Temporary Graduate Visa Overview

 

The Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) allows international students to live, study and work in Australia for up to 18 months after completing a vocational qualification, or up to 5 years after completing a higher education degree. 

 

The 485 TGV visa, which allows for full- or part-time work, is a fantastic opportunity to acquire useful job experience in Australia. It may also offer a route to other types of visas, including the subclass 186, 189 or 190 skilled visas.

 

These are the 3 Temporary Graduate Visa streams:

  • Post-vocational Education Work stream
  • Post-Higher Education Work stream
  • Second Post-Higher Education Work stream

 

Visa Tab Title

Post-Vocational Education Work Stream Overview

Fornerly known as ‘Graduate Work stream’, this 485 visa stream is for international students who have recently graduated with vocational qualifications (such as diplomas or certificates) that are relevant to specific occupations in demand in Australia.

Duration of Stay

Up to 18 months.

 

Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for up to 5 years.​

Cost

From AUD 1,945.00

Processing Time

Based on data from the Department of Home Affairs:

  • 50% of applications are processed in 6 months
  • 90% of applications are processed in 8 months

Post-Higher Education Work Stream Overview

Previously known as the ‘Post-Study Work stream’, this visa stream is for international students who have recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree or higher from an Australian institution.

Duration of Stay

You can stay between 2 and 3 years, depending on your qualification:

 

  • Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years
  • Masters (coursework and extended) – 2 years
  • Masters (research) – 3 years
  • Doctoral degree – 3 years

 

For Indian nationals, the specified durations below are based on the Australia India – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA):

 

  • Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years
  • Bachelor degree (with first class honours in STEM, including ICT) – 3 years
  • Masters (coursework, extended and research) – 3 years
  • Doctoral degrees (PhD) – 4 years

 

Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders can stay for up to 5 years.

Cost

From AUD 1,945.00

Processing Time

Based on data from the Department of Home Affairs:

 

  • 50% of applications are processed in 3 months
  • 90% of applications are processed in 5 months

 

Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream Overview

Previously known as the Second Post-Study Work Stream, this visa is for Temporary Graduate visa holders in the Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work, or Replacement stream who completed their higher education degree at an institution located in a designated regional area of Australia.

Duration of Stay

The stay period for the Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream visa can be either 1 year or 2 years, depending on:

  • The regional location of the educational institution where you completed your qualifying course for your first Temporary Graduate visa.
  • The regional area where you lived as the holder of your first Temporary Graduate visa.
  • The type of degree you completed while holding a Student visa prior to your first Temporary Graduate visa.

Specifically, if you lived and studied in:

  • a Category 1 area (Cities and Major Regional Centres) during your first TGV, you may be granted a 1-year stay period
  • a Category 2 area (Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas) during your first TGV, you may be granted a 2-year stay period.
State or TerritoryCategoryPostcodesGrant Period
New South WalesCities and major regional centres2259, 2264 to 2308, 2500 to 2526, 2528 to 2535 and 25741 Year
Regional centres and other regional areas2250 to 2258, 2260 to 2263, 2311 to 2490, 2527, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2739, 2753 to 2754, 2756 to 2758 and 2773 to 28982 Years
VictoriaCities and major regional centres3211 to 3232, 3235, 3240, 3328, 3330 to 3333, 3340 and 33421 Year
Regional centres and other regional areas3097 to 3099, 3139, 3233 to 3234, 3236 to 3239, 3241 to 3325, 3329, 3334, 3341, 3345 to 3424, 3430 to 3799, 3809 to 3909, 3912 to 3971 and 3978 to 39962 Years
QueenslandCities and major regional centres4019 to 4022, 4025, 4037, 4074, 4076 to 4078, 4207 to 4275, 4300 to 4301, 4303 to 4305, 4500 to 4506, 4508 to 4512, 4514 to 4516, 4517 to 4519, 4521, 4550 to 4551, 4553 to 4562, 4564 to 4569 and 4571 to 45751 Year
Regional centres and other regional areas4124, 4125, 4133, 4183 to 4184, 4280 to 4287, 4306 to 4498, 4507, 4552, 4563, 4570 and 4580 to 48952 Years
Western AustraliaCities and major regional centres6000 to 6038, 6050 to 6083, 6090 to 6182, 6208 to 6211, 6214 and 6556 to 65581 Year
Regional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in Western Australia not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above2 Years
South AustraliaCities and major regional centres5000 to 5171, 5173 to 5174, 5231 to 5235, 5240 to 5252, 5351 and 5950 to 59601 Year
Regional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in South Australia not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above2 Years
TasmaniaCities and major regional centres7000, 7004 to 7026, 7030 to 7109, 7140 to 7151 and 7170 to 71771 Year
Regional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in Tasmania not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above2 Years
Australian Capital TerritoryCities and major regional centresAll postcodes in the Australian Capital Territory1 Year
Regional centres and other regional areasNone–
Northern TerritoryCities and major regional centresNone–
Regional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in the Northern Territory2 Years
Norfolk IslandCities and major regional centresNone–
Regional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in Norfolk Island2 Years
Other TerritoriesCities and major regional centresNone–
Regional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in a Territory other than the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory or Norfolk Island2 Years

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