Temporary Graduate visa
Allows eligible recent graduates to live, work and study in Australia temporarily after completing Australian study.
Overview
Stay period
Usually between 2 and 3 years depending on qualification; Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years.
Cost
From AUD 4,600
Work rights
Live, work and study in Australia. Travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid. Include eligible family members.
Last checked
29 April 2026
Key requirements
- •Must be in Australia when applying
- •Must have held a Student visa (subclass 500) at some point in the last 6 months before applying
- •Must have completed an eligible Australian qualification (bachelor degree or higher) from a CRICOS-registered institution
- •Must be under 50 years of age in most cases (standard age limit is under 35; higher limits may apply for doctoral or research degrees and certain passport holders)
- •Must meet English language requirements — minimum thresholds apply
- •Must hold acceptable health insurance throughout the visa period
- •Must meet health and character requirements, including police clearance
- •Must have no outstanding debt to the Australian Government
- •Must sign the Australian Values Statement if 18 or older
Documents required
- •Valid passport
- •Evidence of completing an eligible Australian qualification from a CRICOS-registered institution
- •Evidence of having held a Student visa (subclass 500) within the last 6 months
- •English language test results meeting the minimum threshold
- •Health insurance evidence (Overseas Student Health Cover or equivalent)
- •Australian police clearance certificate
- •Overseas police certificates if required
- •Identity documents and proof of name change if applicable
- •Health examination results if requested
- •Family member documents if including dependants
- •Translated documents for non-English documents
Application steps
- 1Confirm eligibility including age, recency of student visa, qualification, and English requirements
- 2Gather all required documents including qualification evidence, police certificates, and health insurance
- 3Apply online through ImmiAccount while in Australia
- 4Pay the visa application charge
- 5Complete health examination if requested
- 6Provide police certificates and any additional documents requested
- 7Respond to any requests for further information
- 8Wait for written visa outcome
Visa conditions
- •Temporary visa — must find own employment
- •The visa cannot be extended; a new application must be submitted if further stay is sought
- •May apply for the Graduate Work stream (second stream) under subclass 485 if eligible for that stream
- •Must maintain acceptable health insurance throughout the visa period
- •Must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws
- •Travel to and from Australia while the visa is valid
- •Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa
- •Notify the Department if circumstances change
Risk flags
- !Applicants must be in Australia when applying — offshore applications are not eligible
- !Must have held a student visa within the 6 months before applying — timing is critical
- !Age requirements apply; standard applicants must generally be under 35 at time of application
- !English language test results must meet minimum thresholds
- !Qualification must be at bachelor level or higher from a CRICOS-registered provider
- !Employment outcomes and transition to further pathways depend on individual circumstances
- !The visa does not guarantee access to skilled migration pathways
- !Incomplete or incorrect information may delay or affect the application
English language requirements
English language requirements apply. Minimum thresholds must be met. The applicable test type and score depend on individual circumstances and the test date.
Notes
- •Minimum thresholds apply. Specific band or score requirements depend on the test chosen and the date the test was taken.
- •Refer to the official Department of Home Affairs website for current requirements.
Financial requirements
Notes
- •No specific personal income threshold is stated for this visa stream.
- •Applicants must pay the government application charge.
- •Acceptable health insurance must be maintained throughout the visa period.
- •Additional costs may include health examinations, police certificates, and translation of documents.
Status
no income threshold stated in source
Eligibility
Age Limit
Note
Standard age limit is under 35. Higher limits may apply in certain circumstances.
Default
35
Exceptions
- •
Doctoral (PhD) or research degree graduates may qualify up to age 50 in some circumstances
- •
Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders may have different age thresholds
- •
Age requirements should be verified against current official sources
Location Requirement
Note
Applicant must be in Australia at the time of application
Must Be In Australia
Yes
Police Check Required
Yes
Student Visa Requirement
Description
Must have held a Student visa (subclass 500) at some point in the last 6 months before applying
Health Insurance Required
Yes
Qualification Requirement
Description
Must have completed a bachelor degree or higher from a CRICOS-registered Australian institution
Qualification Levels
- •
Bachelor degree
- •
Bachelor honours degree
- •
Graduate certificate
- •
Graduate diploma
- •
Masters degree by coursework
- •
Masters degree by research
- •
Doctoral degree
Pathway
Stage 1
Student visa (500)
→
Stage 2
Temporary Graduate visa (485) — Post-Higher Education Work stream
→
Stage 3
Skilled migration pathways (189/190/491) — may be relevant depending on individual circumstances
Typical progression pathways in the Australian visa system may include moving from a Student visa to a Temporary Graduate visa, and later to skilled migration pathways depending on individual circumstances.
This represents a typical progression context only. It does not constitute migration advice or guarantee access to permanent residence pathways.
Source snapshots
PDF snapshot
Captured: 29 April 2026
This page provides general information only. It does not provide migration advice or legal advice. For personalised advice, speak with a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner.