Subclass 485 Visa — The 2026 Fee Doubling and Updated Rules

Subclass 485 Visa — The 2026 Fee Doubling and Updated Rules

On 1 March 2026, without prior consultation with the international education sector, the Australian Department of Home Affairs doubled the primary applicant Visa Application Charge (VAC) for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) — from AUD $2,300 to AUD $4,600. The change took effect immediately, leaving many graduates whose student visas were close to expiring with significantly increased costs and no time to plan.

Combined with earlier changes to age limits, English language requirements, course duration, and stream structure introduced through 2024 and 2025, the Subclass 485 visa now looks substantially different from what most current students originally planned for when they enrolled. This article sets out exactly what has changed, what it costs, and what graduates need to consider in 2026.

The Headline Change — Doubled Fees

Effective 1 March 2026, through the Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visa Application Charge) Regulations 2026, the application fees are now:

To put this in international context: the Australian 485 visa is now more than ten times the equivalent fee in Canada, three times the cost of New Zealand's post-study work visa, and approximately double the UK Graduate Route fee. It is the most expensive post-study work visa in the world.

The Other Changes — Age, English, Duration, Streams

The fee increase is the most recent change, but it sits on top of substantial reforms introduced between mid-2024 and early 2026:

Age Limit Reduced to 35

Since 1 July 2024, the maximum age for most applicants has been reduced from 50 to 35 years at the time of application. The exception applies only to graduates of Master's by Research and Doctoral (PhD) programs, who remain eligible until age 50.

For graduates aged 36 and above who completed coursework Master's degrees, the 485 visa is no longer an option. Alternative pathways — including direct skilled migration through state nomination or employer-sponsored visas — must be considered.

Increased English Language Requirement

The minimum English language requirement has been increased to IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, with a minimum 5.5 in each section (or equivalent PTE/TOEFL scores). This is a meaningful increase from previous standards and is now closer to the requirements for skilled migration visas.

Two Main Streams

The visa structure has been simplified into two main streams:

• Post-Higher Education Work stream — for graduates of Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees from Australian universities
• Post-Vocational Education Work stream — for graduates of select VET qualifications linked to occupations on national skills shortage lists

Duration

Integrity Update — No Reverting to Student Visa

As of mid-2024, holders of the Subclass 485 visa can no longer switch back to a Student Visa (Subclass 500) while onshore. This means graduates who do not secure long-term work or skilled migration outcomes within their 485 period cannot extend their stay by enrolling in a new course.

Strategic Implications for 2026 Graduates

• Lodge before age 35 if possible: If you are 34 and graduating soon, prioritise lodging the 485 application before your 35th birthday. The age is assessed at application, not at decision.
• Plan for the full cost upfront: Including the visa fee, health examination (around AUD $400), Overseas Visitors Health Cover (AUD $70–130 per month), Australian Federal Police check (AUD $56), and English test (AUD $475), the total cost for a single applicant is now approximately AUD $5,600.
• Use your 485 period strategically: The 485 visa is no longer a casual extension — at $4,600 it is a significant investment. Use the period to build relevant skilled employment, complete skills assessment, and lodge a skilled migration EOI.
• Consider whether direct migration is more efficient: For some profiles — particularly older graduates with strong skills assessment outcomes — moving directly to a skilled migration application (189/190/491) without using a 485 may be more cost-efficient than paying $4,600 for a temporary visa.
• Plan around the upcoming Points Test reform: The 2026 Federal Budget announced a redesign of the skilled migration points test with implementation flagged for 1 July 2027. Your 485 period should be used to maximise your competitive position under both the current and reformed tests.

What Has Not Changed

• The 485 visa is still a non-points-tested visa — you do not need to meet a points threshold
• Holders retain unrestricted work rights for the visa duration
• Dependants (spouse and children) can be included as secondary applicants
• Holders can travel in and out of Australia during the visa period
• Holders can apply for permanent skilled migration during the 485 period if eligible

Industry Response and the Outlook

The fee doubling has attracted significant criticism. The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) described the change as placing an "unfair financial burden" on international graduates. The International Students Representative Council of Australia (ISRC) noted that the same structural logic that drove the student visa fee doubling now drives the 485 doubling — namely, targeting groups with low demand elasticity and high exit costs.

Whether further changes are coming is uncertain. The Government has indicated in early 2026 that COVID-era extensions will be fully scrapped by mid-2026, and that second 485 visa applications and pathways into the Skills in Demand (482) visa may increasingly require occupation alignment with national or state shortage lists.