Temporary Graduate (485) visa: AUD 5,750 charge, family rules announced

What changed

• Charge: from 1 March 2026 the first instalment rose, for applicants who are not subsequent 485 applicants and do not hold an eligible Pacific or Timor-Leste passport, to AUD 4,600 for the main applicant, AUD 2,300 for an additional adult and AUD 1,160 for an additional child. From 1 July 2026 an applicant outside the Pacific-passport and PHE-visa tiers pays AUD 5,750, AUD 2,875 per added adult and AUD 1,450 per added child under 18.
• Lower rows: a Post-Higher Education Work applicant who already holds a PHE visa (a Post-Study Work or Post-Higher Education Work stream 485) pays AUD 2,265 without a Pacific-regional passport. An applicant with a Pacific-regional passport who does not hold a PHE visa pays AUD 2,360.
• Family members: in a speech on 17 September 2026 the Home Affairs Minister said family members will no longer be able to be attached to graduate visas, with exceptions such as PhD students and students from the Pacific and ASEAN, while people already onshore with family attached will keep them. Our rulebook has no start date for the graduate visa part.

How the 485 works today

• The Regulations give the visa Post-Vocational Education Work, Post-Higher Education Work and Replacement streams. An applicant nominates only one stream and cannot change it after applying. The Replacement stream required the application to be made before 1 July 2024, so it is closed to new applicants.
• Age: a primary applicant must be 35 or younger. The limit is under 50 for Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders and for people who completed a masters by research or a doctorate.
• Where to apply: an applicant normally lodges from inside Australia and not in immigration clearance. Replacement-stream applicants and some family members of existing visa holders may apply from outside.
• A person cannot hold more than 4 Temporary Graduate visas in total, counting the one being applied for.
• English: for the Post-Vocational Education Work and Post-Higher Education Work streams, IELTS needs an average band score of at least 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.
• Length of stay: Study Australia says the Post-Higher Education Work stream usually runs 2 to 3 years depending on the qualification, the Post-Vocational Education Work stream up to 18 months, and Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders may stay for 5 years.
• Study Australia’s visa page says holders can work in Australia and can bring their family. Compare it with the announcement above.

Who it affects

International students finishing a course in Australia, current 485 holders and applicants, and partners and children who planned to apply with them.

What to check

• Your age on the day you apply and the stream you qualify for.
• Which charge row applies to your passport and visa history.
• Whether your family is already attached to your visa, and the Home Affairs announcements for the start date. For your own case, ask a registered migration agent (MARA) or an Australian legal practitioner.