Australia · Work
Australia Graduate visa 485
First stay: 4 yrs
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Graduate visa 485 is a work route for Australia. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- AUD 5,750 ≈ $4,000 · +4 more
- First stay
- 4 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government feesAUD 5,750 ≈ $4,000 · +4 more
- AUD 5,750 (≈ $4,000)Base application charge, Post-Higher Education Work stream, main applicant.
- AUD 2,265 (≈ $1,580)Base application charge when the applicant already holds a Post-Higher Education Work visa (Second Post-Higher Education Work stream).
- AUD 2,360 (≈ $1,640)Base application charge for a primary applicant with a Pacific-regional passport (concession from 1 July 2026).
- AUD 2,875 (≈ $2,000)Additional applicant charge for each family member aged 18 or over.
- AUD 1,450 (≈ $1,010)Additional applicant charge for each family member under 18.
CitizenshipAfter 4 years of residence
Time lawfully in Australia counts toward the 4 years, but you still need 12 months as a permanent resident immediately before applying. Citizenship by conferral needs 4 years lawfully in Australia, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident, with no more than 12 months' total absence in the 4 years and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
You can be inside or outside Australia when the visa is granted, as long as you are not in immigration clearance.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Can't be renewed
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Australia
- Only up to age 49
What you'll need
Who can apply6
- The applicant is 35 or under; up to 49 for Masters (research) or doctorate holders and Hong Kong or BN(O) passport holders.
- The applicant was awarded an eligible degree in the 6 months before applying and meets the study requirement.
- The course was at a CRICOS-registered Australian provider offering degree-level programs.
- The applicant holds an eligible Student visa or a bridging visa and is in Australia when applying.
- The applicant passed an approved English test, for example IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, in the last 12 months.
- Second stream: the applicant lived, studied and worked only in a designated regional area for 2 years on the first visa.
What you must show2
- The base application charge is AUD 5,750 (≈ $4,000) for the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
- The base application charge is AUD 2,265 (≈ $1,580) for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
Documents1
- Adequate health insurance is held for the whole stay.
After you arrive1
- The holder must find their own employment and can work, study and travel during the stay.
When you become tax resident
How Australia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 4 years in total
- Tax residence
Residence is determined by the resides, domicile, 183-day and Commonwealth superannuation tests.
- Foreign-source income
Temporary residents
Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable.
- Special regime
Temporary resident exemption · Tax relief
All tax rules for Australia Tax records checked
Full official text
Post-study work visa for international students aged 35 or under who recently graduated from a CRICOS-registered Australian degree course. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- A fee of AUD 5,750 (≈ $4,000) · Base application charge, Post-Higher Education Work stream, main applicant. 3
- A fee of AUD 2,265 (≈ $1,580) · Base application charge when the applicant already holds a Post-Higher Education Work visa (Second Post-Higher Education Work stream). 3
- A fee of AUD 2,360 (≈ $1,640) · Base application charge for a primary applicant with a Pacific-regional passport (concession from 1 July 2026). 3
- A fee of AUD 2,875 (≈ $2,000) · Additional applicant charge for each family member aged 18 or over. 3
- A fee of AUD 1,450 (≈ $1,010) · Additional applicant charge for each family member under 18. 3
Requirements
- The applicant is 35 or under; up to 49 for Masters (research) or doctorate holders and Hong Kong or BN(O) passport holders. 1
- The applicant was awarded an eligible degree in the 6 months before applying and meets the study requirement. 1
- The course was at a CRICOS-registered Australian provider offering degree-level programs. 1
- The applicant holds an eligible Student visa or a bridging visa and is in Australia when applying. 1
- The applicant passed an approved English test, for example IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, in the last 12 months. 1
- Second stream: the applicant lived, studied and worked only in a designated regional area for 2 years on the first visa. 2
- The base application charge is AUD 5,750 (≈ $4,000) for the Post-Higher Education Work stream. 3
- The base application charge is AUD 2,265 (≈ $1,580) for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. 3
- Adequate health insurance is held for the whole stay. 1
- The holder must find their own employment and can work, study and travel during the stay. 1
Stay
- 2 years for a Bachelor or coursework Masters, 3 years for a research Masters or doctorate; Indian nationals get 2 to 4 years under AI-ECTA and Hong Kong or BN(O) passport holders up to 5 years. The second stream adds 1 to 2 years. The visa cannot be extended.
- First stay: 24 to 48 months, decided case by case.
- Not renewable according to our source.
Nationality
Open to all nationalities; Indian nationals receive longer stays under the Australia-India trade agreement.
Work
Unrestricted work and study; the holder finds their own employer.
Family
Family unit members in Australia can be included when applying, and children can be added until the decision; others can apply later as subsequent entrants.
Official sources
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485): Post-Higher Education Work stream · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485): Second Post-Higher Education Work stream · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Migration Regulations 1994 (compilation current at 1 July 2026): Part 1 definitions, Schedule 1 visa application charges · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 (points system notes: pass marks set by ministerial instrument under section 96) · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-07-01
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007, section 22 (general residence requirement) · Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Government · checked 2026-10-11
Graduate visa 485 and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate visa 485 | – | 4 yr | Yes |
| Employer Nomination 186 | Needs income of AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k | – | – |
| Employer Regional 494 | Needs income of AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k | 5 yr | Limited |
| Skills in Demand · Core | Needs income of AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k | 4 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Skills in Demand · Labour deal | – | 4 yr, renewable | Yes |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Graduate visa 485?
A fee of AUD 5,750 (≈ $4,000). Base application charge, Post-Higher Education Work stream, main applicant. A fee of AUD 2,265 (≈ $1,580). Base application charge when the applicant already holds a Post-Higher Education Work visa (Second Post-Higher Education Work stream). A fee of AUD 2,360 (≈ $1,640). Base application charge for a primary applicant with a Pacific-regional passport (concession from 1 July 2026). A fee of AUD 2,875 (≈ $2,000). Additional applicant charge for each family member aged 18 or over.
How long can I stay on the Graduate visa 485?
2 years for a Bachelor or coursework Masters, 3 years for a research Masters or doctorate; Indian nationals get 2 to 4 years under AI-ECTA and Hong Kong or BN(O) passport holders up to 5 years.
Can I work on the Graduate visa 485?
Yes. Unrestricted work and study; the holder finds their own employer.
Can I bring my family on the Graduate visa 485?
Family unit members in Australia can be included when applying, and children can be added until the decision; others can apply later as subsequent entrants.
Is there a tax break for Graduate visa 485 holders in Australia?
Temporary resident exemption for most foreign-source income: Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Temporary resident exemption for most foreign-source income
Tax relief
Details
- On: Most foreign-source income (exempt)
- Who: Hold a temporary visa
Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable.
Taxed on
Most foreign-source income (exempt); Australian-source income and capital gains on taxable Australian property remain taxable.
Who it applies to
- Hold a temporary visa.
- Neither the individual nor their spouse (if any) is an Australian resident under the Social Security Act 1991 (not an Australian citizen, permanent resident or protected Special Category visa holder).
Exclusions
- Income from employment or services performed overseas while a temporary resident can still be taxed in Australia, depending on facts and any tax treaty.
- Not available to someone who has at any time after 6 April 2006 been an Australian resident without a temporary visa and with an Australian-resident spouse.
Tax residence
A temporary resident can be an Australian resident or a foreign resident for tax purposes; the four statutory residency tests (resides, domicile, 183-day, Commonwealth superannuation) decide residence separately.
Visas
Requires a temporary visa; no particular subclass carries the exemption itself.
Other taxes
Foreign tax paid on income declared may qualify for a foreign-source income tax offset; foreign-source income and deductions are converted to AUD.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Australia
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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 5 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485): Post-Higher Education Work stream · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485): Second Post-Higher Education Work stream · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Migration Regulations 1994 (compilation current at 1 July 2026): Part 1 definitions, Schedule 1 visa application charges · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 (points system notes: pass marks set by ministerial instrument under section 96) · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007, section 22 (general residence requirement) · Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Government · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.