. Many graduates use the 485 period to get their English to Proficient or Superior level.
Pursue a Professional Year
For IT, engineering, and accounting graduates, the Professional Year program adds 5 points to your skilled migration score. 485 is the ideal time.
Build your state connection
Many states give preference in 190 and 491 nomination to applicants who studied or worked in the state. 485 work period is often when this connection is built.
Build toward employer sponsorship
A year or two at an Australian employer during your 485 often leads to SID sponsorship. Many graduates transition directly from 485 to SID without going through points-tested skilled migration.
CRICOS-registered study only. Distance learning does not count.
The 2 years of study must be in Australia on a CRICOS-registered course. Distance learning components, or periods of study outside Australia, do not count towards the 2-year requirement. All mainstream Australian universities and accredited private providers are CRICOS-registered.
Common 485 questions
The questions we hear most.
For anything specific to your qualification, timing, or long-term migration plan, book a consultation with Vishal.
Can I apply for the 485 while outside Australia?
Generally no. The 485 usually requires you to be in Australia at the time of application. There are limited exceptions, typically for applicants with specific prior approvals.
Can I leave Australia during the 485?
Yes. The 485 is a multiple-entry visa. You can travel freely during the visa period, though extended absences may affect your ability to build the Australian work experience needed for subsequent visas.
Does my 485 have work restrictions?
No. The 485 has unrestricted work rights. You can work full-time in any occupation.
Can I apply for a second 485?
In some circumstances, yes. Graduates who complete higher-level qualifications after their first 485 may be eligible for a second 485 in the Post-Higher Education Work stream. Specific rules apply.
Some information on this page has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and has been interpreted and approved by Principal Migration Agent Sourabh Aggarwal (MARN 1462159). Last reviewed: May 2026.