Australia | Post Study Work Visa (Subclass 485)
Post Study Work Visa Consultants in Chandigarh
The best opportunity to use this time for your future prospects! Finished your studies in Australia? The post study work visa lets you stay on, gain full-time Australian work experience and build a pathway towards permanent residency.
Quick answer: Australia's post study work visa is the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). It lets international graduates of a CRICOS-registered course live, work full time and study in Australia for about 18 months to 3 years, depending on their qualification. Auscan Consultants, with offices in Chandigarh and Melbourne, helps students check eligibility, choose the right stream and lodge a strong 485 application.
Subclass 485 post study work visa at a glance
| Visa | Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Australia's post study work visa |
|---|---|
| Streams | Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Vocational Education Work, Second Post-Higher Education Work (regional) and Replacement stream |
| How long you can stay | Bachelor / coursework Master: 2 years · Master by research / PhD: 3 years · Diploma / trade: up to 18 months |
| Age limit | 35 or under at the time of application (some exceptions apply) |
| English | IELTS 6.5 overall, minimum 5.5 in each band (or equivalent, e.g. PTE Academic) |
| When to apply | Within 6 months of completing your course, while holding (or having held in the last 6 months) a student visa |
| Work & study rights | Unlimited work rights; you can also study and travel in and out of Australia |
| Family | Partner and dependent children can be included, or join later as subsequent entrants |
| Government fee | From 1 July 2026, AUD 5,750 for the main applicant (additional fees for family members) |
Information current as of October 2026. Visa rules and fees change often — always confirm with the Department of Home Affairs or speak to our registered migration agents before you apply.
Am I eligible for a post study work visa?
To be eligible for the Australian post study work visa (subclass 485), you generally need to meet all of the following requirements:
- Your course was CRICOS-registered
- You successfully completed all course requirements
- Your study was conducted in English
- You completed your study over at least two academic years (92 weeks)
- You were physically in Australia for at least 16 calendar months to complete the study
- You held an Australian visa that allowed you to study (a student visa within the last 6 months)
- You are 35 years of age or under when you apply (exceptions apply for some research graduates and Hong Kong / BNO passport holders)
- You meet the English requirement, hold adequate health insurance and have applied for an Australian Federal Police check
- You apply within 6 months of your course completion date
Provisional visas: 491, 485 and 476
A provisional visa is a temporary visa that also provides a pathway to permanent residency. Depending on your situation, you may later be able to apply for the permanent visa related to your provisional visa.
Subclass 491
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa – for skilled workers nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible relative, to live and work in regional Australia. It can lead to permanent residency through the subclass 191 visa.
Subclass 485
Temporary Graduate visa – the post study work visa for recent international graduates of Australian institutions. The Australian work experience gained on a 485 can strengthen a later skilled visa application.
Subclass 476
Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa – previously available to recent engineering graduates of recognised institutions. It is now closed to new applications.
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and subsequent entrants
When an international student completes a 2-year diploma, a Bachelor degree or a Master degree in Australia, they have the option of applying for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). This visa gives you full-time work and study options, so you can gain Australian work experience after at least two academic years (92 weeks) of study. The 485 visa is divided into the following streams:
Post-Higher Education Work stream
Formerly the Post-Study Work stream. For international students who have recently completed a Bachelor, Master or Doctoral degree from an Australian institution. It lets you live, work and study in Australia temporarily for 2–3 years, depending on your qualification.
- You can work in Australia
- You can study as well
- You can bring your family with you
Post-Vocational Education Work stream
Formerly the Graduate Work stream. For graduates with an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification closely related to an occupation on the skilled occupation list. Stay up to 18 months.
- You have completed at least two years of study
- Your occupation is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
- You hold a relevant skills assessment for that occupation
- You can bring your family, who can work, study and travel to and from Australia
Second Post-Higher Education Work stream
Graduates who studied and lived in an eligible regional area while holding their first Post-Higher Education Work visa may apply for an additional 1–2 years in Australia.
Subsequent entrant of 485: adding your family later
You can include your spouse and dependent children when you make your 485 visa application. This also includes de facto partners — where you live with your partner but are not married. To include dependants at the time of lodging, they must be in Australia and must hold, or have recently held, student visas.
You can also apply to have dependants join you after your 485 visa is granted. This is called a "subsequent entrant" application. It is a really useful pathway if:
- you get married after you apply for your 485 visa,
- your partner or children did not travel with you to Australia on student visas, or
- your family members were not included in the application when you lodged it.
How our post study work visa consultants in Chandigarh help you
- Free online assessment – we check your course, study duration, age, English score and visa history against the current 485 criteria.
- Right stream & timing – we confirm whether you fit the Post-Higher Education, Post-Vocational or regional second stream, and make sure you apply within the 6-month window.
- Document checklist – completion letter, transcripts, English test, AFP check, health insurance and, where needed, skills assessment.
- Application & family – we prepare and lodge your 485 application, including your partner and children or a later subsequent entrant application.
- Pathway to PR – we plan your next step, such as a skilled visa (189, 190 or 491) or employer sponsorship, using your Australian work experience.
Testimonials
What our clients say about Auscan Consultants.
Thank you, Auscan, for making my dream come true. They always give the right advice to their applicants. Auscan helped me and my partner in getting my student visa. A great team who do their work with great effort, and a big thank you to Miss Sunaina who handled my case very sincerely.
Thank you, Auscan, for making my dream come true. They always give the right advice to their applicants. Auscan helped me and my partner in getting my student visa. A great team who do their work with great effort, and a big thank you to Miss Sunaina who handled my case very sincerely.
Post study work visa FAQs
What is a post study work visa in Australia?
The post study work visa is the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). It lets international students who have recently completed a CRICOS-registered course in Australia stay temporarily to live, work full time and study, usually for 18 months to 3 years depending on the qualification.
Am I eligible for the 485 post study work visa?
You generally need a CRICOS-registered qualification taught in English of at least two academic years (92 weeks), at least 16 months physically in Australia while studying, a student visa held in the last 6 months, age 35 or under (with some exceptions), the required English test score, health insurance, and you must apply within 6 months of completing your course.
How long can I stay on a 485 visa?
Bachelor and coursework Master graduates can usually stay 2 years, Master by research and PhD graduates 3 years, and diploma or trade graduates in the Post-Vocational Education Work stream up to 18 months. Graduates who studied and lived in regional Australia may qualify for an extra 1–2 years through the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
What English score do I need for the 485 visa?
The current requirement is IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each band, or an equivalent score in another accepted test such as PTE Academic. The test must be taken within 12 months before you apply.
Can I include my partner and children in my 485 visa?
Yes. You can include your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children in your 485 application, or they can apply later as subsequent entrants after your visa is granted — useful if you marry after applying or your family was not in Australia when you lodged.
Do I need a consultant to apply for a post study work visa?
It is not mandatory, but a registered migration agent can check your eligibility, choose the right stream, prepare a decision-ready application and plan your path from the 485 visa to permanent residency. Auscan Consultants offers a free online assessment and does not charge a consultation fee until you hire our services.
Free online assessment for your post study work visa
Find out in minutes whether you qualify for the subclass 485 visa. Talk to our team in Chandigarh and Melbourne — or online.
- Chandigarh: S.C.O. No 11, Sector 17-E, Above Tejees, Chandigarh – +91 172 500 2055, +91 172 500 2088
- Melbourne: SE 601, Level 6, 343 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 – +61 3 9670 9124
- Email: info@auscanimmigration.com
