Student & graduate visas
From the subclass 500 through the Temporary Graduate (485), and the decisions during study that decide what's possible after it.
$2,500 student charge from 1 Jul 2026$5,750 485 charge35 age ceiling for the 485
Studying in Australia needs the subclass 500 student visa: enrolment and a Confirmation of Enrolment first, then the visa application with the Genuine Student requirement, English and financial capacity. The charge is $2,500 from 1 July 2026. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate (485) can add two to three years of work rights, if you're 35 or under and apply within six months of completing your course.
Getting the 500 right
- Enrolment first: a Confirmation of Enrolment from a registered course before the visa application.
- The Genuine Student requirement: your history, course choice and plans, told coherently. This is where refusals concentrate.
- Financial capacity and English evidenced to the current settings, not last year's.
- Conditions that matter later: work-hour limits and course-change rules that can shape your options after study.
After graduation: the 485
The Temporary Graduate visa's Post-Higher Education Work stream usually runs two to three years. You must generally be 35 or under when you apply (research masters and PhD graduates excepted), hold recent English results, and apply within six months of completing your course. The 485 window is where careers pivot: time on it is when most graduates line up employer sponsorship or a competitive points score.
Working holiday, briefly
Working Holiday (417) and Work and Holiday (462) visas suit travellers 18 to 30, extended to 35 for some passports including the UK, Canada, France and Ireland. The charge is $840. Not a long-term pathway, but a year on one often becomes the trial run for a sponsored role.
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Common questions
What is the Genuine Student requirement?
An assessment of whether you genuinely intend to study: your history, the course's fit with your background, and your circumstances. Most student refusals concentrate here, and a coherent, evidenced story is the fix.
How long can I stay after graduating?
The Temporary Graduate (485) usually gives two to three years in the Post-Higher Education Work stream, and you must apply within six months of completing your course.
Is there an age limit for the 485?
Yes, generally 35 or under when you apply, with exceptions for research masters and PhD graduates.
Can I work on a student visa?
Yes, within capped hours during study periods, uncapped during scheduled breaks. Breaching the cap risks cancellation, which shadows every later application.
Speak with a registered migration agent
Open 8:30am to 5:00pm AEST, Monday to Friday. Level 10 & 11, 66 Clarence Street, Sydney.