Subclass 485: Skilled Graduate (Provisional) - Onshore

This is an 18 months temporary visa which allows overseas students who do not meet the criteria fro a permanent GSM visa to remain in Australia for 18 months to gain skilled work experience or improve their English language skills.This is an one-off visa with no extension available.

An 485 visa holder can apply for a permanent GSM, a further provisional GSM or employer sponsored visa at any time during the currency of the visa, but must meet requirements of the visas applied for.

To be eligible to apply, the main applicant must meet the Threshold requirements only.

There is NO Points Test for this visa.

Other Information:

• Main Applicant must meet the Australian Study Requirement in the last 6 months before the application is made.
• Main applicants must have obtained the English language threshold test results when the application is made.
• Main applicant must provide evidence of having applied for a skills assessment with the relevant assessing authority in the nominated occupation when the application is made.
• All applicants must hold or have held an eligible student visa (560, 562, 563, 572, 573, 574) within 6 months prior to your application.
• All applicants must not have been unlawful in the last 6 months before the application is made.
• All applicants must have booked or undertaken a full medical when the application is made.
• All applicants, 16 or older, must have applied for Australian Federal Police clearances when the application is made.

What can the 485 holder do:

• complete a professional year (if relevant);
• improve your English Skills to obtain higher IELTS results;
• work to obtain 12 months Australian employment experience; or
• seek an employer who will sponsor you for a visa under the Employer Nomination Scheme.

A 485 holder can work or study to improve your chance to apply for the permanent visa 885, 886
within the 18 months visa validity. Better still, you can seek an employer who will sponsor you for a
permanent visa (856 or 857) under the ENS/RSMS; or even a temporary work visa (457).


The road in obtaining PR for a 485 holder is long and hard. The best option is via the ENS/RSMS
which are favoured by the Federal government.

A 485 holder must know that you must meet requirements for any future permanent visa you apply
for, and there is no automatic guarantee for a permanent visa. Careful planning is therefore critical to
secure a permanent visa in the future.

Please Contact Abacus Visa for information regarding possible visa pathways for a 485 holders.