Graduation season is here again, and recently many international graduates have approached us for advice about the Subclass 485 visa and their subsequent migration plans. As the Subclass 485 visa application fee for the 2026–27 financial year has now risen to A$5750 (excluding the card surcharge), today we are providing an early reminder about the core Subclass 485 issues and the pitfalls people encounter every year.
English test results are valid for only 1 year, so prepare for your English test early
First, a brief introduction to the different Subclass 485 categories
Australian Subclass 485 visa application requirements for the 2026 graduation season
1. Post-vocational education visa
Primarily for graduates of trade or vocational programmes
-The most recent qualification before applying for a Subclass 485 visa must be a diploma; advanced diploma; associate diploma; associate degree; or a trade qualification
-A skills assessment is required, and the assessed occupation must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
Therefore, please note that not every diploma or trade qualification makes you eligible to apply for a Subclass 485 visa. You should confirm this when first choosing your course
-Meet the 2-year Australian study requirement
-Have held a student visa within the 6 months before applying
-Lodge the application within 6 months after completing your studies
-An IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no component below 5.5
-An Australian police clearance
2. Post-higher education visa (first PSW)
Generally understood as being for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates
-Hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher qualification
-Meet the 2-year Australian study requirement
-Have held a student visa within the 6 months before applying
-Lodge the application within 6 months after completing your studies
-An IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no component below 5.5
-An Australian police clearance
The English requirements for the Subclass 485 visa are as follows:
Key Subclass 485 pitfalls for the 2026 graduation season (important)
Please note:
-English test results used for a Subclass 485 application are valid for only 1 year
-All Subclass 485 applications must be lodged in Australia (except when adding a secondary applicant after the Subclass 485 visa has been granted). You may be in Australia or overseas when the visa is granted
-The general age limit for applicants is under 36 (including applicants for a second regional visa)
*Applicants with a research master’s or PhD, or a Hong Kong (China) passport, must be under 51
Use a visitor visa with caution: renewal risks and the consequences of an S48 restriction
Given that a Subclass 485 application must be lodged in Australia and English results are valid for only 1 year, the question we have been asked most often recently is, “Can I apply for a visitor visa after my student visa expires so that I can keep taking the English test?”
The answer is that, in theory, you can, but it is not recommended.
Use a visitor visa with caution
If you are only planning to remain in Australia for a short period, for example to attend your graduation ceremony or deal with matters after graduation, extending your stay with a visitor visa is the most direct option.
However, if you are forced to apply for a visitor visa in Australia because you cannot obtain the English result required for the Subclass 485 visa before your student visa expires, you need to know the following in advance:
1. Although your first onshore visitor visa application may have a relatively good chance of being granted, the case officer may grant it for only a very short period. The shortest we have seen was just 1 month. It may also include a warning letter stating that [another visitor visa application may be refused]
2. If you apply for a second visitor visa in Australia before the first one expires, or apply for a visitor visa after it expires and you have left Australia, the probability of a grant drops sharply
3. Once a visitor visa is refused, an s48 restriction will apply, preventing you from applying for a Subclass 485 visa in Australia. Because the Subclass 485 visa must be applied for in Australia, this creates a deadlock
Therefore, do not assume that a visitor visa is an automatic fallback. A visitor visa is only an option of last resort.
We therefore remind you again that you must start preparing for the Subclass 485 English test early and obtain the required result before your student visa expires.
Over the years, we have genuinely seen too many people who could not obtain the required English result until the last moment, had no choice but to apply for a visitor visa, still could not obtain the result while on that visa, applied again and were then refused, became subject to an s48 restriction and could not apply for a Subclass 485 visa in Australia, ultimately wasting their one Subclass 485 opportunity.
Early-completion questions about the Subclass 485 visa for the 2026 graduation season
If I complete my course early, can I apply for a Subclass 485 visa?
First, one of the most important conditions on a student visa is condition 8202, which requires students to remain enrolled in a registered course and meet attendance requirements while holding the visa.
If you are not enrolled in a course, the Department is notified by your institution that your CoE has been cancelled, or the Department discovers that you are not attending classes, your visa may be cancelled for breaching condition 8202.
Frequently asked questions about completing a course early (Q&A)
For students who complete their course early but still have a considerable period remaining on their student visa, we offer the following guidance:
Q1: If I complete a 2-year course 3 months early, or even earlier, can I apply for a Subclass 485 visa?
A: Yes, provided the course start and end dates span 16 calendar months.
Q2: I have completed my course early. What should I do if I am worried that my CoE will be cancelled?
A: Move to a new visa within 3 months. Applicants will generally choose a Subclass 485 visa, a new student visa or another visa.
Q3: If I complete my course early, is there anything I can do other than apply for a new visa?
A: If you want to retain your original student visa, you need to enrol in another course and obtain a CoE; for example, after completing a bachelor’s degree early, you could obtain a CoE for a master’s course
Q4: I am completing my course 6 months early and my student visa still has 6 months left. Do I need to ask for or cancel my CoE proactively?
A: There is no need to intervene or cancel it proactively. You only need to move promptly to another valid visa. The institution will usually report the end of your CoE to the Department and notify you;
Q4: After completing a master’s course, I studied another graduate diploma. Will this affect my Subclass 485 application?
A: It is not recommended. Consider studying the GD while holding the Subclass 485 visa.
Q5: I have received notice that my CoE has been cancelled, but my student visa is still valid. Can I enter and leave Australia?
A: You can do so within 3 months of graduation. After 3 months, there is a risk of being stopped on entry (breach of visa condition 8202).
Consider in advance whether you want to continue studying
For example, your bachelor’s field may be a highly competitive area such as commerce or IT, or your field may require work experience for migration. You could instead study a migration-oriented field, such as a health-related field, secondary teaching or a Master of Social Work. We recommend understanding and carefully considering your subsequent migration plan in advance.
If you want to study another qualification after obtaining a Subclass 485 visa, first, you will use up your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be the primary applicant for a Subclass 485 visa. Second, a Subclass 485 holder applying for a Subclass 500 student visa must lodge the application outside Australia. Although you can enter Australia after lodgement and apply for a bridging visa to wait for the decision in Australia, in principle this will not prevent you from starting your course promptly. However, if the application is refused, there is no right of appeal to the ART.
In addition, student visa processing is now relatively strict. Both institutions and the Department place considerable weight on an applicant’s motivation to study, so whether this option is suitable must be assessed against the applicant’s qualifications, work experience, English ability, age and other circumstances. Contact us privately for an assessment.
Australian Subclass 485 visa planning advice for the 2026 graduation season
After completing a 1.5-year master’s course, you can undertake a second master’s course to become eligible for the Subclass 485 visa
Subclass 485 applicants must have completed at least 2 years of Australian study. Some students may fall just short because of the way their course is structured; in this situation, we recommend undertaking a second master’s course.
With a relevant background, some courses may offer up to 0.5 years of credit.
We previously had a student who had completed a 1.5-year master’s course in commerce and enrolled in an MBA as a second master’s course. After receiving substantial credit, the student ultimately needed to study for only 6 months, saving both time and tuition fees.
There are many second master’s options, with flexible commencement dates, and some also offer tuition fee reductions. Contact us to learn more.
Australian migration policies are increasingly favouring [onshore applicants]. The importance and difficulty of the Subclass 485 visa must not be overlooked.
Once you leave Australia, applying for points-based skilled migration or employer-sponsored migration becomes considerably more difficult. For international students, the Subclass 485 visa is the most important springboard and a crucial period for building their core competitiveness. International graduates and prospective graduates must not overlook the importance and difficulty of the Subclass 485 visa. Before making a choice, contact us for a chat.
