Australia Subclass 485
Post-Study Work Visa

The Post-Higher Education Work Stream (most common) is for graduates who completed at least 2 years of a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Australia. There is no occupation requirement — you can work in any job. The Graduate Work Stream is for graduates of vocational/trade qualifications (diplomas, certificates) whose qualification is closely related to an occupation on the skilled occupation list. The Graduate Work Stream grants only 18 months. HS Global will advise which stream applies to your qualification.

Generally, only study completed onshore in Australia counts toward the 92-week (2 year) requirement. However, there are important exceptions: if you studied during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–2021), special concessions may apply allowing some offshore study to count. HS Global assesses your specific study dates to confirm eligibility. This is a complex area — get professional advice before assuming you qualify.

The 6-month deadline begins from the date you received written notification of your final results — not from your graduation ceremony date. For most Pakistani students this is the date your university emailed or posted your official final transcript or results letter. The actual conferral of your degree can happen later. HS Global tracks this deadline carefully and begins preparing your application well before it expires — missing this deadline means permanent ineligibility for the 485 visa.

Yes — in limited circumstances. If you are still within the 6-month application window from your final results and you held a student visa when you received those results, you may still be able to apply for the 485 visa even from outside Australia. However, this is complex and fact-specific. Contact HS Global immediately if your student visa has expired — time is critical and delays significantly reduce your options.

Time spent on the 485 visa does NOT count toward the 4-year lawful residence requirement for Australian citizenship. Only time spent as a Permanent Resident counts (plus some limited bridging visa time). However, the 485 visa period is essential for building work experience to qualify for PR — which then starts the citizenship clock. The typical timeline for Pakistani students is: Student Visa (3–4 yrs) → 485 Visa (2–4 yrs) → PR (4 yrs) → Citizenship eligibility.

Your spouse included as a secondary applicant on your 485 visa receives full unrestricted work rights — they can work any job, any hours, for any employer in Australia. This is a significant advantage over the student visa (where spouse work rights were restricted). Your children can attend any Australian school. The spouse must also meet health and character requirements when applying.

Your English test must have been taken within 3 years of your 485 visa application date. If your IELTS/PTE is nearing expiry, retake the test before applying — do not risk a refusal. If you studied your entire degree in Australia and your institution confirmed English was the language of instruction, you may qualify for an English language exemption. HS Global's sister company Language World offers IELTS and PTE preparation courses in Karachi if you need to retake before applying.

Yes — and it is highly recommended. A Professional Year program (available for Accounting, Engineering, and IT in Australia) earns you +5 bonus PR points, provides a structured work placement with an Australian employer, and significantly improves your employment prospects. The program runs for 44 weeks (about 12 months). HS Global strongly recommends completing a Professional Year during your 485 visa period to maximise your PR competitiveness.

A refusal of the 485 visa can be reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) if you receive a merits-reviewable decision. You must lodge the review within 21 days of the refusal. Grounds for refusal include not meeting the 92-week onshore study requirement, expired English test, health or character issues, or not applying within 6 months. HS Global has experience handling 485 refusals and AAT appeals — contact us immediately if you receive a refusal notice.

No — unlike most skilled work visas, the 485 Post-Higher Education Work Stream requires no job offer, no skills assessment, and no occupation requirement. You simply need to have completed your qualification in Australia, meet the English and other requirements, and apply within 6 months. This makes it one of the most accessible Australian visas for fresh graduates.

Yes — the 485 visa allows unlimited travel in and out of Australia for the full duration of the visa. There is no re-entry permit needed. You can visit family in Pakistan and return to Australia freely. The visa is a multiple-entry visa valid until its expiry date. Just ensure you maintain your health insurance (OSHC expires after your student visa — you'll need OVHC as a 485 holder) and keep your passport valid.

From a pure visa strategy perspective, studying at a regional campus gives you significant advantages: +5 PR points for regional study and +2 extra years on your 485 visa. Regional universities like University of Newcastle, University of Wollongong, Griffith University Gold Coast, James Cook University, and University of Tasmania offer quality degrees at lower fees with regional benefits. However, major cities (Sydney, Melbourne) offer more job opportunities. HS Global helps you balance visa strategy with career outcomes for your specific situation.