485 Visa Requirements in 2026 – Are You Still Eligible After the Rule Changes?
The 485 visa requirements changed significantly from July 2024 and again in March 2026. If you are an engineering or ICT graduate who completed your studies in Australia and wants to stay and work after graduation, understanding the current rules before you apply is not optional. One missed requirement or late application means you lose youreligibility for that qualification entirely.
What Is the 485 Visa and Who Is It For?
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa allows international students who completed a CRICOS-registered qualification in Australia to live, work, and study temporarily after graduation. It provides full, unrestricted work rights from day one. No employer sponsorship is required, no minimum salary, and no occupation restrictions apply to most streams.
The 485 visa is the standard bridge between completing Australian study and either gaining professional experience, building a PR points score, or qualifying for a skilled migration visa. It also gives engineering and ICT graduates the time they need to complete a Professional Year program, which adds 5 points to askilled migration EOI.
Important: You must apply within 6 months of your course completion. Missing this window means you cannot apply for a 485 visa based on that qualification, regardless of your eligibility on every other criterion.
485 Visa Requirements by Stream in 2026
The 485 visa has four streams in 2026. Each stream has different qualification requirements, stay periods, and age conditions. Choosing the wrong stream causes refusal, not just delay.
Stream | Qualification Required | Stay Period | Age Limit |
Post-Higher Education Work | Bachelor’s degree, Masters, or PhD from an Australian institution | 2 years (Bachelor’s), 3 years (Masters), 4 years (PhD) | Under 35 |
Post-Vocational Education Work | Certificate III/IV, Diploma, or Advanced Diploma from Australian TAFE. Occupation on skilled list plus positiveskills assessment required. | 18 months | Under 35 |
Second Post-Higher Education Work | Must have held a 485 Post-Higher Education Work visa, studied and lived in a regional area for 2 years before applying | 1 to 2 additional years | Under 35 |
Graduate Research | Masters by Research or PhD from an Australian institution | 3 to 4 years | Under 50 |
2026 age rule note: The age limit dropped from 50 to 35 for most streams from July 2024. Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders remain eligible up to age 50 for the Post-Higher Education Work and Second Post-Higher Education Work streams.
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General 485 Visa Requirements All Applicants Must Meet
Regardless of which stream applies to you, every 485 visa applicant must meet all of the following conditions at the time of application.
- Be in Australia when the application is lodged
- Hold an eligible visa at time ofapplication, typically a Student visa (Subclass 500) or a bridging visa
- Has not had a Student visa in the last 6 months prior to application
- Have completed a CRICOS-registered qualification in Australia within the required timeframe
- Meet the 2-year Australian study requirement; at least 16 months of the 2-year study must be completed in Australia
- Be 35 years of age or under when the application is lodged, unless an exception applies
- Meet the English language requirement, see the section below
- Meet health and character requirements; health examination and police clearances required
- Hold adequate health insurance for yourself and all secondary applicants throughout the visa period
There are no discretionary exemptions on any of these conditions. If you do not meet one criterion, the application is refused. Partial compliance is not accepted.
English Language Requirements for the 485 Visa in 2026
English test requirements for the 485 visa tightened from July 2024. The minimum scores now required are higher than the previous standards. The accepted minimal scores for each test.
Test | Minimum Overall | Minimum Per Band | Notes |
IELTS Academic or General | 6.0 overall | 5.0 in each band | Both Academic and General Training accepted |
PTE Academic | 50 overall | 36 in each communicative skill | 485 PTE requirement confirmed from July 2024 changes |
TOEFL iBT | 64 overall | L: 4, R: 4, W: 14, S: 14 | Check Home Affairs for current band minimums |
OET | B overall | B in each component | Accepted for 485 from July 2024 |
Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 169 overall | 154 in each skill | Accepted as per Home Affairs current policy |
Passport exemptions: Citizens of the UK, USA, Canada,New Zealand, and Ireland are exempt from the English language test requirement for the 485 visa.
485 Visa Requirements for the Graduate Work Stream: Engineers and ICT Graduates
The Graduate Work stream is specifically for graduates whose qualification is closely related to an occupation on the MLTSSL. Engineers and ICT graduates must nominate an ANZSCO code and have applied for a skills assessment at the time of lodging the 485 application.
Engineering Graduates: Engineers Australia CDR Assessment
- Qualification must be closely related to your nominated ANZSCO occupation
- Engineers Australia assesses all major codes including Civil (233211), Electrical (233311), Mechanical (233512), and Mining (233611) through the CDR pathway
- Standard processing takes 10 to 16 weeks
ICT Graduates: ACS RPL Report Assessment
- Qualification must be closely related to your nominated ANZSCO occupation on theMLTSSL
- ACS assesses Software Engineers (261313), ICT Business Analysts (261111), Cybersecurity Analysts (262112), and all major ICT codes through the RPL pathway
- Standard processing takes 12 to 19 weeks
The skills assessment does not need to be completed before you lodge your 485 application. You must have applied and be awaiting the outcome. A negative result may cause visa refusal or cancellation. Apply for the skills assessment before your course ends.
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485 Visa Fees in 2026
Visa application fees increased significantly from 1 March 2026. These are the current fees for the main streams.
Applicant | Post-Higher Education Work Stream | Post-Vocational Work Stream | Notes |
Primary applicant | AUD 4,600 | AUD 1,810 | Fee increased from 1 March 2026 |
Secondary applicant aged 18 or over | AUD 2,300 | AUD 905 | Each additional adult |
Secondary applicant under 18 | AUD 1,150 | AUD 450 | Each child applicant |
Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens | Reduced fee applies from 1 March 2026 | Reduced fee applies | Check current Home Affairs fee schedule for exact figures |
Note: Visa application fees are non-refundable if the application is refused. Health examination costs are additional, typically AUD 300 to 600 per person depending on age and country. Police clearances from each country of residence are also required at additional cost.
From 485 Visa to Permanent Residency for Engineers and ICT Graduates
The 485 visa is not a PR pathway on its own. It is a bridge that gives engineering and ICT graduates time to build the points score, experience, and skills assessment outcome needed for a points-tested visa.
Action on 485 | Points Gained | Why It Matters |
Complete Professional Year program in Australia | 5 points | Must hold a 485 visa. Requires 1 year remaining on 485 when applying. |
Gain 1 to 3 years of Australian skilled work experience | 5 to 15 points | Australian work experience in your nominated ANZSCO occupation earns significantly more points than overseas experience |
Improve English score from Proficient to Superior | 10 additional points | Moving from IELTS 7+ to IELTS 8+ adds 10 points to yourEOI score |
Get a positive skills assessment outcome | Eligibility for EOI | Engineers Australia or ACS outcome required before any EOI can be lodged |
Apply for state nomination while on 485 | 5 or 15 bonus points | 190 state nomination adds 5 points, 491 regional nomination adds 15 points |
Engineering and ICT graduates who use their 485 visa productively, completing a Professional Year, gaining Australian work experience in their ANZSCO occupation, and lodging an EOI with a strong points score, are among the most competitive applicants in the skilled migration pool.
Common Mistakes in 485 Visa Applications for Engineering Graduates
Understanding the most frequent errors helps you avoid delays or refusals in meeting the 485 visa requirements.
Mistake | Result | Fix |
Applying after the 6-month window | Ineligible for 485 based on that qualification. No discretionary exceptions. | Apply within 6 months of course completion. |
Nominating wrongANZSCO code in Graduate Work stream | Skills assessment refused. Visa delayed or refused. | Check ANZSCO task descriptions before applying. |
Not applying for skills assessment before 485 lodgement | Graduate Work stream refuses the application. | Lodge EA or ACS assessment before or with your 485. |
Using an expired English test result | Automatic refusal. | Check expiry date before lodging. Resit if needed. |
Start Your Skills Assessment Before You Apply for the 485 Visa
For engineering and ICT graduates, the skills assessment is the most time-sensitive step in the485 visa requirements. Engineers Australia takes 10 to 16 weeks to assess a CDR. ACS takes 12 to 19 weeks for a standard RPL assessment. Starting either process after graduation means your assessment result may not arrive until your 485 visa is already granted, losing months of valuable EOI preparation time.
CDR Australia Writer prepares CDR reports and Career Episodes for engineering graduates applying under the Graduate Work stream, and ACS RPL reports for ICT graduates. Every document is built against your specific ANZSCO code with zero plagiarism and a 100% approval record.
Get your skills assessment started before you graduate. Contact CDR Australia Writer today.
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We have mentioned common questions asked by our clients regarding CDR report, ACS RPL report, KA02 report, and skill assessment process.
Located in Australia, less than 35 years of age and recently had a student visa within 6 months. Have completed a CRICOS registered course, the study requirement of 2 years, english requirement, and health insurance.
AUD 4,600 (Post-Higher Education Work). AUD 1,810 (Post-Vocational). Additional adults AUD 2,300 each. Non-refundable on refusal.
Yes under the Graduate Work stream. Nominate an MLTSSL occupation and apply forEngineers Australia (engineers) or ACS (ICT) assessment before lodging.
50 overall, 36 per skill. Exemptions apply to those holding a passport of UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Ireland.
2 years required for bachelor’s degree holders, 3 for master’s degree holders, and 4 for PhD degree holders. For the second post-higher education stream (Graduate Research) it will take 3 or 4 years.