What is the Australia Post-Study Work Visa Indian Students (Subclass 485)?

The Subclass 485 visa is a temporary visa that lets international graduates of Australian institutions live, work, and study in Australia after completing their course. It comes with full work rights — you can work full-time in any occupation, with any employer. For higher-education graduates, there’s no occupation list restriction.

For most Indian students, this visa is the natural next step after the Subclass 500 student visa, and the first step toward skilled migration or employer-sponsored permanent residency.

The Three Streams of the Subclass 485 Visa

From 1 July 2024, the Department of Home Affairs renamed and restructured the streams. There are now three. Choosing the right one is critical — applying under the wrong stream is one of the most common reasons for refusal.

What’s Changed in 2026 — and Why It Matters

If you’re planning to apply in 2026, these are the updates worth knowing before you start. Several of them are major shifts from how the visa worked even a year ago:

How Long Indian Students Can Stay (The AI-ECTA Advantage)

This is one area where Indian students benefit more than most other nationalities. Under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), Indian graduates get an extra year on their post-study work visa compared to the standard duration. Here’s the 2026 breakdown for Indian passport holders:

So a PhD graduate who studied in regional Australia could potentially stay for up to 6 years when the initial and second post-study work visas are combined — a meaningful runway for building a profile toward permanent residency.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Australia post-study work visa as an Indian student, you’ll need to meet the following:

• Be 35 years or under at the time of application (under 50 for Master by Research / PhD graduates).
• Hold or have recently held a valid Subclass 500 student visa.
• Have completed a CRICOS-registered course of at least 2 academic years (92 weeks) of study, taught in English, while physically present in Australia on a student visa.
• Apply within 6 months of your course completion date.
• Meet the English language requirement — IELTS 6.5 overall, 5.5 in each band, taken within the last 12 months (or equivalent PTE, TOEFL, OET, Cambridge).
• Hold adequate health insurance (OVHC) for yourself and any dependants.
• Provide an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check and meet health and character requirements, including a medical examination.
• Post-Vocational stream only: Complete a skills assessment in your nominated occupation.

Documents You’ll Need

Having your documents in order before you lodge is one of the most important factors in how smoothly your application moves. Here’s the core checklist:

• Valid Indian passport with adequate validity.
• Course completion letter from your education provider and final academic transcript.
• Evidence of CRICOS registration of your course.
• English test results — IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, or Cambridge (within 12 months).
• Australian Federal Police (AFP) check.
• Police certificate from India and any other country you’ve lived in for 12+ months in the last 10 years.
• Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) policy details covering your full stay.
• Medical examination organised through Bupa Medical Visa Services.
• Skills assessment (Post-Vocational stream only).
• Birth certificate and any dependant documentation, if applicable.

Step-by-Step Application Process

The application process is straightforward when followed in order. Most refusals come down to missing a step or rushing through documents.

1. Confirm course completion. Get your formal completion letter from your institution. Your 6-month application window starts from the date stated here.
2. Gather all documents. Use the checklist above. Missing or expired documents are the most common reason for delays and refusals.
3. Take or refresh your English test. If your last IELTS/PTE is older than 12 months at the time of lodgement, you’ll need to retake it.
4. Buy OVHC. You’ll need to show valid health insurance covering the full duration of your intended stay.
5. Get your AFP check. Apply online — it usually takes 5 to 15 business days.
6. Create an ImmiAccount and lodge online. The application is submitted through the Department of Home Affairs ImmiAccount portal.
7. Pay the visa fee. AUD 4,600 for the primary applicant (from 1 March 2026), plus separate fees for any dependants.
8. Complete your medical examination. The system will issue a HAP ID after lodgement — book through Bupa.
9. Wait for the outcome. Respond promptly to any document requests from the Department.

Visa Fees & Processing Times

2026 Fee Breakdown

Processing Times

Based on current Department of Home Affairs guidance, processing speed depends heavily on how “decision-ready” your application is when lodged.

• Post-Higher Education Work stream: 50% of applications decided in around 8 days; 90% within 83 days.
• Post-Vocational Education Work stream: 50% within around 46 days; 90% within around 4 months.
• Incomplete applications can take 6 months or longer — every missing document adds weeks.

From the 485 Visa to Permanent Residency

The Subclass 485 is temporary, but it’s also the foundation for several long-term migration options. While on the 485, Indian graduates can build the work experience, points, and employer relationships needed for:

Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent)

Points-tested permanent visa with no sponsor required. Available to graduates whose occupation is on the relevant skilled list and who score enough points across age, English, work experience, and qualifications.

Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated)

A permanent visa requiring nomination by an Australian state or territory. Different states prioritise different occupations, so course choice and study location matter.

Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional)

A 5-year provisional visa for graduates willing to live and work in regional Australia, with a clear pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa after 3 years.

Subclass 482 / Skills in Demand Visa

An employer-sponsored work visa for graduates whose employer is willing to nominate them. A common stepping stone toward employer-sponsored PR.

Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme)

Direct employer-sponsored permanent residency. Most often reached after working for an Australian employer on a 485 or 482 visa.

The strongest 485 applications usually come from students who plan with PR in mind from the start — choosing the right course, the right city, and the right qualification level before they even arrive in Australia.

Common Things to Watch Out For

Most refusals and delays come down to a small set of avoidable mistakes. With the application fee now at AUD 4,600, getting these right matters more than ever.

• An expired English test: Many students assume a test taken more than 12 months ago will still work — it won’t.
• Missing the 6-month window: The clock starts from course completion, not the graduation ceremony. Apply early.
• Choosing the wrong stream: Bachelor and Master graduates sometimes apply under the Post-Vocational stream by mistake.
• Underestimating health and AFP timelines: Police checks and medicals can take a few weeks — start them well before lodgement.
• Forgetting to renew OVHC: Your student health insurance needs to be extended to cover the 485 period.
• Lodging without a proper review: An experienced consultant reviewing your documents before submission can save a lot of trouble.