Australia remains among the most sought-after countries by international students for education and career opportunities. The Post Study Work Visa Subclass 485 is for international graduates who want to stay in Australia after the successful completion of their studies to gain practical experience in work. As of October 2025, the Australian government has re-engineered this visa process to make it flexible, transparent, and demand-driven.
Subclass 485 Visa Description
This Post-Study Work Visa (Subclass 485) is for students who have completed a tertiary qualification in Australia under which they can live, study, and work temporarily in Australia. There are two major streams of the visa: the Graduate Work Stream for the applicants who have skills relating to certain occupations in demand, and the Post-Study Work Stream for higher education graduates. The duration of stay depends on the qualification, ranging from two to four years, while a regional graduate may get an up-to-five-year stay.
Eligibility Criteria
Generally, to apply for the Subclass 485 visa, the applicant must undertake a CRICOS-registered course in Australia and hold an eligible student visa within six months. English language testing is also done to meet the English proficiency requirement, with IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL accepted. Health insurance must be provided for the entire period of staying. Applicants also need to provide health and character certificates for processing.
The Application Process-Step by Step
The applicant needs to collect some documents, such as the applicant’s passport, academic transcripts, English test results, and proof of health insurance. Afterwards, the applicant must open an ImmiAccount with the website of the Department of Home Affairs and proceed with the application online by filling out the forms, uploading documents, and paying the prescribed processing fee. The average processing timing takes about three to six months, depending on how fast the applicant stream and document verification are done, on how accurate the documents are.
Conclusion
The Australian Post-Study Work Visa (Subclass 485) offers foreign graduates splendid opportunities to carve out their careers in Australia in October 2025. Setting for a quick online application, faster processing, and an opportunity for extension of stay should a graduate choose regional Australia, the process thus favors the skilled who wish to join Australia’s vibrant workforce and forge ahead in a splendid life after graduation.