Recent graduates
Completed a 2-year Australian qualification in the last 6 months on a Student Visa.
- info@mapeducation.com.au
- Suite 201/110 Church Street Parramatta, NSW 2150
Subclass 485
Temporary Graduate Visa
Live, work and travel in Australia after you graduate.
MARA Registered Agent
MARN 2619348
Subclass
485
Validity
2 – 6 years
Processing
6 – 12 months
Work Rights
Full · unrestricted
Who it's for
Designed for real-world applicants.
Find out at a glance whether this visa pathway fits your circumstances — and where the Temporary Graduate Visa sits in the wider Australian migration system.
Stay & gain experience
Live, study, travel and work full-time in Australia after you finish your course.
PR stepping stone
Use this time to gain points-tested work experience and complete skills assessment.
The detail
Everything you need to plan.
Eligibility, documents, timeline and step-by-step process — laid out the way our migration agents actually walk you through it on the first call.
The dossier
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets recent graduates of an eligible Australian qualification stay on to live, work and travel — with full, unrestricted work rights — for two to six years depending on stream and qualification. It is the bridge between finishing your studies and building the points-tested work experience and skills assessment that lead to permanent residency.
Eligibility Criteria
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is for recent graduates of eligible Australian qualifications. You may be eligible if you:
- Hold an eligible qualification — completed a CRICOS course requiring at least two academic years of study.
- Apply within 6 months of completing your course.
- Held a student visa within the last 6 months.
- Meet the age limit — under 35 for the Post-Higher Education Work stream (under 50 for Masters by research and PhD graduates).
- Meet English — IELTS Academic 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 per band), taken within the last year.
- Hold health insurance and meet health and character requirements.
Visa length depends on your qualification: Bachelor or Masters (coursework) ~2 years, Masters (research) ~3 years, PhD ~4 years. Talk to our agent about timing your application.
Required Documents
A typical subclass 485 application includes:
Study & identity
- Valid passport
- Completion letter and academic transcripts from your provider
- Evidence your course was registered on CRICOS
Supporting evidence
- English test results (IELTS Academic 6.5, valid within 12 months)
- Australian Federal Police and any overseas police clearances
- Health insurance covering your stay
- Evidence you held a student visa within the last 6 months
Some applicants also need a skills assessment for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream — we'll confirm which stream fits you.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Eligibility & stream check — we confirm your qualification, age and the right stream.
- English & clearances — sit IELTS (if needed) and obtain police clearances.
- Document preparation — gather completion evidence and health insurance.
- Lodge within 6 months — we lodge before your post-study window closes.
- Bridging visa — you usually receive a bridging visa to remain and work while it's processed.
- Grant — full work rights for 2–4 years; we map your next step to PR.
Processing typically takes several months; lodging complete and early is the single biggest factor in a smooth outcome.
Why a MARA agent matters
Licensed advice. Legally protected outcomes.
Australian migration law is regulated for a reason. Under the Migration Act, only a MARA-registered agent can lawfully provide immigration assistance for a fee. Our principal agent holds MARN 2619348 and personally reviews every visa application before lodgement.
Registered under MARN 2619348
Verifiable on the OMARA public register — your legal safeguard.
Transparent flat-fee pricing
Every cost written down before you sign. No commission-driven shortcuts.
98% visa success rate
A decade of lodgements across 30+ visa subclasses — and counting.
Ready when you are
Get a free visa assessment, today.
Speak directly to our MARA-registered agent. We'll review your profile, confirm eligibility for the Temporary Graduate Visa, and give you a written next-step plan.