Subclass 485 Post-Vocational-Education-Work Stream Explained

What the Post-Vocational-Education-Work stream covers

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) has more than one stream. The Post-Vocational-Education-Work stream is the pathway aimed at graduates of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications — for example, diploma and trade qualifications delivered by TAFE institutes and other registered training organisations in Australia.

This is distinct from the higher-education stream, which is for university degree graduates. If your study was a VET-sector qualification rather than a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, this is generally the relevant stream — but always confirm which stream applies to you on the official Department of Home Affairs page.

• For graduates of Australian VET/TAFE qualifications (e.g. diplomas, trade qualifications)
• Separate from the Post-Higher-Education-Work (degree) stream
• Confirm the correct stream for your qualification on Home Affairs

The occupation-list link

A key feature that sets the vocational stream apart is its link to an occupation list. Eligibility generally depends on your VET qualification relating to an occupation that is on the relevant skilled-occupation list used for this stream, and a positive skills assessment for that occupation is typically required.

The occupation lists and the assessing authorities are set and updated by the Australian government. Because lists change, this guide does not reproduce them — check the current list and the skills-assessment requirements on the official sources before relying on this pathway.

How it differs from the higher-education stream

The two streams differ mainly in the qualification they recognise and the conditions attached. The higher-education stream is degree-based and does not require your study to match a listed occupation, whereas the vocational stream is built around an occupation on a skilled list with a skills assessment.

Stay periods, age limits, English requirements and application timing can also differ between the streams and are periodically revised. Compare the streams using the official Home Affairs subclass 485 page rather than third-party tables.

• Higher-education stream: degree-based, no occupation-list match required
• Vocational stream: occupation-list link + skills assessment typically required
• Stay periods and other settings can differ — verify on Home Affairs

Core eligibility (verify on the official source)

Across both streams, the subclass 485 carries common eligibility settings — a maximum age limit, an English-language requirement, a window to apply after course completion, and health, character and health-insurance requirements. The vocational stream adds the occupation and skills-assessment elements.

These settings have changed in recent years, so this guide intentionally avoids stating fixed numbers. Treat immi.homeaffairs.gov.au as the single source of truth. This is general information, not immigration advice.

• Completed an eligible CRICOS-registered Australian VET qualification
• Qualification relates to an occupation on the relevant list (verify the current list)
• Hold a positive skills assessment for that occupation where required
• Within the maximum age limit and met the English requirement (verify both)
• Applied within the allowed timeframe; met health, character and insurance rules