Post-Study Work in Australia: 485 Visa & Skilled Migration PR
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) is Australia's post-study work visa, available to international graduates of Australian universities. The 485 visa has two streams: (1) Graduate Work Stream — for graduates with qualifications in specific skilled occupations on Australia's Skilled Occupation List (SOL), valid for 18 months; and (2) Post-Study Work Stream — for graduates of bachelor's, master's (coursework or research), or doctoral degrees from an Australian institution, valid for 2-4 years depending on the level and location of study. Most Indian students use the Post-Study Work Stream, which does not require a skilled occupation assessment at the visa application stage. Duration: 2 years for Bachelor's or Master's by Coursework; 3 years for Master's by Research; 4 years for PhD. Additional regional incentives: if you studied in a regional area of Australia (outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane metropolitan regions) for at least 2 years, you may be eligible for an extra 1-2 years on the 485 visa through the regional stream. To apply for the 485 visa, you must have completed your Australian qualification within 6 months of application. The application is submitted online via ImmiAccount, fee: AUD 1,895 (2024).
Australia's General Skilled Migration (GSM) programme is the primary permanent residence pathway for 485 visa holders. The GSM programme uses a points-based system (the SkillSelect system) where candidates create an Expression of Interest (EOI) and are ranked by points. Regular invitation rounds (Skilled — Independent, State/Territory Nominated, Regional) invite the highest-scoring candidates to apply for PR. Key points categories: Age (25-32 years: maximum 30 points), English language ability (Proficient English IELTS 6.0/PTE 50: 0 points; Competent IELTS 7.0/PTE 65: 10 points; Excellent IELTS 8.0/PTE 79: 20 points), Skilled Employment (in Australia, in your nominated skilled occupation: 5-20 points for 1-10 years), Australian Educational Qualification (5 points for a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate from an Australian institution), STEM Qualification (bonus points for relevant STEM degrees), Regional Study (5 additional points for studying and residing in a specified regional area for at least 2 years), State/Territory Nomination (5 points — requires a nomination from a state government), and Skilled Spouse or De facto Partner (5 points for a skilled nominated partner with positive skills assessment). A score of 85-100 points is typically required to receive an invitation for the Subclass 189 (Independent — no state nomination required) visa.
Skills assessment is the foundational requirement for skilled migration — you must obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing body for your nominated ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) occupation before lodging an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect. Key skills assessing bodies: ACS (Australian Computer Society) for ICT occupations; Engineers Australia (EA) for engineering; CPA Australia and CAANZ for accounting; AHPRA for healthcare; TEQSA/VRQA for education; VETASSESS for a wide range of non-professional occupations. ACS assessments for Indian CS/IT graduates take approximately 8-12 weeks. Engineers Australia CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) assessment takes 3-4 months and requires preparation of a competency demonstration report that we assist with. We recommend starting your skills assessment application in your penultimate semester of study — this way, your positive skills assessment is ready when you lodge your 485 visa and EOI. Prosper Overseas's migration advisory team provides complete skilled migration guidance — SkillSelect EOI strategy, occupation code selection, skills assessment body guidance, state nomination advisory, and complete Subclass 189/190/491 and permanent residence application support.