Subclass 485 vs New Zealand Post-Study Work Eligibility Compared

Two separate countries, two separate systems

Australia and New Zealand each offer a post-study work pathway for eligible international graduates, but they are run by different governments under different rules. Australia's is the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), administered by the Department of Home Affairs. New Zealand's is the Post Study Work Visa, administered by Immigration New Zealand.

The two are not interchangeable, and qualifying for one says nothing about qualifying for the other. This guide compares the structure of each so you can see how they differ — always confirm specifics on each country's official immigration site.

• Australia: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — Department of Home Affairs
• New Zealand: Post Study Work Visa — Immigration New Zealand
• Separate systems; eligibility for one is independent of the other

What triggers eligibility

For Australia's subclass 485, eligibility generally hinges on completing an eligible CRICOS-registered Australian qualification, meeting a minimum study period, and satisfying age, English, timing, health and character requirements. The vocational stream additionally links to a skilled occupation.

For New Zealand's Post Study Work Visa, eligibility generally hinges on completing an eligible qualification at an approved New Zealand education provider, meeting the relevant qualification-level and study requirements set by Immigration New Zealand. Each country defines its eligible qualifications and conditions in its own official rules — verify them at the source.

• Australia 485: eligible CRICOS Australian qualification + age/English/timing rules
• NZ PSWV: eligible qualification from an approved NZ provider + INZ conditions
• Each country sets its own list of eligible qualifications — verify officially

Streams and structure

Australia's subclass 485 is divided into streams — including the Post-Higher-Education-Work stream for degree graduates and the Post-Vocational-Education-Work stream for VET graduates — each with its own conditions, and the vocational stream is tied to an occupation list.

New Zealand's post-study work settings are structured around the level of the qualification and the provider, and they have their own conditions for who can apply and for how long. Because both countries periodically revise these structures, treat each official site as the authority on its own system.

• Australia 485: multiple streams (higher-education, vocational) with distinct rules
• New Zealand: settings structured around qualification level and provider
• Both countries revise their structures — check the current official rules

Duration and conditions

In both countries, how long the post-study work visa lasts generally depends on the qualification — higher or more advanced qualifications tend to allow a longer stay — but the actual periods, and any field or location factors, are set separately by each government and have changed over time.

Work rights, conditions and what (if anything) the visa can lead to also differ between the two. This guide does not state durations or hour limits as fixed numbers — confirm the current periods and conditions on the relevant official site.

How to compare for your own case

The most reliable way to compare is to read each country's official page against your own qualification and circumstances, rather than relying on a single summary. Note where you studied, the level and type of your qualification, and the country whose visa you are considering.

Because Australia and New Zealand are distinct jurisdictions with frequently changing rules, this is general information, not immigration advice. Verify Australia's rules on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and New Zealand's on immigration.govt.nz before acting.

• Check each official site against your specific qualification and situation
• Keep the two countries' rules separate — don't assume they match
• Verify Australia on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, New Zealand on immigration.govt.nz