Australia Post-Study Work Visa for Indian Graduates

This is the visa for Indians finishing a degree in Australia. If you graduated from an Indian university and want to work in Australia, the 485 is not open to you, but the India-only MATES scheme may be. The rules below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For study visa fees and documents, see our Australia visa guide for Indian applicants.

How long can Indian graduates stay on the 485?

Indian nationals get stay lengths set under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). Home Affairs lists them on the 485 Post-Higher Education Work stream page:

Are you eligible? A checklist before you lodge

• Age: 35 or under when you apply, or under 50 if you use a Masters by research or Doctoral degree.
• Location and visa: in Australia (not in immigration clearance) when you apply, holding an eligible visa, and having held a Student visa in the last 6 months.
• Degree: a Bachelor or higher from a CRICOS-registered course with an Australian provider, completed within the 6 months before you apply, meeting the Australian study requirement.
• English: a test taken in the 12 months before you apply (tests on or after 7 August 2025): IELTS Academic or General Training overall 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component, or PTE Academic overall 55.
• Health insurance: adequate cover when you apply.
• Police check: evidence that you have applied for an Australian Federal Police check.
• First 485: you must not have held a subclass 485 or 476 visa as a primary applicant before.

What does the 485 cost, and how long does it take?

The 485 is exempt from the subsequent temporary application charge. Home Affairs charges in AUD only and publishes no INR amount, so the rupee cost depends on your card's exchange rate when you pay in ImmiAccount.

Home Affairs' global processing-time guide shows 50% of Post-Higher Education Work applications decided in 5 days and 90% in 55 days. That guide covers all nationalities and recently decided applications; it is not India-specific.

Graduated in India instead? Look at MATES

The Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES, subclass 403) is an India-only route for graduates of Indian institutions. It is the nearest equivalent to a post-study work visa if you did not study in Australia.

• Aged 18 to 30 when ballot registration opens.
• Graduated within 2 years before the ballot from a Top 100 institution on India's NIRF India Rankings Overall 2024 list, with a Bachelor degree or higher.
• Qualification in renewable energy, mining, engineering, ICT, artificial intelligence, financial technology or agricultural technology.
• IELTS overall 6.0 with at least 5 in each component, or PTE Academic overall 50 with at least 36 in each.
• A job offer, or about AUD 5,000 to support yourself on arrival.
• Up to 3,000 primary places a year by random ballot (registration fee AUD 25); the visa costs AUD 470 and allows up to 2 years.

For the 2025-26 program year, registrations ran from 1 November to 14 December 2025. If you are selected, you have 30 days to apply online from outside Australia, and you must not have entered Australia on a MATES visa before.

What can you move to after the 485?

You cannot be granted a second 485 as a primary applicant, so plan your next visa while the first one runs:

• Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Core Skills stream: employer-sponsored, up to 4 years. You need an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, at least 1 year of relevant work experience in the last 5 years, and pay at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. Fee AUD 4,015.
• Skilled Independent (subclass 189): permanent, by invitation; under 45, at least 65 points, a skills assessment and Competent English. Fee AUD 6,135.
• Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491): state or territory nomination, also under 45 with 65 points. Fee AUD 6,140 each.
• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Direct Entry: permanent, for applicants under 45 nominated by an Australian employer for a Core Skills Occupation List role, with at least 3 years of relevant work experience unless exempt. Fee AUD 6,140.

Indian citizens were the largest citizenship group among temporary skilled (subclass 482) primary grants from 1 July to 31 December 2025: 6,220 grants, or 18.1% of the total, according to the Home Affairs temporary resident (skilled) report.

Mistakes that can cost you the 485

• Missing the 6-month window. Your degree must be completed within the 6 months before you apply.
• An expired English score. The test must be from the 12 months before you apply.
• Lodging without the AFP check. You need evidence that you have applied for it at the time of application.
• Leaving Australia first. You must be in Australia when you apply.
• Turning 36. The age limit is 35 or under unless your degree is a Masters by research or a Doctorate.

Planning a family visit to your graduation? Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visitor visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Can my spouse come with me on the Australian 485 visa?

Yes, family members can be included for an extra charge: AUD 2,875 for each family member aged 18 or over and AUD 1,450 for each child under 18, on top of the AUD 5,750 main applicant fee.

Do I need a job offer to apply for the subclass 485?

A job offer is not among the Home Affairs requirements for the Post-Higher Education Work stream. You need an eligible Australian degree, to meet the age and English rules, adequate health insurance and an AFP check application.

Can Indian students still bring family on an Australian Student visa?

From 2 October 2026, most Student visa applicants can no longer include family members, and most applications must be lodged outside Australia. Exemptions include PhD students, DFAT or Defence-sponsored students and fully funded foreign-government scholarship holders.

How much is the Australian Student visa fee for Indians now?

AUD 2,500 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026, or AUD 2,050 for standalone ELICOS or Non-Award courses. Home Affairs publishes the charge in AUD only.