The subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa allows international students to live and work in Australia after completing their studies. It is one of the main reasons students choose Australia for postgraduate education.

There are two streams. The Graduate Work stream is for students who completed a qualification in a skilled occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List. It gives 18 months of work rights. The Post-Study Work stream is for bachelor's degree holders and above. It gives two years for a bachelor's degree, three years for a masters, and four years for a doctorate. The post-study work stream does not require your degree to be in a listed occupation.

To apply, you must have studied for at least two years (92 weeks) in Australia and have studied in Australia for at least 16 months in the five years before applying. Online study completed outside Australia does not count toward this requirement, which became relevant for students who studied remotely during the pandemic.

You must apply within six months of completing your studies. Do not wait for the physical degree certificate, as this can take months. Apply using your academic transcript or a letter from your institution confirming completion.

During your 485 visa, you can work full-time in any job in Australia without restriction. You can also study, but the 485 is not a study visa and does not automatically give you student status. Healthcare coverage under Medicare is available to 485 holders from countries that have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia. India does not have this agreement, so you will need private health insurance.

The 485 visa is a common stepping stone toward skilled migration visas and eventually permanent residency through the skilled migration points system.