So, you’ve lodged your Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) application. Now comes the hard part: the waiting game. Wondering how long you'll be in this limbo is one of the most stressful parts of the post-study journey, but getting a clear idea of the timeline is the first step to planning your future with confidence.
The official processing time can be anywhere from a month to several months, depending on which stream you've applied for and how straightforward your application is. Right now, half of all applications are decided within 35 to 61 days, but it’s crucial to dig a bit deeper into the numbers for the Graduate Work and Post-Study Work streams to set realistic expectations.
Disclaimer: Please be advised that immigration policies, visa requirements, and processing times are subject to change without notice. The information presented in this article is for general guidance only and may not be current at the time of your reading. For the most accurate and up-to-date advice tailored to your specific situation, we strongly recommend booking an appointment with a registered migration agent. For any department fees, please refer to the official Department of Home Affairs website at https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/.
Your Guide to Current 485 Visa Processing Times
Instead of relying on a single, often misleading average, the Department of Home Affairs gives us a much better way to look at it: percentile-based timelines. This shows you how long it takes for different percentages of applications to be finalised, giving you a much clearer picture of the whole spectrum.
Think of it like waiting for a coffee at a busy café. A simple black coffee comes out in a minute. A more complex order—a half-strength, decaf soy latte with extra foam—naturally takes a bit longer. In the same way, a perfectly prepared, simple visa application will fly through the system much faster than one with missing documents or complex personal circumstances.
Understanding the Official Timelines
Let's break down the latest official data. Looking at the processing times in percentiles is the most accurate way to gauge your potential wait time and see where you might fall.
This chart compares the processing times for the two main streams of the 485 visa.
As you can see, the Graduate Work stream tends to be processed a little faster on average, though both streams eventually even out for the more complex applications that take longer.
A Closer Look at the Numbers
To give you a snapshot of what to expect, here are the current processing times published by the Department of Home Affairs.
Subclass 485 Visa Processing Times at a Glance
| Visa Stream | 25% of Applications Processed Within | 50% of Applications Processed Within | 75% of Applications Processed Within | 90% of Applications Processed Within |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Work Stream | 27 Days | 47 Days | 71 Days | 89 Days |
| Post-Study Work Stream | 36 Days | 61 Days | 83 Days | 95 Days |
These numbers tell a clear story. The median (50%) processing time for the Graduate Work stream is 47 days, while the Post-Study Work stream is a bit longer at 61 days. This means half of the people who apply are getting a decision within these timeframes.
If your application is straightforward and you're lucky, you could be in the quickest 25% and hear back in just 27-36 days. However, it's wise to plan for the longer end. The fact that 90% of applications are finalised within about three months (89-95 days) is a much safer benchmark for your planning.
Disclaimer: Visa processing times and requirements can and do change, often without notice. The information here is for general guidance only and may no longer be true when you are reading this article. For the most current and personalised advice tailored to your situation, it is always best to book an appointment with a registered migration agent. For any department fees for any visa, always refer to https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/.
Knowing these timelines helps you map out the next critical steps in your career. For more information on what comes after graduation, check out our guide on Australian post-study pathways.
The Four Stages of Your 485 Visa Application Journey
To really get a handle on the processing time for a 485 visa, it helps to pull back the curtain and see what actually happens after you hit ‘submit’. It’s not just one long, mysterious waiting game. Instead, think of it as a journey with four distinct stages. Knowing what these are helps you make sense of the wait and manage your expectations.
It’s a bit like ordering a custom-built piece of furniture. First, you place your order with all the specifications. Then, you get a confirmation and a rough delivery estimate. After that, the workshop starts building it, and finally, it arrives at your door. Your visa application follows a very similar, predictable path.
Stage 1: Preparation and Lodgement
This is the part where you're in the driver's seat. It’s all about gathering your documents—passport, English test results, Australian Federal Police check, health insurance, and proof of your Australian studies. Nailing this with a complete and accurate submission is the single best thing you can do for a smooth process down the line.
Once you’ve got everything lined up, you’ll lodge the application online through your ImmiAccount and pay the visa application charge. That’s when the clock officially starts.
Stage 2: Acknowledgement and Bridging Visa Grant
Almost instantly after you lodge, an automated acknowledgement will hit your inbox. This email is the Department of Home Affairs’ way of saying, "We've got it," and it will include your all-important transaction reference number (TRN).
Even more crucial, if you applied from within Australia while on another valid visa (like your student visa), you’ll be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). This is your legal safety net. It kicks in the moment your current visa expires, letting you stay in Australia legally while you wait for the 485 decision.
Stage 3: Department Assessment
This is where most of the waiting happens. Your application joins a queue and eventually lands on the desk of a case officer. Their job is to meticulously go through every single document you provided to make sure you tick all the boxes for your chosen visa stream.
During this stage, the case officer is busy:
- Verifying your identity and personal details.
- Checking your Australian study qualifications to ensure they meet the two-year study rule.
- Reviewing your health and character checks to make sure you meet the public interest criteria.
- Confirming all your supporting documents are legitimate and valid.
If the case officer spots a gap or needs something clarified, they’ll send you a Request for Further Information (RFI), which puts your application on pause until you respond.
Stage 4: The Final Decision
This is it—the finish line. Once the case officer is satisfied you’ve met every requirement, your application status will change to "Finalised." This can go one of three ways:
- Visa Grant: The best-case scenario! You’ll get a grant notification letter with your visa details and conditions. Congratulations!
- Visa Refusal: If you don't meet the criteria, you'll receive a refusal letter explaining the reasons why.
- Request for More Information (RFI): While usually part of the assessment stage, an RFI can pop up right before a final decision if a last-minute check is needed.
The Department of Home Affairs provides a handy tool to check global visa processing times, which gives you a real-time look at how long applications are currently taking.
Below is a sample of what you'll see on the official government website.
This tool is a fantastic resource because it shows the time taken to finalise 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% of recent applications. It gives you a much richer picture than a simple average ever could.
Disclaimer: Visa processing information, criteria, and government fees are subject to change. The details in this article are for informational purposes only and may no longer be true when you are reading this article. We strongly recommend booking an appointment with a registered migration agent for up-to-date advice. For any department fees for any visa, always refer to https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/.
Key Factors That Impact Your 485 Visa Processing Speed
Have you ever wondered why one person’s 485 visa seems to fly through in a few weeks, while a friend's application gets stuck in a frustrating holding pattern for months? It’s not just the luck of the draw. The truth is, several key factors directly influence how quickly your application is processed, a bit like going through security at the airport.
A perfectly prepared application, with every document present and correct, gets waved through the express lane. But an application with missing pieces or complicated issues gets pulled aside for a full manual inspection, and that’s where the real delays begin. Understanding what these factors are is the first step to managing your expectations and, more importantly, setting yourself up for a faster decision.
The Quality and Completeness of Your Application
By far, the single biggest influence on your 485 visa processing time is how “decision-ready” your application is the moment you hit submit. A case officer's job is to tick the boxes and verify that you meet all the legal requirements for the visa. If every piece of evidence they need is there, clearly labelled, and correct, you’ve made their job easy.
On the other hand, an application with missing documents, an expired police check, or the wrong forms throws a spanner in the works. The whole process grinds to a halt while the case officer issues a Request for Further Information (RFI). This simple step can add weeks, if not months, to your waiting time while the clock is paused on your application.
Recent data shows just how big a deal this is. While the official median processing time sits around 56 days, a huge number of delays are completely avoidable. In fact, roughly 80% of processing lags are directly caused by applicants being slow to provide health, character, or biometric information, adding anywhere from two to eight weeks to the timeline. You can see a great breakdown of these trends in this detailed analysis of Temporary Graduate visa data.
The Timeliness of Your Health and Character Checks
Health and character checks are non-negotiable hurdles, and they are notorious for causing bottlenecks. These assessments are there to make sure all applicants meet Australia’s public interest criteria, but they operate on their own distinct timelines.
Health Examinations: Once you lodge your application, you'll get a HAP ID to book your medical exam with an approved panel physician. Putting this off will directly delay your visa. A case officer simply cannot finalise an application until they have a "cleared" health check on file.
Character Checks (Police Certificates): You’ll need an Australian Federal Police (AFP) certificate that was issued within the last 12 months. On top of that, if you've lived in any other country for 12 months or more over the last 10 years, you need police certificates from those countries, too. Getting these can take a surprisingly long time, so it's a very smart move to apply for them well before you plan to lodge your visa.
Key Takeaway: Being proactive with your health and character checks is one of the most powerful things you can do to speed up your 485 visa. Don't wait to be asked—get them sorted early. You can learn more about what's involved in our guide on meeting the health and character requirements.
Stream-Specific Requirements Like Skills Assessments
For anyone applying under the Graduate Work stream, there's another major piece of the puzzle: the skills assessment. This is where a designated assessing authority reviews your qualifications to confirm they are suitable for your nominated occupation.
This is a completely separate process from the visa application itself, and it can take weeks or even months to get the result.
- You must show proof that you have, at the very least, applied for your skills assessment when you lodge your 485 visa.
- Your visa cannot be granted until the Department receives a positive skills assessment outcome.
Not having this organised from day one is a guaranteed recipe for delay. You should start your skills assessment application as early as you possibly can, long before you’re ready to submit your visa. This way, you prevent one of the longest external processes from becoming the main reason your application is stuck in the queue.
How to Respond to a Request for Further Information
That email from the Department of Home Affairs with the subject line 'Request for Further Information' is guaranteed to make your heart jump. Take a deep breath. It's not a sign that your application is destined for refusal.
An RFI is an incredibly common part of the 485 visa process. Think of it as the case officer simply raising their hand and saying, "I just need a little more detail on this point before I can sign off." It’s your chance to clear up any confusion and get your application moving again. The key is to respond quickly and correctly, because your application is effectively on pause until they hear back from you.
Common Triggers for an RFI
While a case officer can ask for anything, most requests fall into a few familiar categories. Knowing what they are can help you prepare a rock-solid application from the start, potentially avoiding an RFI altogether.
Here are the most common reasons you might get that email:
- Updated Police Checks: The Australian Federal Police (AFP) check is only valid for 12 months. If your application has been in the queue for a while, it's very likely your original one will expire before a decision is made.
- Health Examination Results: You might be asked to go for a medical if you haven't done one yet, or if a specific health issue noted in your application needs a closer look from a panel doctor.
- Clarification of Study Details: The case officer might need more proof that you meet the two-year Australian study requirement. This could be a request for extra transcripts or a more detailed completion letter from your university.
- Evidence of Health Insurance: This is a classic. They'll want to see proof that your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) was active right up until your student visa ended, and that you've got a new, compliant policy ready for your 485 visa.
Your Step-by-Step Response Plan
When that RFI lands in your inbox, don't panic. A calm, methodical approach is what’s needed. The email will spell out exactly what you need to provide and give you a deadline, which is usually 28 days.
Here’s how to handle it like a pro:
- Read the Request Carefully: Don't just skim it. Go through the email two or three times to make sure you understand precisely what document or piece of information they’re after.
- Gather the Exact Documents: Don't try to substitute. If they ask for a specific form, a particular type of letter, or a new certificate, you must provide that exact item. Sending something 'similar' will just create more delays and frustration.
- Upload via ImmiAccount: This is critical. All your documents need to be uploaded directly into your ImmiAccount. Do not email them to the Department or a generic address; they will get lost.
- Beat the Deadline: That 28-day deadline is not a suggestion. Aim to get everything uploaded well before it expires. Missing the deadline can lead to a visa refusal based only on the information they already have on file.
Disclaimer: Immigration policies and visa requirements are subject to change. This information is intended for general guidance and may no longer be true when you are reading this article. It is essential to book an appointment with a registered migration agent for advice tailored to your specific circumstances. For any department fees for any visa, always refer to https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/.
Practical Strategies to Speed Up Your 485 Visa Application
While you can't control the Department's workload, you have a surprising amount of power to influence how quickly your application moves through the system. Being proactive and organised is the difference between joining the express lane and getting stuck in the slow queue. This is your action plan for achieving the fastest possible processing time for your 485 visa.
Think of it like preparing for a major exam. You wouldn't just show up on the day and hope for the best, would you? You’d study, get your notes in order, and have all your pens ready. Applying that same level of preparation here will pay off massively.
Create a Master Document Checklist
Before you even think about opening the online application form, make a master checklist. Honestly, this is a non-negotiable first step. Go through the document requirements for your specific 485 stream on the Home Affairs website and list every single item you need.
This list becomes your roadmap. Tick things off as you get them, and make notes of expiry dates for time-sensitive documents like your passport or English test results. A complete, "decision-ready" application is the single most effective way to get a faster outcome.
Get Ahead on Time-Consuming Checks
Some of the documents you need have their own processing times, completely separate from your visa application timeline. Waiting for a case officer to ask you for these is a guaranteed way to add weeks, or even months, to your wait.
Get on top of these key items early:
- Australian Federal Police (AFP) Check: Apply for this well in advance. Just remember it's only valid for 12 months, so you need to time it carefully—you don't want it to expire while your application is still in the queue.
- Overseas Police Clearances: If you've lived in any other country for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, you'll need police checks from them. These can be notoriously slow to get, so start this process as soon as possible.
- Health Examination: The moment you lodge your application and receive a HAP ID, book your medical exam. A case officer simply cannot finalise your visa until your health check is cleared and showing in their system.
Avoid Common Application Derailers
Simple mistakes can have big consequences, leading to serious delays or even a refusal. One of the most common errors we see is people selecting the wrong visa stream. Make absolutely sure you meet the specific study requirements for either the Graduate Work or Post-Study Work stream before you hit submit.
Another frequent pitfall is mismatched information. Every detail across your forms, passport, and supporting documents must be identical. A tiny typo in your name or date of birth can trigger a request for more information, stopping your application dead in its tracks.
Disclaimer: Visa requirements, processing times, and government fees change frequently. This information is for general guidance only and may be outdated when you read it. For advice specific to your case, book an appointment with a registered migration agent. For any department fees for any visa, always refer to https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/.
Seek Professional Guidance for a Flawless Submission
Navigating the complexities of a visa application on your own can be daunting. Bringing a MARA-registered migration agent on board can be a total game-changer. They’re experts at spotting potential issues before they become problems, ensuring your application is complete and correct from day one.
An agent's experience helps you sidestep the common errors that cause most of the preventable delays. If you want to make sure your application is as strong as it can be, you can learn more by reading our guide on how to choose the right migration agent. Their goal is simple: to make your application so straightforward that the case officer's only logical next step is to click "grant".
Got Questions About 485 Visa Processing? We've Got Answers.
The final leg of your student journey can feel a bit like a maze. To help you find your way, we’ve put together some straight-to-the-point answers for the most common questions we hear about 485 visa processing times and what to expect while you wait.
Can I Pop Overseas While My 485 Visa Is Being Processed?
This is a big one, so listen up. If you're on a Bridging Visa A (BVA), you absolutely cannot leave Australia and expect to get back in without first getting a Bridging Visa B (BVB).
Think of your BVA as a single-entry pass. The moment you leave Australia, it's gone. This could leave you stranded overseas, unable to return to see your 485 visa application through to the end. Always, always secure a BVB before you book any flights. It's your ticket back into the country and keeps your 485 application safe.
What If My Student Visa Runs Out Before My 485 Is Approved?
Don't panic—this happens all the time and the system is designed for it. When you lodge a valid 485 visa application from within Australia, you’re automatically granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA).
This BVA is your safety net. It sits quietly in the background until your student visa expires, and then it kicks in automatically, keeping you lawful in Australia while you wait for the decision. Better yet, a BVA linked to a 485 application almost always comes with full work rights, letting you jump straight into your career.
How Do I Actually Check My Application Status?
The only real source of truth here is your ImmiAccount. You’ll see the status tick over from 'Received' to 'Initial Assessment,' then 'Further Assessment,' and finally, 'Finalised.'
The Department of Home Affairs won’t give you personal updates over the phone or by email—they’re just too busy. The only time you'll hear from them is if they need something, which will come as a formal Request for Further Information (RFI). For a rough idea of general timelines, the Department's global visa processing times tool is your best bet.
Does One Visa Stream Get Processed Faster Than the Other?
Sometimes, yes, but the difference is usually minor. You might see official data showing the Post-Study Work stream moving a fraction quicker than the Graduate Work stream one month, and then it flips the next. This is often just down to the number of applications they've received for each.
Honestly, the biggest factor isn't the stream—it's the quality of your application. A clean, complete, and "decision-ready" application, whether it's for the Graduate or Post-Study stream, will always race past an incomplete one. The real secret to a faster decision is putting in the hard work upfront.
Disclaimer: Visa processing times, immigration policies, and government fees are subject to change, often without notice. The information provided in this article is for general guidance only and may no longer be true when you are reading this article. It is essential to book an appointment with a registered migration agent for professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances. For any department fees for any visa, always refer to https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/.
Navigating the 485 visa process requires careful planning and expert knowledge. At My Visa Guide, our registered migration agents provide meticulous application preparation to ensure your submission is decision-ready, helping you avoid common delays and achieve a positive outcome. Start your post-study journey with confidence by booking a consultation with our team today.
