Temporary Graduate Visa (485) 2026: Streams, Stay Length, Age Limit and the AUD 5,750 Fee

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets international students who have recently finished an eligible Australian qualification stay and work in Australia for 18 months to 3 years (longer for some nationalities). As of October 2026 the main applicant fee is AUD 5,750, up from AUD 2,300 at the start of 2026. You must be 35 or under in most cases, apply from inside Australia, and meet the English test scores set by Home Affairs.

Key points

• Fee: AUD 5,750 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026, after two increases in 2026 (to AUD 4,600 on 1 March, then AUD 5,750 on 1 July).
• Streams: Post-Higher Education Work (degree holders, 2–3 years) and Post-Vocational Education Work (VET graduates, 18 months), plus a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream for regional graduates.
• Age: 35 or under at application, or under 50 for research Masters and PhD graduates and Hong Kong/BNO passport holders.
• English: IELTS 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each skill, or an equivalent score on another accepted test.
• Announced, not law yet: the government plans to stop new family members being added to graduate visas. No start date had been published as of 11 October 2026.

What the 485 visa is for

The 485 is a temporary visa. Home Affairs says it lets you live, study and work in Australia, travel in and out as often as you like, and include eligible family members. You must find your own job; there is no employer sponsor. Many graduates use the time to gain Australian work experience before applying for an employer-sponsored or points-tested visa. See our guide to Australian PR pathways for where the 485 can lead.

The visa cannot be extended. You also cannot be granted the 485 (or the older 476) as a main applicant more than once. If you held one only as a secondary applicant, you may still apply as a main applicant.

The 485 streams compared

	Post-Higher Education Work	Post-Vocational Education Work	Second Post-Higher Education Work
Who it is for	Graduates with a Bachelor degree or higher from a CRICOS-registered course	Graduates with an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification linked to an occupation on the skilled occupation list	First Post-Higher Education Work visa holders who studied, then lived and worked or studied, in a regional area
Skills assessment	Not required	Must provide a skills assessment, or proof you have applied for one	Not required
Stay	2 to 3 years (see below)	18 months (up to 5 years for Hong Kong/BNO passport holders)	Extra period based on regional location
Main applicant fee (from 1 July 2026)	AUD 5,750	AUD 5,750	AUD 2,265

Source: Home Affairs Post-Higher Education Work stream, Post-Vocational Education Work stream and the visa pricing table, checked 11 October 2026.

How long you can stay (Post-Higher Education Work)

Qualification	Standard stay	Indian nationals (AI-ECTA)
Bachelor degree (including honours)	2 years	2 years
Bachelor with first-class honours in STEM (including ICT)	2 years	3 years
Masters (coursework or extended)	2 years	3 years
Masters (research)	3 years	3 years
Doctoral degree (PhD)	3 years	4 years

A Graduate Diploma normally gives 2 years. Hong Kong and BNO passport holders can stay up to 5 years. The visa starts on the date it is granted, not the date you arrive or finish your course.

Eligibility: the main requirements

According to Home Affairs, the main applicant must:

1. Be 35 or under when applying. The limit is under 50 for people using a Masters (research) or PhD to meet the study requirement, and for Hong Kong or BNO passport holders.
2. Be in Australia when applying (not in immigration clearance).
3. Hold an eligible visa, usually a Student visa, or have held a Student visa in the last 6 months.
4. Have completed an eligible qualification in the last 6 months and meet the Australian study requirement.
5. Meet the English requirement (see below).
6. Have adequate health insurance for everyone on the application.
7. Have applied for an Australian Federal Police check at the time of applying, and meet the health and character requirements.

For the Post-Vocational stream you also need a valid skills assessment for your nominated occupation, or evidence that you have applied for one. Skills assessments are valid for up to 3 years.

English test scores (tests taken on or after 7 August 2025)

Test	Overall	Each component (minimum)
IELTS Academic or General Training	6.5	5.5
PTE Academic	55	Listening 40, Reading 42, Writing 41, Speaking 39
TOEFL iBT	81	Listening 12, Reading 12, Writing 14, Speaking 17
CELPIP General	8	6
LanguageCert Academic	67	Listening 49, Reading 54, Writing 56, Speaking 62
MET	58	Listening 53, Reading 51, Writing 51, Speaking 43
OET	1310	Listening 260, Reading 280, Writing 260, Speaking 310

C1 Advanced is not accepted for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Hong Kong and BNO passport holders have lower minimum scores (for example IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.0 in each skill). Home Affairs accepts IELTS One Skill Retake results if the retake is done before you lodge.

The 485 fee: two increases in 2026

The 485 has had the steepest fee rises of any major Australian visa this year.

Date	Main applicant fee	What changed
Before 1 March 2026	AUD 2,300	Previous rate
1 March 2026	AUD 4,600	Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visa Application Charge) Regulations 2026 doubled the base charge
1 July 2026	AUD 5,750	General increase to most visa charges

As of October 2026, additional applicants pay AUD 2,875 (18 and over) or AUD 1,450 (under 18). Eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens pay a lower charge. You will also pay for health checks, police certificates and, if needed, biometrics. Use the Visa Pricing Estimator before you lodge, because the fee charged is the one in force on the day you apply. For a full list of current fees, see our Australia visa fees 2026 guide.

Family members: what is changing

Right now, Home Affairs says you can include members of your family unit in a 485 application. That may change.

In his National Press Club speech on 17 September 2026, Minister Tony Burke said the government would “no longer be allowing the attaching of family members for international students or for graduate visas”, with exceptions including Pacific and ASEAN nations and some courses such as PhDs. He also said families already in Australia on a visa would not be split up.

The student part of this change commenced on 2 October 2026. As of 11 October 2026, no instrument applying the same rule to the 485 had been published. Treat it as announced, not in force, and check the 485 page and our updates page before you apply. If your partner currently holds a Student visa as your dependant, the separate October 2026 student visa changes explain which rules apply to them.

How to apply: step by step

1. Check your completion date. Your provider must confirm you have finished your course. You have 6 months from completion to lodge.
2. Book your English test early if you do not already have a valid result.
3. Get health insurance that covers you and any family members for the whole stay.
4. Apply for an AFP police check and keep the reference as evidence.
5. For the Post-Vocational stream, apply for your skills assessment with the right assessing authority.
6. Lodge in ImmiAccount while you are in Australia, and pay the fee.
7. Arrange health exams and biometrics if asked.
8. Keep your current visa conditions until a decision. You may get a bridging visa while you wait.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Missing the 6-month window. Both the Student visa link and the course completion date have 6-month limits.
• Applying from overseas. The main applicant must be in Australia.
• Using an old English test. Results must meet the current score table and be recent enough. Check the validity rules on the Home Affairs page.
• Assuming the visa can be extended. It cannot. Plan your next visa early.

What to do next

• Confirm your stream and stay length using the tables above and the official 485 pages.
• Budget for the AUD 5,750 fee plus health insurance, police checks and medicals.
• Start planning your next step. Our Australia hub and the points test guide explain how 485 work experience can help a later PR application.
• If your case is complex (a past refusal, a gap in visas, or family members), speak to a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner before you lodge.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Visa rules and fees change often; always confirm on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.