The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) allows eligible international students who have completed studies in Australia to live, work and study in Australia temporarily after graduation.
The Subclass 485 visa can provide graduates with valuable time to gain work experience, develop their careers and consider future visa options in Australia.
Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the 485 visa in 2026, including eligibility, visa duration, work rights, health insurance, Medicare, costs and family members.
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is a temporary visa for eligible international students who have recently completed an Australian qualification.
Depending on the stream and the applicant's circumstances, the visa allows graduates to remain temporarily in Australia to live, work and study after completing their studies.
The two main streams are:
There is also a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream for certain eligible graduates who studied and lived in designated regional areas.
Eligibility depends on the stream under which you apply.
Generally, applicants need to meet requirements relating to matters such as:
For the Post-Higher Education Work stream, applicants generally need to have completed an eligible degree or other qualifying higher education qualification from a CRICOS-registered course.
For the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, applicants generally need an eligible associate degree, diploma or trade qualification relevant to an occupation specified for that stream.
The exact requirements should always be checked before lodging an application.
Generally, you must be 35 years of age or under when you apply for a Temporary Graduate visa.
However, exceptions apply.
For the Post-Higher Education Work stream, applicants can be under 50 years of age where they are using a Masters (research) or Doctoral Degree (PhD) to meet the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders also have different age arrangements.
Different rules can apply depending on the stream and applicant's circumstances.
The length of stay depends on the stream, qualification and, in some circumstances, the applicant's passport.
Under the Post-Higher Education Work stream, current general stay periods include:
Different stay periods apply to eligible Indian nationals under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA).
The Post-Vocational Education Work stream generally allows a stay of up to 18 months.
Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may have longer stay periods.
Yes. A Temporary Graduate visa allows you to work in Australia while your visa is valid.
Unlike a Student visa, the 485 visa is designed to allow graduates to live, study and work temporarily in Australia after completing their studies.
You are responsible for finding your own employment, and holding a 485 visa does not guarantee employment.
Yes. Subclass 485 visa holders can generally study in Australia while holding the visa.
However, if you intend to undertake substantial further study, you should consider whether another visa, such as a Student visa, is more appropriate for your circumstances.
Eligible members of your family unit may be included in your application.
Family members may also be able to apply later as subsequent entrants, subject to satisfying the applicable requirements.
Family members included in the application must meet relevant health and character requirements and must have adequate health insurance.
Yes. You and any family members included in your application must have adequate health insurance.
Home Affairs requires applicants to provide evidence of adequate health insurance when applying and requires 485 visa holders and their family members to maintain adequate health insurance for the duration of their stay in Australia.
Many 485 visa holders choose 485 visa health insurance, such as suitable Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC), to meet their health cover needs while living and working in Australia.
Depending on your visa circumstances, maintaining adequate health insurance may also be relevant to visa condition 8501, which requires certain visa holders to maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is primarily designed for Student visa holders.
When moving from a Student visa to a Temporary Graduate visa, you should check whether your existing OSHC continues to provide appropriate cover and whether it satisfies the health insurance requirements applicable to your circumstances.
Many graduates transition from OSHC to an appropriate OVHC or graduate health insurance policy when applying for or moving onto their 485 visa.
Do not cancel your existing health insurance until you are satisfied that your replacement cover starts at the appropriate time, as this could create a gap in health insurance coverage.
Price is important, but it should not be the only consideration.
When comparing 485 visa health insurance, consider:
The right policy will depend on your circumstances, health needs and budget. For more information about choosing cover, read our 485 Visa Health Insurance Guide for an overview of costs, coverage and important factors to consider.
Not necessarily.
A cheaper policy may provide the basic level of cover you require, but it can also have higher excesses, lower benefits or additional exclusions and restrictions.
When comparing policies, consider both price and benefits rather than selecting a policy solely because it has the lowest premium.
Generally, you can change health insurers.
Before switching, check:
Try to avoid any gap between your old and new health insurance policies.
If you have an existing medical condition, you should also understand how pre-existing conditions and 485 visa health insurance may affect waiting periods and benefits when changing policies.
Holding a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) does not, by itself, automatically make every visa holder eligible for Medicare.
However, some 485 visa holders may qualify for Medicare depending on their individual circumstances.
For example, Medicare eligibility may arise where a person:
Services Australia states that people living in Australia who have applied for certain permanent residency visas may be able to enrol in Medicare where the relevant requirements are satisfied. Visitors from some Reciprocal Health Care Agreement countries may also be eligible for Medicare benefits, although the extent of cover depends on the particular agreement.
Therefore, a 485 visa holder should check their individual Medicare eligibility with Services Australia rather than assuming that holding a 485 visa either automatically provides or automatically excludes Medicare.
Even where Medicare is available, you should separately consider the health insurance requirements attached to your 485 visa and your individual circumstances. Home Affairs states that 485 visa holders and their family members must have and maintain adequate health insurance for their stay.
Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with a number of countries.
These agreements can provide eligible visitors from participating countries with access to certain medically necessary health services while in Australia.
However, the eligibility requirements and level of cover are not identical for every country.
If you believe you may qualify under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, check the requirements for your particular country directly with Services Australia before relying on Medicare for your healthcare needs.
The current base application charge for the Temporary Graduate visa is from AUD $5,750, with concessions applying in limited circumstances. The visa application charge increased from 1 July 2026. Read our 485 Visa Fee Increase from 1 July 2026 article for more information about the change.
Additional charges may apply for family members included in the application.
Applicants may also incur other expenses such as:
Visa charges can change, so applicants should check the current Home Affairs pricing before lodging an application. For a more detailed breakdown of the visa application charge and other potential expenses, see our 485 Visa Cost in Australia 2026 guide.
Applicants must provide evidence that they have applied for an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check when applying for the Temporary Graduate visa.
You and family members must also satisfy the applicable character requirements.
Because timing and documentary requirements are important, make sure you check the current Home Affairs requirements before lodging the visa application.
Yes. Applicants must provide evidence that they meet the required level of English, unless an applicable exemption applies.
The required test scores and validity periods can change, so applicants should check the current Temporary Graduate visa requirements before undertaking a test or lodging their application.
For more information about English test requirements and recent changes, read our 485 Visa English Requirements guide.
Yes. A Temporary Graduate visa allows you to travel in and out of Australia while the visa remains valid.
The visa period continues to run while you are outside Australia, so time spent overseas does not normally extend the expiry date of your visa.
A 485 visa is a temporary visa and does not itself guarantee Australian permanent residency.
However, the time spent on a 485 visa may allow graduates to gain relevant employment experience, improve their skills and explore other visa pathways for which they may become eligible.
Possible future pathways depend on factors such as occupation, qualifications, skills assessment, work experience, age, English ability, employer sponsorship, state or territory nomination and the migration rules applying at the relevant time.
The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream is available to certain Temporary Graduate visa holders who obtained an eligible qualification from an Australian institution located in a designated regional area and satisfy the relevant residence and other requirements.
Eligible applicants may receive an additional period in Australia.
Specific eligibility requirements apply, including requirements relating to the applicant's first 485 visa, regional study and residence.
You should arrange appropriate health insurance before lodging your 485 visa application where evidence of adequate health insurance is required.
Home Affairs lists evidence of adequate health insurance among the requirements for applicants under the relevant 485 streams.
If you are transitioning from a Student visa and OSHC, coordinate the dates carefully so that you do not unintentionally create a gap in your health cover.
You can compare 485 visa health insurance policies based on factors such as premium, hospital benefits, medical benefits, ambulance cover, waiting periods, excesses and other policy features.
Comparing policies can help you identify cover appropriate for your circumstances rather than simply choosing the first policy offered to you.
Visa requirements, government charges and immigration policies can change. Information on this page is general information and should not be treated as personal immigration, legal, financial or medical advice.
For current visa requirements, check the Australian Department of Home Affairs. For Medicare eligibility, check directly with Services Australia.