485 Visa Fee 2026: What Changed and What It Costs Now

Update — July 2026: The 485 visa fee has increased again. From 1 July 2026, the application fee is $5,750 for the primary applicant. The article below covers the March 2026 increase from $2,300 to $4,600. For the full breakdown of all July 2026 fee changes, see our updated visa fees guide.

On 1 March 2026, the Australian Department of Home Affairs doubled the application fee for the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa from $2,300 to $4,600. That is not a typo. Overnight, Australia became home to one of the most expensive post-study work visas in the world. And unlike most things in life, there are no refunds if your application is refused.

If you graduated recently or are about to finish your course, this change affects you directly. Here is everything you need to know.

What Changed on 1 March 2026

The fee increase applies to all 485 applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026. If you lodged before that date, you are on the old pricing. If you lodged on or after that date, even if you finished your course before March, you pay $4,600.

The exception covers citizens of 13 eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste nations including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu. Those applicants continue paying the previous rates.

The fee increase was not the only change. The 485 visa went through a significant overhaul across 2024 and 2025 that many graduates are still catching up with:

• Age limit dropped from 50 to 35 for most applicants
• English requirement increased from IELTS 6.0 to IELTS 6.5 overall
• English test results must now be no older than 12 months at the time of lodgement
• Post-study work rights reduced from a range of 4 to 6 years to 2 to 4 years for most graduates
• Visa hopping banned. You can no longer switch back to a student visa from a 485 visa while onshore
• The old Genuine Temporary Entrant test replaced with a tougher Genuine Student test

What the 485 Visa Actually Gives You

The 485 is a temporary visa that lets you live and work in Australia after finishing your studies. It is the bridge between graduation and permanent residency for most international students.

While you hold a 485, you can work full time for any employer in any field. You are not restricted to your area of study. You can travel in and out of Australia freely. And you can include eligible family members on your application.

How long you stay depends on your qualification:

• Bachelor degree including honours: 2 years
• Master by coursework: 2 years
• Master by research: 3 years
• PhD: 4 years
• Diploma or trade qualification: 18 months

If you studied in a designated regional area, you may be eligible for an additional 1 to 2 years under the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.

The Age Limit. This One Catches People Out

The age limit is now 35 or under at the time the Department of Home Affairs receives your application. Not when you submit. Not when you press lodgement. When Home Affairs receives it.

If you turn 36 the day before your application is received, it is invalid. There are no exceptions for most applicants. The narrow exceptions are Masters by Research and PhD graduates, who can apply up to age 50, and Hong Kong SAR or British National Overseas passport holders, who can also apply up to age 50.

For everyone else, 35 is the hard limit.

The English Requirement, Stricter Than Before

You need IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual band, including listening, reading, writing, and speaking. All four bands matter. If you score 6.5 overall but 5.0 in writing, the application is refused.

The test must be from a single sitting. You cannot combine scores from different tests. And the test must be no more than 12 months old at the time of lodgement.

Accepted English tests include IELTS Academic and General, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, CELPIP General, and a few others. If you sat an IELTS Online test from home, check carefully. Not all delivery formats are accepted.

For Hong Kong and BNO passport holders, the threshold is lower: 6.0 overall with 5.0 in each band.

If your English test is close to expiry or your score is borderline, book a new test before you apply. Do not risk $5,750 on a test result that might not be accepted.

The Six-Month Window. Do Not Miss It

You have exactly six months from your course completion date to lodge your 485 application. This is the date on your completion letter from your institution, not your graduation ceremony date, not when your results were released, not when you walked across the stage.

Missing this window means losing eligibility entirely. The Department does not grant extensions.

Start gathering your documents at the three-month mark. Aim to lodge by five months at the latest. The final month is your buffer for anything that goes wrong.

The documents you will need include your completion letter, official transcripts, a valid English test result, OVHC health insurance evidence, an Australian Federal Police check, health examination results, and passport and identity documents. For the vocational stream, you also need a skills assessment.

What OVHC Is, and Why It Is Not the Same as OSHC

This one catches a lot of students off guard. While you study on a student visa, you hold OSHC, Overseas Student Health Cover. For the 485 application, you need OVHC, Overseas Visitor Health Cover. They sound similar. They are completely different products.

You must have OVHC evidence in place before you lodge. Having OSHC does not count. Arrange this before your application, not after.

Common Mistakes That Cost $5,750

With the non-refundable fee at this level, the stakes are higher than they have ever been. These are the most frequent reasons 485 applications are refused:

Lodging outside the six-month window. Submitting an English test result that does not meet the 6.5 threshold. Providing a test result that is more than 12 months old. Applying over the age of 35. Failing the Genuine Student test with a poorly prepared personal statement. Submitting incorrect or uncertified documents. Including secondary applicants without adequate relationship evidence. Not having OVHC at the time of lodgement. Attempting to switch from another temporary visa when visa hopping restrictions now apply.

None of these mistakes are exotic. They happen to well-prepared applicants who misread one requirement or miscalculated one date.

How Studynash Can Help

Our registered migration agents review 485 applications regularly. We check your completion dates, verify your English test validity, confirm your age eligibility, and review your documentation before anything is submitted.

A pre-lodgement check typically takes one to two consultations. The cost is a fraction of what a refusal would cost you.

If you are approaching your six-month window, do not wait. Book a free 15-minute consultation and we will tell you exactly where you stand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the 485 visa cost in 2026? The application fee is $5,750 from 1 July 2026. It doubled from $2,300 to $4,600 on 1 March 2026, then rose again on 1 July 2026. Citizens of 13 Pacific Island and Timor-Leste nations are exempt.

Is the 485 visa fee refundable if my application is refused? No. The Department of Home Affairs does not refund visa application charges, even if the application is refused due to a minor error.

What is the age limit for the 485 visa in 2026? Most applicants must be 35 or under when the Department receives their application. Masters by Research graduates, PhD graduates, and Hong Kong SAR or BNO passport holders can apply up to age 50.

What IELTS score do I need for the 485 visa? You need 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each band from a single sitting. The test must be no more than 12 months old at lodgement.

How long after graduation can I apply for the 485 visa? You have six months from your course completion date, the date on your completion letter, not your graduation ceremony.

How long does the 485 visa last? Bachelor and master by coursework: 2 years. Master by research: 3 years. PhD: 4 years. Diploma or trade: 18 months. Regional study may add 1 to 2 years.

Can I switch back to a student visa after getting a 485? No. As of February 2026, 485 holders are generally prohibited from switching back to a student visa while onshore.

Do I need OSHC or OVHC for the 485 application? OVHC, Overseas Visitor Health Cover. Not OSHC. They are different products. You must hold OVHC at lodgement.

What happens if I turn 35 while my 485 application is being processed? Your age is assessed when the Department receives your application. If you were under 35 when you lodged and turn 35 during processing, you remain eligible.

Is the 485 visa still a pathway to permanent residency? Yes. The 485 remains the primary bridge between graduation and skilled migration or employer sponsorship. The higher fee makes getting the application right on the first attempt essential.