The 485 visa after the 2024–2026 changes: under 35, AUD 5,750 fee — how to spend the time wisely

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) used to be treated as the default reward after graduation: lodge the application, collect a few years in Australia, figure the rest out later. After the wave of changes between mid-2024 and early 2026, that mindset no longer holds.

The short answer for busy readers: the 485 now has an under-35 age limit, shorter durations by qualification level, an English requirement of 6.5, and from 1 July 2026 the fee reached around AUD 5,750 (after nearly doubling from ~2,300 to 4,600 in March 2026, then a further ~25% rise from 1 July 2026). Most importantly: you generally only get a 485 once per stream — this time budget does not refill. This post rounds up the changes and lays out a sample 24-month plan to make the visa count.

The key changes in one table

These are the rules current at the time of writing — the 485 has changed repeatedly over the past two years, so always check the Department of Home Affairs page before lodging.

The fee rose repeatedly through 2026 — and it changes the maths

This is a headline of 2026: the 485 fee for the main applicant first nearly doubled from ~2,300 to around AUD 4,600 for applications lodged from 1 March 2026, then rose again to around AUD 5,750 from 1 July 2026 under the ~25% increase applied to most visas.

At the old price, many graduates lodged a 485 on autopilot — a “paid gap year” after university. At the new price, plus 18–36 months of Australian living costs, the 485 becomes an investment that needs a clear payback plan: either it leads to a viable PR pathway, or to professional experience you can take with you. If the application includes a partner or children, the total goes up again (family member fees — check the current amounts on the Home Affairs site).

Under 35 — the first clock

The under-35 limit (in place since mid-2024) means late starters and people doing a Masters after several years of work need to count carefully: if you graduate at 33–34, the 485 door is still open but narrow. The only exceptions under current rules: PhD/Masters by research graduates and Hong Kong/BNO passport holders — under 50.

There is a second clock running alongside: SkillSelect age points peak in the 25–32 bracket. Both clocks tick at once — your post-graduation plan should be drawn backwards from your birthday, not forwards from graduation day.

English 6.5 and the “results no older than 1 year” rule

The 485 English requirement is 6.5 with no band below 5.5 — higher than the student visa requirement. The trap: test results only count if they are no more than 1 year old at lodgement — stricter than many other visas (some accept older results). The IELTS you sat to enter university three years ago almost certainly will not work. Book a fresh test in your final semester, not at the last minute.

”Once per stream” — why you must not burn the 485 on a drifting year

Under current rules, each person is generally granted a 485 only once per stream. That makes these 24 months (or 18 months on the VET stream) a single-use asset.

A pattern we see constantly: the first year of the 485 disappears into casual work unrelated to the occupation the graduate intends to nominate — experience that contributes almost nothing to a skills assessment or Australian work experience points. The skills assessment only starts in year two, the post-qualification hours come up short, and half the time budget is already gone. The 485 does not forgive twelve drifting months.

A sample 24-month plan (for the two-year 485 after Bachelor/Masters)

• Months 1–6: lock in the points you can buy with discipline — enrol in a Professional Year (the program runs close to a year, so start early), prepare for and sit the NAATI CCL, and above all find work in the ANZSCO occupation group you will nominate, even if the starting pay is lower than an unrelated job.
• Months 6–18: complete the skills assessment with the correct assessing authority, lodge your EOI and track invitation rounds. This is also when you compare your real score against recent invitation levels — see PR pathways for international students to pick a route.
• Months 18–24: if the points are not there, activate plan B deliberately — a 482 employer sponsorship or a 491 state nomination — instead of waiting for a miracle in the final rounds. The full map of exits is in what to do when your 485 runs out.

Regional graduates: the second 485 as a hedge

Graduates who studied and live in a regional area may qualify for a second 485 — typically an extra 1–2 years depending on the regional category and qualification (check the official page for the exact rules). If you are choosing or changing institutions, this is a hedge worth pricing in: more time to build experience, stacking with the +5 regional study points and the state nomination advantages of the smaller states.

Summary

• The 485 in 2026: under 35, English 6.5 (results ≤1 year old), Bachelor/Masters 2 years — PhD 3 years — VET 18 months, fee ~AUD 5,750 from 1 July 2026.
• You only get one per stream — plan all 24 months from day one, and do not let year one drain away in unrelated work.
• Treat the 18-month mark as your self-imposed deadline to trigger plan B.

If you are about to graduate or have just received a 485 and do not yet have a concrete plan, book a free assessment with VisaAffairs — we will map a timeline to your actual profile.

References

• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — Department of Home Affairs — current streams, criteria and durations.
• Fees and charges for visas — Department of Home Affairs — current visa pricing.
• Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) — check whether an agent is registered.

This article is general information current at publication. Australian migration rules change regularly — check the date and contact VisaAffairs before relying on it for your own case. Book a consultation for advice on your specific circumstances.