Subclass 485 Post-Higher-Education-Work Stream Explained

What the Post-Higher-Education-Work stream is for

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is a temporary visa that lets eligible international graduates live, study and work in Australia for a period after finishing their studies. The Post-Higher-Education-Work stream is the pathway designed for graduates of higher-education qualifications — typically bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from an Australian institution.

This stream replaced what many students still call the "Post-Study Work" stream. The names and settings of the 485 streams have been revised by the Australian government, so always confirm the current stream name, scope and rules on the official Department of Home Affairs page rather than relying on older summaries.

• Designed for graduates of Australian higher-education degrees (bachelor's, master's, doctoral)
• A temporary visa — it lets you work after graduating, it is not permanent residence
• Stream names and settings have changed; verify the current rules on Home Affairs

The CRICOS qualification link

A central requirement of this stream is that your qualification was completed at an Australian institution and was registered on CRICOS — the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. CRICOS registration is what allows a provider to enrol international students.

Generally you also need to have studied in Australia for a minimum period and to have met the course requirements while holding the right visa. The exact study-duration rule, the qualifications that count, and how recently you must have completed are all set by Home Affairs — check them on the official subclass 485 page before you apply.

Core eligibility (defer the detail to Home Affairs)

Beyond the qualification, the subclass 485 has eligibility settings that the government reviews and updates — including a maximum age limit, an English-language requirement, a window within which you must apply after completing your course, health and character requirements, and health insurance.

These settings have changed in recent years. Because specific age limits, English-test scores and timing rules can be revised, this guide does not state them as fixed numbers — treat the official Home Affairs subclass 485 page as the single source of truth.

• Completed an eligible CRICOS-registered Australian higher-education qualification
• Met the minimum study period in Australia
• Within the maximum age limit (verify the current figure)
• Met the English-language requirement (verify the current threshold)
• Applied within the allowed timeframe after course completion
• Met health, character and health-insurance requirements

How long it lasts and what comes next

The length of stay under this stream depends on your qualification level, and in some cases on where you studied or your field — higher qualifications such as a doctorate generally attract a longer stay than a bachelor's degree. Because the exact periods are set and periodically adjusted by the government, confirm the current duration on the official source.

A subclass 485 visa is temporary. Some graduates later explore skilled or other visa pathways, but that is a separate process with its own criteria. This is general information, not immigration advice — verify everything on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.