One of the key considerations when choosing a study destination is whether you can remain there after completing your course. In the case of Australia, well known for its high quality of life and career options, it's unsurprising that many international graduates want to stay for a few more years. To help you achieve that dream, we've explored post-study visas in Australia and their application processes, with a focus on the Temporary Graduate visa.
The Australian Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
Australia values its graduates and wants to be a place where they can fulfil their potential. Accordingly, the Temporary Graduate visa provides a great opportunity for international students to live and work in the country after they finish their course. Applicants for the visa are divided into two streams:
- Post-Vocational Education Work
- Post-Higher Education Work
We go into more detail on each of these below.
Who can apply?
You can apply for an Australian Temporary Graduate visa if you have recently graduated with a degree, diploma or vocational qualification from an Australian institution, and:
- are under 35 years old (or 50 if you are from Hong Kong, or have studied at postgraduate research or doctoral level)
- meet the Australian study requirement
- meet an English language requirement (e.g. have an IELTS score of 6.5)
- hold an Australian student visa OR have held one in the last six months and currently have a Bridging (category A or B) or substantive visa.
These are the key requirements, but there are others. Both the Post-Vocational Education and Post-Higher Education streams have their own eligibility criteria, which we will explain in more detail in this article.
New Zealand citizens should not apply for a Temporary Graduate visa. If you have a passport, you will automatically qualify for a Special Category visa that allows you to visit, work and study in Australia.
Post-Vocational Education Work stream
The Post-Vocational Education Work stream is designed for international students who have completed a course that focused on skills Australia needs. To be eligible, your qualification must be closely related to a job listed on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). You will need to nominate this occupation on your application form.
The MLTSSL changes depending on the needs of the Australian economy. Even if you do not see your profession there now, it’s worth continuing to check for it.
If your visa is granted, you must work in the profession you have nominated.
Find out more about the type of workers the country requires with our guide to the most in-demand jobs in Australia.
Who can apply?
To be eligible for a Post-Vocational Education Work stream visa, you must:
- have an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification that is closely related to an occupation on the MLTSSL
- have applied for a skills assessment in your chosen occupation.
Skills assessment
When you have nominated your profession, the suitability of your skills will need to be evaluated by a relevant assessing authority.
It is your responsibility to arrange this skills assessment, and it is best to do so as early as possible. While you only need to have started the process when making your visa application, it must be successful before your application can be approved.
Each assessing authority has different procedures, deadlines and charges that you should consider. Typically, though, your skills assessment will remain valid for three years.
How long can I stay?
Post-Vocational Education Work stream visa holders can remain in Australia for up to 18 months. The only exceptions are Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, who may stay in the country for up to five years.
You cannot extend this visa, but you may be eligible to apply for a different one when it expires. We have more information about this at the end of this article.
Post-Higher Education Work stream
The Post-Higher Education Work stream is designed for international students who have recently graduated with a degree or postgraduate certificate or diploma from an Australian education provider.
Who can apply?
To be able to apply for a Post-Higher Education Work stream visa you must have received an eligible degree, postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma from an approved Australian institution in the past six months.
How long can I stay?
Most holders of Post-Higher Education Work stream visas can stay in Australia for either two or three years. Visa length varies according to the level of your qualification, as the following table shows.
|
Degree type |
Length of visa |
|
Bachelor's degree |
Two years |
|
Master's degree (coursework or extended) |
Two years |
|
Master's degree (research) |
Three years |
|
Doctoral degree (PhD) |
Three years |
For students from some parts of the world, the length of a Post-Higher Education Work stream visa can differ. If you are from India, you are subject to a separate framework, as shown in the next table.
|
Degree type |
Length of visa |
|
Bachelor's degree |
Two years |
|
Bachelor's degree in STEM (first class) |
Three years |
|
Master's degree (coursework, extended or research) |
Three years |
|
Doctoral degree (PhD) |
Four years |
In addition to this, graduates from Hong Kong can remain in Australia for a maximum of five years, regardless of their degree level.
You cannot extend a Post-Higher Education Work stream visa. However, you may be able to apply for a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream visa, or a different work visa.
Looking for inspiration as you plan ahead? Discover the top graduate job sectors in Australia.
What rules are there?
As a Temporary Graduate visa holder in either stream, you will be able to:
- work
- look for work
- study
- bring your family members
- leave and return to Australia freely.
A Temporary Graduate visa does not allow you to use the country's social security system. This includes its subsidised Medicare health insurance scheme. Instead, you must purchase and maintain adequate health insurance for the duration of your time in Australia.
Be aware that every visa is unique and given on a case-by-case basis. Yours may have other conditions, depending on your circumstances.
When to apply
You must apply for your Australian Temporary Graduate visa:
- before your existing visa expires
- within six months of completing your relevant qualification.
How much does it cost?
The cost of an Australian Temporary Graduate visa starts at AUD 2,300 unless it is your Second Post-Higher Education Work visa. In that case, the minimum cost is AUD 905.
Depending on the documents you need to supply, you may also have to pay additional fees. Furthermore, you will need to be able to support yourself financially while in Australia. Although proving this ability is not a requirement of the application process, it is always important to consider costs like rent, bills and travel.
You may find our article on the cost of living in Australia helpful when budgeting.
What documents do you need?
When you apply for your first Australian Temporary Graduate visa, you will need:
- your passport
- a completion letter from your education provider stating their CRICOS code and the start and end dates of your course
- certified copies of your course transcripts
- evidence you have obtained adequate health insurance
- evidence you have applied for an Australian Federal Police check.
You might also be asked to provide:
- evidence of your English ability (e.g. results from an English language test approved by the Australian government)
- skills assessment documents (Post-Vocational Education Work stream only).
If you are applying for a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream visa, you will not need to provide evidence of a police check or your English language ability.
Completing your application
You will need to complete your application online. Make sure you have your bank card ready to pay the associated fees.
After you apply
You will not receive a decision on your Temporary Graduate visa application immediately. For applicants on the Post-Higher Education Work stream, average processing times are currently seven days. On the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, the average is 51 days.
This information comes from the Australian government's visa processing times tool. It is correct at time of writing, but average processing periods can change significantly through the year.
What other visas are there?
There are other Australian work visas that may suit you better, or which may be of use in the future. The table below explains some of the options.
|
Visa type |
Eligible applicants |
Length |
|
Holders of a first Post-Higher Education Work stream visa living in an eligible region of Australia. |
One to two years |
|
|
Suitably skilled workers in jobs which cannot be filled by an Australian resident. |
Up to four years |
|
|
People aged 18-30 (or 35 in some countries) who want to work during an extended holiday in Australia. |
One year |
Find out more about the range of work visas available in Australia.
Final considerations
Check the conditions and dates of your visa when you receive it. These will tell you what you can and cannot do when you are in Australia, and for how long. If you think there has been a mistake, you must inform the Department of Home Affairs as soon as possible for it to be amended.
We hope this has given you a good understanding of how to apply for a post-study visa in Australia. You can continue your research with our guides to the Australian job market, finding a graduate career in Australia and the top employers in Australia.
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