In order to be eligible for the 485 visa extension, students need to have graduated from a regional institution, and resided (including all work and study) for at least two years in a regional area immediately before applying for their second 485 visa. The second Temporary Graduate visa is also available to current post-study 485 visa holders who graduated from a regional institution, and who will have resided (including all work and study) for at least two years in a regional area immediately before applying for their second 485 visa and are in Australia. Visa application fee is $650 main applicant, $325 for spouse or partner and $165 for children under 18.
Subclass 485 – Second Post-Higher Education Work (PHEW) Visa: Two-Year Grant for Hobart Graduates
As of 12 September 2025, the Department has updated procedural instructions for the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa. Higher education graduates who have studied and resided in Hobart or surrounding area postcodes are now eligible for a Second Post-Higher Education Work (PHEW) stream visa with a two-year validity.
Previously, graduates meeting the Second PHEW requirements using Hobart and surrounding postcodes were only eligible for a one-year Temporary Graduate Visa (TGV).
This change aligns Hobart with other eligible regional areas, ensuring that all higher education graduates who use Tasmanian postcodes to satisfy Second PHEW criteria may now be granted a two-year Second Sc 485 visa.
The Department of Home Affairs has announced a new initiative for an additional Temporary Graduate visa with an extra one or two year of post-study work rights for international students who:
- graduate from the regional campus of a registered university or institution with a higher education or postgraduate qualification; and
- maintain ongoing residence in a regional area while holding their first Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa
The second Temporary Graduate visa will require ongoing residence in a regional area.
The definition of regional Australia for this purpose will be the same as the definition for skilled migration – all of Australia excluding Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (Perth and Gold Coast are classified as regional areas).
From 2021, Temporary Graduate visa (TGV) holders (post-study work stream) who have graduated from a regional educational institution and have lived in regional Australia on their first TGV will be eligible for a second TGV.
Those eligible for a second TGV will be required to remain in a regional area for the duration of their new visa.
Eligibility will include international students who studied at a regional campus of a metropolitan university.
- International graduates who have studied and lived in Category 2 will be eligible for an additional 1 year on a second Temporary Graduate visa.
- International graduates who have studied and lived in Category 3 will be eligible for an additional 2 years on a second Temporary Graduate visa.
The initiative will provide an additional incentive for international students to study at a regional institution and to live in regional areas post-study, boosting diversity and prosperity in regional Australia.
At the same time, it will help ease growing infrastructure pressures in our major cities.
There is no change to Student visas. This option is available as an initiative for international students to study and live in regional Australia
Increase in post-study work rights based on Australian qualification and region of study
| Definition | Locations | Regional incentives |
| Major Cities | Sydney, Melbourne
Brisbane |
– NA |
| Cities and major regional centres | Perth, Adelaide
Gold Coast Sunshine Coast, Canberra Newcastle/Lake Macquarie Wollongong/Illawarra Geelong Hobart |
– Access to the dedicated 25,000 regional places.– Priority processing on regional visas.
– Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists. – International students studying at regional universities will be eligible to access an additional 1 year in Australia on a post-study work visa. |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | All other locations | – Access to the dedicated 25,000 regional places.– Priority processing on regional visas.
– Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists. – International students studying at regional universities will be eligible to access an additional 2 years in Australia on a post-study work visa. – Priority in negotiating region-specific Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs). |
- Bachelor degree (including Honours ): 2 + 1 year (for cities and major regional centres) or + 2 years for regional centres and other regional areas)
- Masters by coursework: 2 + 1 year (for cities and major regional centres) or + 2 years for regional centres and other regional areas)
- Masters by research: 3 + 1 year (for cities and major regional centres) or + 2 years for regional centres and other regional areas)
- Doctoral degree: 4 + 1 year (for cities and major regional centres) or + 2 years for regional centres and other regional areas)
- Regional areas include Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.
Latest 485 visa changes and updates:
- List of occupations and qualifications eligible for post-study work rights extension
- Extended Work Rights for Select Occupations and Qualifications
- Extra 1 or 2-year visa for international graduates from regional institutions
- 485 Visa – Secondary applicants not excluded
- COVID-19 Concessions for Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visas
- 485 Visa Processing Time
- 35 Years or Under Age Limit for 485 Visa
- 485 visa
The Australian Government will increase the duration of post study work rights of international students to strengthen the pipeline of skilled labour.
Post study work rights for select degrees in areas of verified skill shortages will be increased from:
- Two years to four years for select Bachelor’s degrees
- Three years to five years for select Masters degrees
- Four years to six years for select PhDs.
End of the two-year extension of post-study work rights
The Department of Education have noted that the extended post-study work rights which provided international graduates with select degrees an additional two years on their Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) will no longer be available from mid-2024.
The Department has confirmed that there is currently no set date for when the two year extension will cease but they will update their website when further information becomes available.
From 25 November 2023, online study requirements reverted to pre-COVID settings. However, online study undertaken during the COVID concession period (1 February 2020 to 25 November 2023) will continue to count towards the Australian Study Requirement (ASR).
As all students were required to return to in-person study in July 2023 by TEQSA, the tertiary education regulator, we anticipate that this position should not disadvantage any students, but also provide a clear end date to the announcement of the previous government made in November 2021.
From 25 November 2023, the subclass 485 can now be granted no matter the location of the applicant at the time of grant.
Related: Migration cap increase to 195,000
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