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Amit Taya (Perth): +61 426 488 909 | Harmandeep Kaur (Adelaide): +61 8 8120 4199
Amit Taya (Perth): +61 426 488 909 | Harmandeep Kaur (Adelaide): +61 8 8120 4199
The 485 visa checklist helps international students stay and work in Australia after completing their studies. The roadmap for this visa is structured to gain local experiences, but its success depends on meeting specific rules and submitting accurate documents.
This guide explains the key visa 485 requirements and checklist of documents needed to obtain this visa without any issues or delays.
Also Read: Obtaining Permanent Residency in Australia While Holding a Temporary Graduate Visa 485
The 485 Graduate visa is also known as the temporary graduate visa. It lets international students live and work in Australian territories after finishing their studies. This visa comes in three streams, one for Post-Vocational Education Work stream, Post-Higher Education Work stream and Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
To apply for this visa, you have to follow some specific conditions. First and foremost, you must be under 35 years old. You must also have a student visa in the past six months and have completed an eligible course.
Other basic 485 visa requirements include proof of English skills, a recent police check and health insurance. You are also required to apply under the correct stream and present documents that state you meet its conditions. Meanwhile, if you are applying for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, then you need a positive skill assessment.
Always refer to the Department of Home Affairs for up-to-date test requirements, as they are subject to change.
Must Read: 485 Visa Extension: Everything You Need to Know in 2025
Keeping this checklist allows you to ensure that you include everything during the visa application. Missing or incorrect documents can result in refusal and delays on your visa.
Here are the key documents required for a 485 visa application:
It is best to collect the required documents for the 485 Visa as soon as you receive your course completion letter. Some requirements, like police checks and English test results, have specific periods.
Preparing early for the 485 document checklist not only reduces stress but also allows you to lodge your visa before the deadline.
Also Read: 485 Visa Conditions & Processing Time
English requirement for 485 visa:
To pass the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test in Australia, you must achieve these outcomes:
For the graduates under subclass 485 visa, the IELTS requirement stood at 6.5 for the overall score with the minimum score of 5.5 for each of the 4 parts.
The score mentioned above is subject to update as per the government’s announcement for English language requirements.
After 21st March 2024, you need to get a PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic) score of more than 57 to qualify for the 485 visa. Besides the overall score, you will need to pass the minimum scores for each part of the PTE test. For the individual components, you have to achieve these criteria:
Validity of these scores lasts for one year from the date of publication, which means that you have to submit your visa application within the period to get the benefits of this test.
Also Read: Most Recent Modifications To Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485
Many applicants often overlook some essential areas, like using a different name format across documents, which can create confusion. To avoid such issues, double-check your names to ensure that every document has the same format. A practical 485 graduate visa checklist ensures no step is missed during this critical application process.
Moreover, when you compile the 485 visa required documents, include your visa grant history, test booking confirmations, and any other requirements as per your application.
Here is the separate basic checklist for each education work stream requirement.
Period of stay: Maximum of 18 months.
Who it applies to: Graduates with a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an Australian institution.
Duration of stay: Two years of Bachelor, 3 years for research Master, 4 years for Doctorate. Extensions are also available as per the criteria of Australia’s Department of Home Affairs.
Who is eligible: Graduates with a CRICOS-registered diploma, a student visa in the last six months, and evidence of the required level of English in the application.
Stay Duration: Additional 1-2 years
Who it’s for: Graduates who have completed their first Post-Study Work visa and spent/studied solely at a specified regional area in Australia for 2 years.
Also Read: What Are The English Requirements for a Graduate Visa 485?
Before giving all required documents for the application, run a complete checklist 485 visa to make sure everything is attached, readable, and dated accurately. This activity ensures the timely submission of documents and a smoother application process.
If you’re unsure, a registered migration agent can help you get through this.
Once you have applied, keep copies of your visa 485 documents in a secure folder in both online and physical formats. This step includes keeping copies of:
You should avoid leaving final checks to the last minute. Carefully prepare and submit everything through your immigration account or ask a migration agent for help. You can do this by checking the expiry dates of primary documents such as AFP clearance, English test results, and health insurance. Use clear file names and a checklist tracker to ensure nothing is missed.
The 485 visa checklist is an important aspect of a successful visa application. Take time to collect and organise all required documents to increase the chances of approval. Keep all your documents updated, consistent, and speak with professionals if you are in doubt. These people have niche expertise to get you the correct pathway for getting visa approvals.
