First Post-Study Work Stream
A 485 Temporary Graduate Visa in the Post-Study Work Stream, is a temporary visa that allows international students who have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian education institution to stay in Australia between 2 to 4 years after finishing their studies. The length of stay will depend on the level of your Australian study qualification. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years once they have successfully completed their studies. They can extend their stay for another 5 years and have a pathway to permanent residency after 5 years.
You will be able to travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid, and you have the option to include accompanying family members in your application.
485 Temporary Graduate Visa – Post-Study Work Stream – The basics
To apply for a 485 Temporary Graduate Visa – Post-Study Work Stream, you must:
- Be under 50 years of age
- Hold an eligible visa
- Have held a student visa within the last 6 months before your application
- Have a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course
- Have adequate health insurance for yourself (and accompanying family members)
- Provide evidence of your English language skills
- Provide evidence that you have applied for an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check with your application
- Meet the health and character requirements
Second Post-Study Work Stream
If you are a holder of a first Temporary Graduate in the post-study work stream, you could apply for a second 485 post-study work stream visa if you graduated with a degree from an Australian education institution located in a regional area. This visa will allow you to stay between 1 and 2 years depending on the regional location of the school that you graduated from that led to the grant of your first 485 post-study work stream and the regional area that you’ve lived in for the last 2 years.
Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years once they have successfully completed their studies. They can extend their stay for another 5 years and have a pathway to permanent residency after 5 years.
You will be able to travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid, and you have the option to include accompanying family members in your application.
485 Temporary Graduate Visa – Second Post-Study Work Stream – The basics
To apply for a 485 Temporary Graduate Visa – Graduate Work Stream, you must:
- Be under 50 years of age
- Be a holder of a first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream
- Have a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course from an Australian education institution located in a regional area
- Have lived in an eligible designated regional area for at least 2 years before applying for the second temporary graduate visa in the post-study work stream
- Have adequate health insurance for yourself (and accompanying family members)
- Meet the health and character requirements
If you studied and lived in one of the following areas, you will be able to stay for another year:
- ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart
If you studied and lived in regional centres and other regional areas, you will be able to stay for another 2 years.
You must meet the health and character requirements and hold adequate health insurance for yourself and accompanying family members for the length of your intended stay in Australia.
