How to Get Your Post-Study Work Visa for Australia 2025

Discover how you can obtain your post-study work visa for Australia seamlessly! Are you an international graduate planning to stay and work in Australia after your studies? Australia and its energetic student cities are often ranked as some of the greatest locations to live in the world. In addition to the invaluable experience of working in this highly developed and thriving economy, it’s no surprise that many students want to remain in Australia once they graduate.

We assume that you are not an exception if you are reading this article! The good news is that a post-study work visa for Australia is highly approachable and welcoming. You’re at the right place whether you’re nearing the end of your degree program or making plans for your post-graduation plans. This is our comprehensive guide to obtaining a post-study work visa for Australia

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What is a Post-Study Work Visa for Australia?

International graduates might stay in a country after finishing their education to obtain professional experience or look into employment options with a post-study work visa for Australia. This type of visa bridges the gap between academia and the workforce, giving graduates a chance to apply their education in real-world scenarios.

The most common post-study work visa for Australia is the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485). It is designed for international students who have recently graduated from an Australian institution. This visa is particularly valuable for gaining global work experience, building professional networks, and possibly paving the way for permanent residency in Australia depending on the qualifications obtained:

Graduate Work Stream: For graduates with qualifications related to occupations in demand in Australia.
Post-Study Work Stream: For graduates with higher education degrees, like bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral qualifications.

Obtaining an Australian Subclass 485 Visa

Post-Study Work Visa for Australia

The Temporary Graduate Visa, also known as the Subclass 485 visa for Australia, is the best option if you intend to live, study, and work in Australia following graduation. You can work in Australia for a predetermined amount of time with this visa. With this visa, you are also permitted to bring your close family members into the country! The first step, however, is to determine if you qualify for the Subclass 485 visa. To qualify, you have to:

Be younger than 50 years.

Possess one of the following credentials and be an international student:
- A bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s degree with honors
- Master’s degree (via coursework, research, or extension)
- A doctorate
Be eligible for a course offered by an Australian education provider that is listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
Possess a valid visa and have been on a student visa for the past six months.
Show that you are proficient in the English language.
Maintain a sufficient level of health insurance
Be healthy and fulfill the nation’s basic health standards.
Fulfill the nation’s character standards
The Australian Values Statement should be signed.
Not pay back any debt owed to the government of Australia
Have you never had a visa application denied while traveling?

Now, we are aware that this appears to be a lot at first glance. But don’t worry—we’ve broken down exactly what you need to accomplish with our Post-Study Work Visa for Australia checklist!

Checklist for a post-study work visa for Australia

1. When to Start the Subclass 485 Visa Application Process

It is highly advised that you apply for the Subclass 485 visa as soon as your course is officially over. This implies that as part of your official application package, you will require a letter of completion from your university. Your university has to provide the following information in this letter:

The day on which the course officially begins
Date of completion of the course
The CRICOS code that your university uses

After the official date of your course completion, you have six months to submit your application. During the application process, you must also have an eligible visa and have had a student visa at some point in the previous six months. It’s a good idea to make clear here that you do not need to be in Australia when you apply for a Subclass 485 visa. If so, the processing of your visa application will continue.

Having a Subclass 500 (Student) visa at the moment
Having either a Bridging Visa A or B and having had a student visa within the last six months
Being in possession of a valid visa and having had a student visa within the last six months
Outside of Australia but in possession of or having held a valid Subclass 500 visa within the last six months

As you can see, your application depends heavily on the six-month time frame. We will reiterate this as often as necessary you must apply as soon as you have officially finished your course! The processing times for your visa are another reason to apply as soon as feasible. Up to eight months may pass before 75% of applications are processed. Processing duration for 90% of applications might reach ten months! Your chances of receiving your visa increase with the timing of the application process.

2. Gather your identification documents.

You will have to give immigration officials accurate and current information about who you are. This comprises scanned copies of the passport pages that include:

Personal information
Your photo
Passport issuance and expiration dates

A copy of your national ID card and other supporting documentation may also be required in addition to this, for instance, if you have had a formal name change.

3. Clear the Academic Requirements for a Post-Study Work Visa for Australia

You are well aware that you must possess a current qualification in order to be eligible for the Subclass 485 visa. This prerequisite has to be:

A bachelor’s degree, bachelor’s degree with honors, master’s degree (via coursework, research, or extension), or doctorate
From a course registered with CRICOS
Presented by an educational institution in Australia

It might not be sufficient to fulfill these requirements with just a diploma or trade certification. You should be aware of this while you are still on your student visa if you intend to work after studying! To be eligible, you must additionally demonstrate that you meet additional special Australian study requirements, such as demonstrating that you:

Successfully completed the course (letter of completion)
complete the English course.
fulfilled every prerequisite of the course.
completed the course over a minimum of 16 calendar months in Australia.
finished the course after 92 weeks, or at least two years, of study time.
Obtained a Subclass 500 student visa during the course’s completion.

Certified authentic copies of your academic transcripts must be submitted with your university’s letter of completion. These must include the credentials you earned while pursuing your education in Australia.

4. Demonstrate Your English Language Ability

You must submit the results of an English language competency test unless you are a citizen of the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland, New Zealand, or Canada. Test results from the previous three years will meet this criteria. Below are the recognized English language exams and the required minimum scores:

Minimum requirements and the accepted English language test

IELTS: A minimum of five points in each section and a minimum overall score of six
A minimum of 64 on the TOEFL iBT, including at least 4 in the reading and listening and 14 in the writing and speaking portions
PTE Academic: at least 36 points in each component and a minimum total score of 50
At least a B in every area of the Occupational English Test (OET)
Cambridge C1 Advanced Test: a minimum score of 154 in each area and a minimum score of 169 overall

5. Improve Your Health Insurance

Overseas Student Health Coverage (OSHC) is something you are familiar with if you currently have or have previously held an Australian student visa. The application process for a visa requires obtaining health insurance coverage. Additionally, overseas students are required to ensure that their coverage lasts the whole time they are in Australia. When applying for a post-study work visa for Australia, the same rules apply. Even though OSHC coverage allows you to apply for this visa, you still need to obtain separate, legitimate health insurance:

immediately after OSHC coverage expires, or
before a decision is reached about your application

If the OSHC coverage expires before your student visa does, it is also nullified. When setting up your health insurance, be sure that it will cover all medical procedures and treatments, including transportation, for the duration of your stay in Australia. Paperwork that falls into this category consists of:

A letter signed by your health insurance company
Proof of your health insurance coverage
Proof of enrollment in Medicare or a Medicare card

6. Recognize Australia’s Health Minimum Standards

You might need to demonstrate that you meet the nation’s minimal health standards by taking a medical exam. This test is intended to ensure that you are free of any illnesses or conditions that:

Exposes the Australian public to high healthcare and community service expenses.
This can limit the healthcare and community services that Australian citizens and permanent residents can access.

A number of factors determine whether you require a medical evaluation and what tests you’ll need to do. Check to see whether you qualify!

7. Demonstrate that you will be a law-abiding, welcome member of Australian society.

Immigration officers want to determine if you’ll fit in well with Australian culture. You must:

Successfully complete the Australian Character Test

While in Australia, act responsibly and with integrity.

If you are older than sixteen, you must produce the following documentation:

Within a year or 12 months of submitting your visa application, you must apply for an Australian Federal Police check. Please take note that your application is only valid for full disclosure of National Police Certificates from the AFP.
Form 80: Personal Information for Character Evaluation
Form 1221: Extra information on personal details

Additionally, you may need to supply:

Police certificates for foreign nations, including your own, if you have lived there for a year (12 months) or longer during the ten years since you turned sixteen.
Records or discharge documents if you have ever served in a nation’s armed services
Your employer’s letter of conduct

In addition to the aforementioned, if you are 18 years of age or older, you must sign the Australian Values Statement. You affirm that you understand, appreciate, and will abide by Australian law and culture by signing this.

8. Additional Requirements

There are a few additional prerequisites that you may need to consider:

You will require extra paperwork if you are traveling with family for:
- Your spouse or partner
- Dependents younger than 18.
- Dependents who are older than 18
Your documents must be officially translated from either source if they are in a different language.
- The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters has accredited an Australian translator.
- An international translator who gives their complete name, address, phone number, and credentials and experience translating into the target languages
If you’re receiving assistance with your application, you can suggest another person to
- Utilize Form 956A, Appointment or Withdrawal of an Authorized Recipient, to collect mail on your behalf.
- Assist you with immigration by completing Form 956, which requests the appointment of a registered migration agent, attorney, or exempt individual.
If travel limitations linked to COVID-19 forced you to finish your course from outside of Australia:
- Your course completion still counts toward meeting the Australian study criteria needed to be eligible for a Subclass 485 visa.
- To verify your course completion, you must affix Form 1545, which has been filled out and signed by your educational provider.

The Real Application Part Is Now

To be honest, the hardest part is getting everything ready. You only need to submit your documents and log back into ImmiAccount, which you will already have if you have filed for a student visa in the past after you have finished all the other procedures and gathered all the necessary paperwork. Verify that all of your documents are scanned copies or crisp, full-color images. Make careful to save all of the papers as a single file if any of them have several pages. The application fee, which totals AUD 1,680, is somewhat high. Your application is prepared for submission as soon as the payment is received!

FAQs for the post-study work visa for Australia

1. How long do post-study work visas for Australia typically last?

The length of your post-study work visa for Australia will be determined by your application’s qualification level:

2 years for a bachelor’s degree or bachelor’s degree with honors
2 years for a master’s degree (coursework)
3 years to earn a research master’s degree
4 years for a doctorate
5 years for holders of Hong Kong or British national overseas passports who have fulfilled any of the following requirements.

2. Is it possible for me to prolong my post-study work visa for Australia?

No, the Subclass 485 visa cannot be extended. Nevertheless, you are able to apply for a second post-study work visa for Australia. You must have been living, studying, and/or working in a regional area of Australia while in possession of the first post-study work visa in order to be eligible for this.

3. Can I live in Australia once I finish my studies?

Working in Australia for a while after graduation may pave the way for permanent residency. You must be sponsored by an Australian employer or have a skill that Australia is seeking to be eligible for the work-stream permanent residence visa. You can develop the relationships and skills necessary to eventually settle down in Australia by studying and working there!

In conclusion, we hope you’ve learned two key lessons from the post-study work visa for Australia start early and be comprehensive. During the application process, you want to confirm that all of your pertinent documents are current. The best plan of action is to begin as soon as your course is officially over. You need time to work ahead so that you can make sure you’ve ticked off every box completely.

This does not, however, imply that you should expedite the application process. Most of the time, a hastily submitted application will be incomplete. Furthermore, a visa may be denied if any of the essential elements are absent or subpar. Of course, considering the processing delays, you don’t want to take that chance. Make sure that the greatest and most comprehensive bundle you can put together is what you send with your application!