Step 1: Confirm You Meet the Eligibility Requirements

Before you open ImmiAccount, confirm you meet every core requirement. Lodging an application you are not eligible for wastes your application fee, the Department does not refund it.

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Check all of the following:

• Age: Age: generally under 35 for most applicants, with eligibility available up to 50 depending on specific exemptions (exceptions apply for Masters by Research, PhD, and Hong Kong/BNO passport holders)

• Study: completed an eligible Australian qualification at a CRICOS-registered institution, held a Student visa (subclass 500), and studied in Australia for at least 16 months

• Six-month rule: your course completion date must fall within the last six months at the time you lodge

• English: valid test results meeting minimum scores, or you qualify for an exemption

• Location: you must be in Australia when you apply

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TR 485 Age Limit — Full Breakdown | TR 485 English Requirement

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Step 2: Determine Your Visa Stream

The stream you apply under affects your visa duration, what documents you need, and whether a skills assessment is required. Selecting the wrong stream is one of the most common application errors.

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• Post-Higher Education Work Stream: Bachelor, Masters, or PhD graduates. No skills assessment required. Duration: 2–3 years depending on qualification level.

• Post-Vocational Education Work Stream: Diploma and Trade graduates. Requires a skills assessment and occupation on the MLTSSL. Duration: 18 months.

• Second Post-Higher Education Work (PHEW) Stream: For graduates who already held a 485 visa and studied/lived in a designated regional area. Duration: additional 1–2 years.

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TR 485 Visa Streams — Explained | Best Time to Apply for TR 485

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Step 3: Gather Your Documents Before You Lodge

Do not start your application until your documents are ready. An incomplete application at lodgement triggers a Section 56 request from the Department, which may pause processing until you respond.

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Most applicants need:

• Passport (bio-data page)

• Official completion letter from your education provider (must state course name, CRICOS code, and completion date)

• Academic transcripts

• Valid English test results (check your expiry date, results are generally valid for 12 months at the time of application, depending on when the test was taken)

• AFP National Police Check (plus overseas police certificates if applicable)

• Health examination completed through an approved panel physician

• Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) for the full visa duration

• Skills assessment (Post-Vocational Education Work Stream only)

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Book your health examination before or immediately after lodging — outstanding health checks are the most common processing bottleneck.

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TR 485 Document Checklist — Full Category Breakdown | TR 485 Processing Time — How Document Gaps Affect Your Timeline

Step 4: Lodge Through ImmiAccount

Create or log in to your ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Select "New application," choose Temporary Graduate (subclass 485), and complete the online form.

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Key things to check before you submit:

• Every personal detail matches your passport exactly — name spelling, date of birth, passport number

• You select the correct visa stream

• All documents upload clearly and completely

• Your English test results, health examination, and police check are attached or in progress

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Once you submit, ImmiAccount generates a Transaction Reference Number (TRN). Keep this — you need it to track your application.

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Step 5: Pay the Application Fee

Payment processes through ImmiAccount at the time of lodgement. Your application does not enter the queue until payment clears. The fee varies depending on stream and the number of applicants included.

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Check the current government charge before you lodge: TR 485 Visa Fee — 2026 Update

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Step 6: Receive Your Bridging Visa

From the moment you lodge, you receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA). This keeps you in Australia legally while the Department assesses your application and generally carries work and study rights similar to your previous student visa, depending on your conditions in most cases.

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Do not leave Australia while on a BVA without first applying for a Bridging Visa B, leaving without one cancels your bridging visa and affects your 485 application.

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TR 485 Bridging Visa — What You Need to Know

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Step 7: Respond to Department Requests Promptly

After lodgement, the Department may request additional information or ask you to complete outstanding health checks. These requests come through ImmiAccount as Section 56 notices and carry a response deadline, typically 28 days.

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Your application pauses from the moment a request is issued until you respond. Treat every Departmental request as urgent regardless of the deadline.

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Monitor ImmiAccount regularly after lodging. The Department does not send SMS or phone reminders.

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What Happens After You Apply?

Processing time varies by stream and how complete your application is at lodgement. Most applications resolve within 3 to 5 months.

 

If the Department needs nothing further from you, you receive a visa grant letter through ImmiAccount and by email.

If your application is refused, you may have options including merits review. TR 485 Refused — What to Do Next

TR 485 Processing Time — Full Breakdown

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Timing: When Should You Apply?

Apply as soon as you meet the eligibility requirements, do not wait until the last possible moment.

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Two timing rules matter most:

• Six-month rule: your course must have been completed within the six months before you lodge. Miss this window and your application is invalid regardless of everything else. What Happens If You Miss the 6-Month Deadline

• Current visa expiry: lodge before your student visa expires. If you lodge in time, your BVA activates immediately. If you let your student visa lapse before lodging, you may accrue unlawful status.

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The best time to apply is immediately after you receive your official completion letter, not when your transcript is ready, not when your visa is about to expire.

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Key Takeaways

Every TR 485 application lodges through ImmiAccount, no paper option exists. Preparation before lodgement matters more than speed at lodgement. Select your stream carefully before you start. Book your health examination early. Respond to every Departmental request immediately. Lodge as soon as you meet eligibility, timing errors are the most common reason valid applicants miss out.

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Frequently Asked Question

Do I need a migration agent to apply for a 485 visa?

No — you can apply directly through ImmiAccount without a migration agent. That said, a registered agent reviews your stream selection, document completeness, and timing before you lodge, which removes the most common causes of delays and refusals.

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Can I apply for a 485 visa before I receive my final results?

No. You must have completed your course and hold official completion evidence at the time you lodge. A final transcript alone does not satisfy this requirement, you need a completion letter from your institution that confirms course name, CRICOS code, and completion date.

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What if I make a mistake on my application after submitting?

Contact the Department through ImmiAccount as soon as you identify the error. Minor corrections to personal details are usually straightforward. Errors affecting eligibility, wrong stream selection, incorrect study details, are more serious and may require professional advice.

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Can I include my partner in my 485 application?

Yes. You can include a spouse or de facto partner and dependent children either at lodgement or after you submit, subject to conditions. Each secondary applicant must meet health and character requirements.

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What happens to my application if I leave Australia?

If you hold a Bridging Visa A and leave Australia without a Bridging Visa B, your BVA cancels and may affect your application or your ability to return to Australia on your current visa status. Apply for a BVB through ImmiAccount before you travel.

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