Subclass 485 Visa Australia Post Study Stream

Subclass 485 Visa Australia Post Study Stream

Subclass 485 Visa is granted in Post Study stream to International students in Australia who have completed a degree with minimum 2 years of study.

Subclass 485 Visa in the Post-Study Work Stream

The Subclass 485 visa is a temporary visa allowing international students to remain in Australia after completing their studies. The duration of your stay will depend on the level and type of qualification you have completed, such as a Bachelor’s degree (including honours), Master’s by coursework or research, or a Doctoral degree.

Eligibility for the Subclass 485 Visa (Post-Study Work Stream)

To be eligible for this visa, you must have completed your course in Australia within six months of the application date. Note that you cannot be granted this visa if you have previously held a Subclass 485 or Subclass 476 visa as a primary visa holder.

Age Requirement

Applicants must be under 50 years of age to be eligible for the Subclass 485 visa.

Visa Eligibility Requirements

This visa is available only if you applied for and were granted your first student visa to Australia on or after 5 November 2011. If your first student visa was issued before this date, even as a dependent child on a parent’s student visa, you are not eligible to apply for the Post-Study Work Stream.

Eligible applicants can submit their visa application from outside Australia during the concession period and be granted the visa while outside Australia. You are eligible to apply if:

  • You are the primary holder of a current student visa (not supported by the Defence or Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister).
  • You held a student visa in the past six months before your application and now hold a Bridging Visa A or B, or a substantive visa.
  • You are outside Australia and currently hold or previously held an eligible student visa.

Qualification Requirements

To apply under the Post-Study Work Stream, you must have completed an eligible qualification within six months of your application. Eligible degrees include:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Bachelor (honours) degree
  • Master’s by coursework
  • Master’s (extended) degree
  • Master’s by research
  • Doctoral degree

If you completed a certificate, diploma, or trade qualification, you are not eligible for this stream and should consider applying under the Graduate Work Stream.

Australian Study Requirement

To meet the Australian study requirement, you must have completed at least one degree, diploma, or trade qualification and satisfy the following:

  • The course was registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
  • All course requirements were successfully completed.
  • The course was taught in English.
  • The course spanned a minimum of two academic years (92 weeks).
  • The study was undertaken in Australia for at least 16 calendar months while holding a student visa.

If you were affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions and completed part of your course online, this may still count towards the Australian study requirement, provided your education provider completes Form 1545 – COVID-19 Impacted Students.

Health Insurance Requirement

As per Australian law, applicants must have adequate health insurance throughout their stay in Australia. Your health insurance should cover medically necessary treatments, including ambulance services.

Reciprocal Health Care Agreements

Countries such as Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, and the UK have reciprocal health care agreements with Australia, which may limit healthcare costs for citizens of these countries.

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

If you are applying for the Subclass 485 visa while still on a student visa, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) will be acceptable evidence of health insurance. However, if your student visa has expired, OSHC will not be sufficient, and you must obtain new health cover before the Department of Home Affairs makes a decision on your visa application.

English Language Requirement

If you hold a valid passport from the USA, UK, New Zealand, Canada, or the Republic of Ireland, you are exempt from providing English language test results. All other applicants must demonstrate English proficiency by achieving the following minimum scores within the last three years:

  • IELTS: Overall score of at least 6, with a minimum of 5 in each component.
  • TOEFL iBT: Total score of at least 64, with minimum scores of 4 for listening and reading, and 14 for writing and speaking.
  • PTE Academic: Overall score of at least 50, with a minimum of 36 in each component.
  • OET: At least a B in each component.
  • Cambridge C1 Advanced Test: Overall score of at least 169, with a minimum of 154 in each component.

Police Clearance Requirement

Your application must include an Australian Federal Police clearance (Full Disclosure) or proof that you have applied for one.

Visa Duration

The length of your stay in Australia will depend on the qualification you completed:

  • Bachelor’s Degree (including Honours): 2 years
  • Master’s by Coursework or Research: 3 years
  • Master’s (Extended): 3 years
  • Doctoral Degree: 4 years
  • Hong Kong and BNO passport holders (Bachelor, Master’s, or Doctoral degree): 5 years

Disclaimer: Aussie Migration Services Pty Ltd and its associates are independent consulting entities and are not affiliated with the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DOHA). The information provided here does not constitute personalized migration advice. For customized advice based on your circumstances, please consult one of our Immigration Consultants or register your interest with our Associates