485 Temporary Graduate Visa Checklist 2026
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa grants work rights in Australia to international graduates from Australian institutions. There are two main streams: the Graduate Work stream (for graduates in skilled occupations, with a skills assessment required) and the Post-Study Work stream (for graduates of AQF7+ bachelor's or higher degrees, no skills assessment required).
A critical timing rule applies to both streams: you must apply within 6 months of meeting the study requirement (i.e., receiving official notification that you have passed your final assessment). Missing this window means you are no longer eligible and will need to leave Australia or find an alternative visa. Many graduates are caught out by delays in receiving official transcripts or letters from their institution.
Since 2024, 485 visa processing has slowed considerably, with many applicants waiting 12–18 months for a decision. During this period, you are typically protected by a Bridging Visa A, allowing you to continue working. However, you should apply early and ensure your application is complete at lodgement to avoid requests for further information that can extend processing further.
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Common 485 document mistakes to avoid
- Missing the 6-month application window after receiving your study outcome — this is a hard cutoff with no extensions; you must lodge within 6 months of being notified of your final results.
- Not meeting the study requirement — you must have completed at least 2 years (92 weeks) of eligible study in Australia, including at least 16 months studied while holding a Student visa.
- Skills assessment delays for Graduate Work stream — if you need a skills assessment from an assessing authority (e.g., Engineers Australia, CPAAUSTRALIA), this can take several months; start the assessment process before you graduate.
- Health and character check delays — Australian Federal Police checks and overseas police clearances can take weeks to months for some countries.
Identity documents
3 itemsClear colour scan of your current valid passport photo page.
Official birth certificate showing your full name and date of birth.
Marriage certificate, deed poll or other official proof if your name has changed.
Australian qualification
3 itemsTestamur or completion certificate for your Australian degree, diploma or trade qualification at AQF level 5 or above from a CRICOS-registered provider.
Official transcripts showing all subjects completed and confirming the minimum study period in Australia.
Letter from your university or institution confirming you have completed and met all requirements of the course.
Student visa history
4 itemsEvidence you held a Subclass 500 (or 573 etc.) student visa for at least part of your study in Australia.
For the Post-Higher Education Work stream: evidence of at least 2 academic years of study in Australia. Entry and exit stamps, enrolment records or attendance records may be used.
For the Post-Vocational Education Work stream: evidence of the required onshore study period at a CRICOS-registered institution in Australia.
Lease agreement, utility bills or bank statements showing your Australian residential address during your period of study, to corroborate your onshore attendance.
Skills assessment (Graduate Work stream)
2 itemsPositive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your ANZSCO occupation. Required only for the Graduate Work stream.
Documentation showing your occupation appears on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List, which is required for the Graduate Work stream.
English language
1 itemIELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET or Cambridge CAE results at the competent English level (e.g. IELTS 6.0 overall, no band below 5.0). From 7 August 2025, test results older than 12 months at the time of application are not accepted.
Health & character
5 itemsOVHC policy covering the full period of your 485 visa. As a post-study visa holder you are no longer an enrolled student and require OVHC (not OSHC).
National police certificates from each country you have lived in for 12 or more months since age 16.
Medical examination completed through an approved Panel Physician or by booking a Health Assessment Portal (HAP) appointment. Results are sent directly to the Department of Home Affairs. Book early — appointments can take several weeks.
Completed Form 80 for Character Assessment. Fill for free →
Completed Form 1221, required for character assessment. Covers travel history, past visa refusals and personal background details.
Ready to lodge your Temporary Graduate?
Answer a few quick questions to get a checklist tailored to your exact situation — only the documents that apply to you. Upload each file, then export a clean ZIP ready to attach.
Build my personalised checklist →Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for a Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) application?
The Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) typically requires 18 documents across 6 categories: Identity documents, Australian qualification, Student visa history, Skills assessment (Graduate Work stream), English language, Health & character. Use the personalised builder above to filter this list to your exact circumstances — it removes items that don't apply based on your profile.
How do I prepare my documents for the Temporary Graduate?
Work through each category in the checklist. Scan or photograph every document as a clear colour PDF at 150–200 DPI. The Department of Home Affairs (ImmiAccount) has a 5 MB per-file limit — compress any oversized file using VisaPacks' built-in tool. Combine multi-page documents (e.g. bank statements, payslips) into a single PDF using Merge. VisaPacks automatically renames your files on export, ready to attach to your ImmiAccount lodgement.
Can I prepare my Temporary Graduate documents myself without a migration agent?
Yes. Many applicants successfully self-prepare their documents using publicly available Department of Home Affairs guidance. VisaPacks provides a free personalised document checklist and upload tool to help you organise everything correctly. For complex cases — such as those involving previous refusals, health waivers, character issues, or difficult relationship circumstances — consulting a registered migration agent (MARA) may be worthwhile.
What file format should Temporary Graduate documents be in?
The Department of Home Affairs accepts PDF, JPG, and PNG files up to 5 MB each. Most documents should be submitted as PDF. Passport photos can be JPG. If a scan exceeds 5 MB, use VisaPacks' built-in PDF compressor to reduce file size while maintaining legibility — it uses three quality levels (screen, standard, or high) so you can choose the right trade-off.
Is this checklist official Department of Home Affairs guidance?
No. This checklist is based on publicly available Department of Home Affairs guidance but is maintained by VisaPacks as a convenience tool only — it is not legal advice and does not replace the assessment of a registered migration agent. Always verify current requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website.
What are the most common mistakes when preparing Temporary Graduate documents?
The most common errors are: exceeding the 5 MB per-file ImmiAccount limit without compressing first; omitting certified NAATI translations for non-English documents; submitting uncertified copies when originals or certified copies are required; including documents expiring within 6 months (particularly passports); and forgetting documents for a spouse or dependent children on the same application. VisaPacks addresses all of these — it includes a built-in PDF compressor, auto-naming to a consistent convention, and per-applicant sections for family members included in the application.
How does VisaPacks compare to the Department of Home Affairs checklist tool?
The Department of Home Affairs website shows a static document list for each visa type. VisaPacks goes further: it personalises the list to your circumstances (employment type, relationship status, whether children are included), lets you upload documents against each item, includes built-in PDF compression and merging to meet the 5 MB limit, auto-renames files to a consistent naming convention, and exports a complete ready-to-lodge ZIP. VisaPacks is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Home Affairs.