Students · 500 → 485 → PR
From student visa to permanent residence
See the whole path for your course and occupation: when to lodge the Temporary Graduate (485) visa, which stream and how long you get, what your assessing body needs from Australian graduates, how your points grow, and the risks to watch.
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Who is this for?
International students planning their study, and the education and migration agents who advise them. It joins course choice, the 485 and the skills assessment into one timeline, so everyone can see the whole path.
How are the dates estimated?
The 485 deadline (6 months after completion) and stream lengths are Home Affairs rules. We assume you lodge about a month after finishing and the visa starts a month later; check current processing times. Skills assessment timing uses each assessing body’s published requirements, such as 12 months of work for TRA’s Job Ready Program.
Does my campus count as regional?
It depends on the campus postcode, not the university. A regional campus can add 5 points and lead to a second 485 of 1 or 2 years. Check a campus postcode.
Does work on the 485 count for points?
Only skilled employment counts, and assessing bodies decide when you became skilled. We count your Australian work from the earliest date your assessment could be ready, which is cautious. Your outcome letter will show the real date.
Sources and method
- Temporary Graduate visa (485) rules: Home Affairs, checked 15 October 2026.
- Assessing bodies: each body’s official site, see skills assessments for Australian graduates.
- Points: Home Affairs points table. This planner gives general information, not migration advice; a registered migration agent can advise on your situation.