Australia Temporary Graduate visa

International graduates with eligible Australian study, and eligible holders of a first Temporary Graduate visa seeking the second regional stream.

• Apply in Australia

  A primary applicant must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when applying for any of the three streams. Subsequent entrants can apply from in or outside Australia.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Meet the age limit

  You must be 35 or under when you apply. For the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders can be under 50. For the Post-Higher Education Work stream, applicants using a Masters (research) or Doctoral Degree (PhD) to meet the study requirement, and Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders, can be under 50. The second stream has corresponding under-50 exceptions based on the first visa or passport.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Hold an eligible visa

  For either first stream, you must hold an eligible Student visa in Australia, or have held a Student visa within the past 6 months and now hold a Bridging Visa A or B granted on a valid application, or a substantive visa. A Student visa supported by the Minister for Defence or the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is not eligible.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Complete study recently

  For either first stream, you must have completed your eligible course within 6 months before applying. Course completion means meeting the academic requirements and being advised of this in writing; it is not necessarily the graduation ceremony date.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Meet the Australian study requirement

  For either first stream, eligible study must total at least 2 academic years, meaning 92 weeks of CRICOS-registered study, and be completed in Australia over no less than 16 calendar months while holding a visa authorising study. The eligible course or courses must be taught in English.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Hold an eligible degree for the higher education stream

  The Post-Higher Education Work stream requires an eligible degree awarded within the 6 months before application: a bachelor, bachelor honours, masters or doctoral degree. A graduate diploma can qualify if completed in the same or next academic year as an eligible degree and related to it. The course must be with an Australian education provider registered on CRICOS.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Meet the vocational stream requirements

  For the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, you need an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification closely related to an occupation you nominate on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List. You must provide a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority, or evidence that you applied for one, with your application.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Show the required English

  For either first stream, you can provide evidence that you are a citizen and valid passport holder of the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand or Republic of Ireland. Otherwise, provide an accepted test result from the 12 months before applying. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, IELTS Academic or General Training requires at least 6.5 overall and 5.5 in each skill; other tests and scores are listed on the stream pages. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders have a separate table, including IELTS 6 overall and 5 in each skill.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Have adequate health insurance

  Provide evidence of adequate health insurance for all applicants when applying and maintain adequate cover for the duration of the stay.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Meet health and character requirements

  You and accompanying family members must meet the health requirement; applicants aged 16 or over must meet the character requirement. For a first-stream application, applicants aged 16 or over must provide evidence that they applied for an Australian Federal Police check within the 12 months ending the day before applying.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Check previous graduate visas

  If you previously held a subclass 485 or subclass 476 visa as a primary applicant, you cannot be granted either first stream again as a primary applicant.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Hold the qualifying first graduate visa

  For the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, you must still hold a valid first Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work or Replacement stream and satisfy the page’s requirements about the stream of your first grant. Previous primary holders of the vocational stream, second stream or subclass 476 are not eligible.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Meet the second stream’s regional conditions

  You need a degree from a CRICOS-registered course at an institution in an eligible designated regional area that led to your first qualifying graduate visa, and must have lived in an eligible designated regional area for at least 2 years immediately before applying.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Address government debt and Australian values

  You and family members must have repaid, or arranged to repay, money owed to the Australian Government. Applicants aged 18 or over must read, or have explained to them, the Life in Australia booklet and sign an Australian Values Statement.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Post-Higher Education Work stream — main applicantimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$5,750 per person
• Second Post-Higher Education Work stream — main applicant, fromimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$2,265 per person

1. Get ready

   • Choose your eligible stream

     When you arrive

     Check the stream requirements before applying because you cannot change streams after lodgement.

   • Confirm your course completion

     When you arrive

     Obtain the provider’s completion letter and transcripts showing that your study meets the applicable qualification and study requirements.

     You’ll need: course completion letter, academic transcripts

   • Arrange a skills assessment if required

     When you arrive

     For the vocational stream, nominate an eligible occupation and obtain a suitable assessment or evidence that you have applied for one.

     You’ll need: skills assessment or evidence of application

   • Prepare English and insurance evidence

     When you arrive

     For a first-stream application, gather the required passport or English test evidence and proof of adequate health insurance.

     You’ll need: passport or English test result, health insurance evidence

   • Apply for an Australian police check

     When you arrive

     For a first-stream application, each applicant aged 16 or over must apply for the required Australian Federal Police check within the specified 12-month period and before the visa application day.

     You’ll need: evidence of Australian Federal Police check application

2. Apply

   • Apply through ImmiAccount

     When you arrive

     While in Australia and within the applicable eligibility period, choose the correct stream, attach the required documents and pay the visa application charge.

     You’ll need: passport, course evidence, English evidence where required, health insurance evidence, police check application evidence where required

3. Visa

   • Check ImmiAccount for requests

     When you arrive

     After applying, check ImmiAccount for requests for further information.

4. Settle in

   • Check your visa grant and conditions

     1 day after you arrive

     If granted, check your grant letter or VEVO for your stay period and visa conditions.

     You’ll need: visa grant letter

Eligible graduates may qualify for a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream visa or another skilled work visa; neither is automatic.

• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Post-Higher Education Work streamimmi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/gl…Official
• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Post-Vocational Education Work streamimmi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Second Post-Higher Education Work streamimmi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• Temporary Graduate visa - Subclass 485 immi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• Meeting the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) study requirement immi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.