Australia 485 Visa for Indian Students 2026: Stay Length, Fees and Checklist for Punjab Graduates

World Immigration Terminal

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Short answer: The Australia 485 visa for Indian students (the Temporary Graduate visa) lets you stay and work in Australia after you finish an eligible CRICOS-registered course. Indian passport holders in the Post-Higher Education Work stream can stay up to 2 years after a bachelor's degree, up to 3 years after a master's degree or a First Class Honours STEM bachelor's degree, and up to 4 years after a PhD. From 1 March 2026 the main applicant fee is AUD 4,600, most applicants must be 35 or under, and you need IELTS 6.5 overall (or an equivalent score) from a test taken within the last year.

For thousands of students from Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar and the rest of Punjab, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is the bridge between an Australian degree and an Australian career. The rules have changed several times since 2024, and many online guides still quote old fees and old stay periods. This guide sets out the current position for Indian passport holders using official Australian government sources, so you can choose your course and plan your budget before you leave India.

What Is the Australia 485 Visa?

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is a temporary visa for recent international graduates of Australian institutions. Study Australia, the Australian Government's official study portal, lists these key points:

You can work unrestricted hours in any sector.
You can include your partner, child or partner's child, and they must meet health and character requirements.
You apply for one stream, and you cannot change streams after you apply.
You must have held a Student visa in the last 6 months and hold a recent qualification from a CRICOS-registered course.

The 485 is not a permanent residency visa. It gives you time to gain Australian work experience, which may help if you later apply for an employer-sponsored or skilled visa.

The Three 485 Streams at a Glance

Stream	Who it suits	Usual stay (general rules)
Post-Vocational Education Work	Graduates with an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification closely related to a nominated occupation	Up to 18 months
Post-Higher Education Work	Graduates with a bachelor's degree or higher from an Australian institution	Usually 2 to 3 years, depending on the qualification
Second Post-Higher Education Work	Regional graduates who already hold a first Post-Higher Education Work (or earlier Post-Study Work or Replacement) visa	1 to 2 years, depending on the regional location

Most Punjab students on bachelor's and master's courses will apply in the Post-Higher Education Work stream. If you are on a diploma or trade course, check carefully that your qualification is linked to an occupation on the relevant skilled list, because the vocational stream is much narrower.

Australia 485 Visa for Indian Students: Stay Length by Degree

Indian passport holders get their own stay periods in the Post-Higher Education Work stream. These come from the post-study work side letter to the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), and they are listed for Indian graduates on the Victorian Government's Study Melbourne website.

Your Australian qualification	Maximum stay for Indian passport holders
Bachelor's degree (including honours)	Up to 2 years
Bachelor's degree with First Class Honours in STEM (including ICT)	Up to 3 years
Master's degree (coursework, extended or research)	Up to 3 years
Doctoral degree (PhD)	Up to 4 years

This is one of the most useful facts to know when choosing a course from Punjab. A master's degree in Australia can give an Indian graduate up to 3 years of post-study work, compared with up to 2 years after a standard bachelor's degree. Studying and living in a regional area can also open a Second Post-Higher Education Work visa later, but that depends on the exact location, so confirm eligibility before you choose a campus.

Key 485 Visa Requirements in 2026

Age limit

Study Australia states that you must be aged 35 or under when you apply. Home Affairs allows some exceptions, including for certain research graduates, so check the official page if you are older.

English language

For applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024, the minimum English score for a Temporary Graduate visa is IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, speaking and listening), or an equivalent score in another accepted test. The test must be taken no more than one year before you apply. Plan a fresh test near the end of your course rather than relying on the score you used for your student visa. Our IELTS score requirements by country guide compares this with other countries.

Australian study requirement and timing

Your qualification must meet the Australian study requirement, which is based on the length and type of CRICOS-registered study you completed in Australia. Home Affairs explains it on its 485 study requirement page. Your qualification must also be recent and you must have held a Student visa in the last 6 months, so do not leave your application until long after graduation.

Health, character and documents

You, and any family members you include, must meet health and character requirements. Check the document checklist on the Home Affairs 485 page for current police certificate, health insurance and identity requirements before you lodge.

485 Visa Fees from 1 March 2026

The Australian Government doubled the Temporary Graduate visa application charge for applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026, as announced on Study Australia.

Applicant	Before 1 March 2026	From 1 March 2026
Main applicant	AUD 2,300	AUD 4,600
Additional applicant aged 18 or over	AUD 1,150	AUD 2,300
Additional applicant under 18	AUD 580	AUD 1,160

Second Post-Higher Education Work applicants pay a lower charge. These are visa charges only; health checks, police certificates, English tests and health insurance cost extra. Build these into your study abroad budget from the start.

Important Restrictions Punjab Students Should Know

No onshore switch back to a student visa: 485 holders cannot apply for a Student visa from inside Australia. If you want to study again, you must apply from outside Australia. Our Australia student visa changes October 2026 guide explains the wider onshore rules.
One stream only: choose the right stream before lodging, because you cannot change it later.
Not a PR visa: the 485 gives you time, not residency. Use it to build skilled work experience and explore options such as the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) or the 189, 190 and 491 skilled visas.

Step-by-Step Checklist: Applying for the 485 Visa

In your first year of study, confirm that your course is CRICOS-registered and will meet the Australian study requirement.
Confirm your stream and the stay period that applies to your qualification as an Indian passport holder.
Book an IELTS or other accepted English test so the result is less than one year old when you apply.
Collect your completion letter, academic transcript and degree evidence from your university.
Arrange police certificates and health checks as required by Home Affairs.
Keep your health insurance active and make sure you apply within the required time after your Student visa.
Prepare identity and relationship documents for any partner or children you are including.
Pay the visa application charge and lodge online through ImmiAccount.
Keep copies of everything and check ImmiAccount regularly for any requests for more information.

Planning from Punjab: Choose Your Course with the 485 in Mind

Many families in Jalandhar and across Punjab plan an Australian degree partly for the work experience that follows it. If that matters to you, factor the 485 into your course decision now: compare master's and bachelor's stay periods, consider whether a STEM honours year is realistic, and think about regional campuses. Your student visa application must still show a genuine study purpose, so read our Australia Genuine Student requirement guide before you write your statement.

Book a Consultation

World Immigration Terminal in Jalandhar helps Punjab students plan Australian study with the full pathway in view, from course and campus selection to student visa documents and post-study planning. We never guarantee visa outcomes, but we can help you build a clear, honest and well-documented file. Book a consultation through our website to discuss your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can Indian students stay in Australia after graduation on a 485 visa?

In the Post-Higher Education Work stream, Indian passport holders can stay up to 2 years after a bachelor's degree, up to 3 years after a master's degree or a STEM bachelor's degree with First Class Honours, and up to 4 years after a PhD.

What is the 485 visa fee in 2026?

For applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026, the main applicant fee is AUD 4,600. Additional applicants aged 18 or over pay AUD 2,300 and those under 18 pay AUD 1,160.

What IELTS score is needed for the Australia 485 visa?

You need IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component, or an equivalent score in another accepted test, from a test taken no more than one year before you apply.

What is the age limit for the 485 visa?

Most applicants must be 35 or under when they apply. Some exceptions apply, including for certain research graduates, so check the Home Affairs website.

Can I bring my spouse on a 485 visa?

Yes. You can include your partner, child or partner's child in your application, and each of them must meet health and character requirements.

Does the 485 visa lead to PR in Australia?

Not directly. It is a temporary visa, but the Australian work experience you gain may help with a later employer-sponsored or skilled visa if you meet that visa's requirements.

Last verified: October 2026. Immigration rules, fees and stay periods change often. Always confirm the current requirements on the official Department of Home Affairs website or consult World Immigration Terminal before you apply.