The Graduate Skilled Visa (subclass 485) provides international students with the ability to temporarily live and work in Australia after completion of their Australian studies. This visa can be granted up to 4 years depending on the qualification studied (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders*).

There are two streams: The Graduate Work Stream and Post Study Work Stream. Your eligibility depends on the level of qualification you have completed in Australia, and when you applied for, and were granted, your first student visa to Australia.

Graduate Work Stream:

This stream is suited to international students who graduate with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation on the list of eligible skilled occupations. They are entitled to a visa for up to 18 months.

You can apply for this visa in the Graduate Work stream if you:

• Are at least 18 years of age and younger than 50 years of age;
• Nominate an occupation on the eligible skilled occupations list for the 485 visa;
• Have been assessed by a relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation;
• Have the relevant English language ability;
• Have completed either a Degree, Diploma or Trade Qualification which is closely related to your nominated skilled occupation; and
• Have met the Australian Study Requirement (min. 92 weeks CRICOS registered courses) in the past six months (there are new rules relating to the Australian Study Requirements: Current student visa holders studying online outside Australia due to COVID-19 will be able to use that study to count towards the Australian study requirement for a post-study work visa. See here for more details).

Post Study Work Visa Stream:

This stream provides international students who have recently graduated with an eligible qualification a visa for up to 4 years depending on the qualification (automatic 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders).

You can apply for this visa in the Post Study Work Visa Stream if you:

• Are at least 18 years of age and younger than 50 years of age;
• Applied for, and were granted, your first student visa to Australia on or after 5 November, 2011;
• Have completed an eligible qualification from an Australian educational institution in the past six months;
• Have the relevant English language ability.
• Have met the Australian study requirement (min. 92 weeks CRICOS registered courses) in the past six months

The length of the visa granted depends on completion of:

• bachelor degree (including honours): 2 years
• masters by coursework: 2 years
• masters by research: 3 years
• doctoral degree: 4 years
• Hong Kong passport holders who successfully complete a bachelor, masters or doctoral degree: 5 years

Eligible qualifications

For the purposes of applying for a subclass 485 visa under the Post Study Work stream, only study that results in the conferral of an eligible degree level qualification will be considered. An eligible degree level qualification is a:

• Bachelor degree
• Bachelor (honours) degree
• Masters by coursework degree
• Masters (extended) degree
• Masters by research degree
• Doctoral degree

What you can do with the visa

• Graduate Work Stream stay for up to 18 months (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders)
• Post Study Work Stream stay for up to 4 years (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders)
• Travel, work and study
• Bring your immediate family (spouse, dependants) with you
• For those who study at a regional campus and choose to live and work in regional Australia, the pathway to permanent residency will be available after 3 years. The glittering Gold Coast is designated as a regional area. Click here for more information about possible courses. Click here for information about the MBA/MPA double degree at Holmes

* Hong Kong passport holders read here

At This Is Australia, we understand that the Graduate Skilled Visa application process can be stressful for everyone involved. For professional services, contact one of our qualified migration agents.