Checked against Department of Home Affairs guidance on 19 October 2026
Looking for a 485 visa extension? Home Affairs is clear on this point: it cannot extend a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). What some graduates can do is apply for a second, separate 485 in the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. That option is only open to people who studied at a regional campus and then lived in a regional area on their first 485. Everyone else needs to plan a different visa before their current 485 ends.
This guide explains who can get a second 485, how long it lasts, what it costs and the mistakes that most often rule people out. If you are still on your first 485, start with our Temporary Graduate 485 visa page for the basics.
Can you extend a 485 visa?
No. On its Post-Higher Education Work stream page, Home Affairs says it cannot extend this visa. There is no form to add time to the visa you already hold. Time spent outside Australia also does not add to your visa end date.
When people talk about a "485 extension", they usually mean one of two things:
- A second Temporary Graduate visa in the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, which is a new application with its own fee and its own criteria.
- A different visa that lets them stay on, such as a skilled, employer sponsored or regional visa.
You also cannot simply apply for another first 485. Home Affairs states that if you previously held a subclass 485 or 476 visa as the primary applicant, you cannot be granted a Post-Higher Education Work stream visa as a primary applicant again. If you held a 485 as a secondary applicant (for example, as a partner), you may be able to apply as a primary applicant.
What is the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream?
This stream gives eligible graduates more time in Australia if they studied in a designated regional area and then kept living there. It used to be called the Second Post-Study Work stream. It is not open to people whose first 485 was in the Post-Vocational Education Work stream (previously the Graduate Work stream).
Under the current Home Affairs guidance, you can only use this stream if:
- your first Temporary Graduate visa was granted in the Post-Higher Education Work or Post-Study Work stream, or
- you were granted a Replacement stream 485 based on holding a first 485 in the Post-Study Work stream.
The Replacement stream itself closed to new primary applicants from 1 July 2024, so it only matters here if you already hold one.
Who is eligible for a second 485 visa?
Based on the Home Affairs eligibility list for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, you must:
- be in Australia (but not in immigration clearance) when you apply
- still hold your first Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work or Replacement stream when you apply
- have a degree from a CRICOS-registered course at a campus in a designated regional area, and that degree must be the one that led to your first 485
- have lived only in a designated regional area for at least 2 years immediately before you apply
- have done any work or study during your first 485 in the designated regional area
- meet the age limit (see below)
- have adequate health insurance for everyone in the application
- meet health and character requirements, including an Australian Federal Police check
You are not eligible if you have already been the primary holder of a Post-Vocational Education Work stream 485, a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream 485 or a Skilled - Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa. In other words, this is a one-time option.
Does the campus or the university matter?
The campus matters. Home Affairs says the campus you studied at must have been based in a designated regional area. A regional university with a city campus does not help if you studied at the city campus. Check the address of the campus where you actually studied against the Home Affairs designated regional areas list, or see our regional areas guide.
What is the 485 visa age limit?
The 485 visa age limit is 35 years or under at the time you apply. This applies to both the first Post-Higher Education Work stream and the second stream. There are two exceptions where you can apply while under 50:
- you used a Masters (research) or Doctoral degree (PhD) to qualify for your first 485, or
- you hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport.
For the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, the only listed age exception is for Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders. Age is assessed on the day you apply, so if you are close to 36, timing your application matters.
How long does a second 485 visa last?
The length of the second 485 depends on where you studied and where you lived on your first 485. Home Affairs splits designated regional areas into two categories:
- Category 2 - Cities and Major Regional Centres: Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart.
- Category 3 - Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas: all other designated regional locations.
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are Category 1 (major cities). Study or residence there does not qualify for this stream.
| Where you lived on your first 485 | Where you studied | Second 485 length |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) | Any | Not eligible |
| Category 2 or 3 | Category 1 | Not eligible |
| Category 2 | Category 2 or 3 | 1 extra year |
| Category 3 | Category 2 | 1 extra year |
| Category 3 | Category 3 | 2 extra years |
| Tasmania (Category 2 or 3) | Tasmania (Category 2 or 3) | 2 extra years |
If you moved between Category 2 and Category 3 areas, Home Affairs will consider you for the shorter visa, unless you lived in Category 2 and 3 areas in Tasmania. A holiday or short work trip away from your usual home does not change how your residence is assessed.
How much does a 485 visa extension cost?
Because a "485 visa extension" is really a new visa, you pay a new Visa Application Charge. These are the main applicant charges published by Home Affairs:
| Stream | Main applicant charge (from) | Usual stay |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Higher Education Work (first 485) | AUD5,750 | Usually 2 to 3 years, depending on qualification |
| Post-Vocational Education Work | AUD5,750 | Up to 18 months |
| Second Post-Higher Education Work | AUD2,265 | 1 or 2 years, depending on regional category |
There is an extra charge for each family member included in the application. You may also pay for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. A lower charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. Use the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator to check the amount before you lodge, as charges can change.
How long does the second 485 take to process?
Home Affairs does not publish a fixed figure for this stream. It directs applicants to its visa processing time guide, which shows how long recently decided applications took. That is a guide only and is not specific to any one application.
Applications usually take longer when forms are incomplete, when Home Affairs needs more information, or when your details take time to verify. Arranging health examinations before you apply may lead to a faster decision, according to the Department.
How do you apply for a second 485?
- Check your timing. Home Affairs says to start once you have lived in a designated regional area for at least 2 years and while you still hold your first 485. Do not let your first 485 expire.
- Check your visa conditions. If your current visa has a "no further stay" condition 8503 or 8534, you cannot apply online and need to submit an ImmiAccount technical support form. You can check your conditions on VEVO.
- Gather residence evidence. You need to show where you lived for the last 2 years. Leases, utility bills, payslips and bank statements with your address are common examples.
- Apply for an AFP check and get health insurance in place for everyone included.
- Lodge in ImmiAccount while you are in Australia and pay the Visa Application Charge.
If you have never used ImmiAccount, our ImmiAccount guide walks through the set-up.
What mistakes stop people getting a second 485?
- Moving to a major city during the first 485. Even a few months living in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane can break the requirement to have lived only in a designated regional area for 2 years.
- Studying at the wrong campus. It is the campus location that counts, not where the university's head office is.
- Waiting too long. You must still hold your first 485 when you apply. If it expires, this stream is closed to you.
- Expecting 2 years from a Category 2 city. Outside Tasmania, living in a Category 2 area generally leads to 1 extra year, not 2.
- Treating it as a pathway to PR. A second 485 is still temporary. It buys time, but it does not lead to permanent residence by itself.
What if you are not eligible for a second 485?
Many graduates on a 485 in a major city will not qualify for the second stream. If that is you, the time left on your current 485 is the time you have to secure your next visa. Common options to look at include:
- Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) with state nomination or eligible family sponsorship
- Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) through a state or territory
- Skilled Independent (subclass 189) if your points are competitive
- Skills in Demand (subclass 482) if an employer is willing to sponsor you
Most skilled visas need a positive skills assessment and a points score that is competitive for your occupation. Run your numbers in our points calculator and read our points test guide. For a side-by-side view, see 189 vs 190 vs 491, and for the bigger picture, our 485 graduate pathways to PR article and student to PR pathway page.
485 visa extension: quick questions
Can I apply for a 485 visa extension online?
There is no extension. You can lodge a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream application in ImmiAccount if you are eligible. If your current visa has condition 8503 or 8534, you need to submit an ImmiAccount technical support form instead of applying online.
Can I get a second 485 if I studied in Melbourne?
No. Melbourne is a Category 1 major city, and study there does not qualify for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.
I am 36. Can I still get a second 485?
Only if an exception applies. You can apply while under 50 if you used a Masters (research) or PhD for your first 485, or if you hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport. Otherwise the limit is 35 or under when you apply.
Do I need a new English test for the second 485?
The Home Affairs eligibility list for the second stream does not include a new English test. You still need health insurance, health and character checks and an AFP check. Check the current requirements on the Home Affairs page before you lodge.
Get advice before your 485 runs out
The second 485 rules turn on small details: the campus address, every place you lived and the date your first visa ends. If you are unsure where you stand, book your consultation with our team and we will look at your study history, residence and next visa options.
Official sources: Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, Post-Higher Education Work stream and Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).
This article is general information only and is not migration advice for your circumstances. Visa rules, charges and processing times change. Before you make a decision, book a consultation with a registered migration agent.