The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) is an Australian visa that allows international students who have completed their studies in Australia to stay temporarily to work, gain experience, or undertake further studies. This visa is designed to help graduates apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings — a valuable step for their careers and a potential pathway to permanent residency in Australia.
485 Visa Requirements
To qualify for a Graduate Visa Australia (Subclass 485), applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria. Below is a breakdown of the 485 visa requirements you need to fulfill before applying:
Be under 35 years of age
Be under 50 years of age (if you hold a PhD, Master by Research, or are a Hong Kong/BNO passport holder)
Have held a student visa within the last 6 months
Have completed your studies in Australia within the last 6 months
Meet the Australian study requirements
Meet the English language requirements
Provide evidence of adequate health insurance
Meet the character requirements
The Australian Government has recently introduced major updates to the 485 visa English requirements, effective from 7 August 2025. These changes affect the minimum English scores accepted for visa applications and the approved English language tests. Understanding these updates is crucial for planning your application and avoiding unnecessary delays.
485 Visa English Requirements (Before 7 August 2025)
If your English test was taken on or before 6 August 2025, the following minimum scores apply:
| Test Sub-skill | CAE / C1 Advanced | IELTS | OET | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT |
| Overall | 176 | 6.5 | B | 57 | 83 |
| Listening | 162 | 5.5 | B | 43 | 7 |
| Reading | 162 | 5.5 | B | 48 | 8 |
| Writing | 162 | 5.5 | B | 51 | 18 |
| Speaking | 162 | 5.5 | B | 42 | 16 |
This table applies to anyone meeting the 485 visa requirements IELTS, 485 visa requirements PTE, or any of the other listed English proficiency tests before the change date.
485 Visa English Requirements (On and After 7 August 2025)
If your English test is taken on or after 7 August 2025, the updated requirements are as follows:
| Test Sub-skill | C1 Advanced | CELPIP General | IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training | LANGUAGECERT Academic | MET | OET | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT |
| Overall | Not accepted | 8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 67 | 58 | 1310 | 55 | 81 |
| Listening | Not accepted | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 49 | 53 | 260 | 40 | 12 |
| Reading | Not accepted | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 54 | 51 | 280 | 42 | 12 |
| Writing | Not accepted | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 56 | 51 | 260 | 41 | 14 |
| Speaking | Not accepted | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 62 | 43 | 310 | 39 | 17 |
This table highlights the new accepted English tests for the 485 Visa Australia application, including PTE Academic, IELTS Academic and General, TOEFL iBT, CELPIP, and others.
485 Visa Requirements IELTS: One Skill Retake (OSR)
From 7 August 2025, the Australian Government will accept IELTS test results that include a One Skill Retake (OSR) for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485).
This means if you have achieved an overall band score of 6.5 but did not reach at least 5.5 in one or more individual components, you can retake that specific skill through an IELTS One Skill Retake.
You can then combine your two IELTS test results (original and OSR) to meet the 485 visa English requirements — as long as the OSR test is completed before you lodge your visa application.
This new flexibility benefits international graduates who may only need to improve one specific area of their English test to meet the visa standards.
Conclusion
If you’re an international graduate aiming to stay and work in Australia, understanding the 485 visa requirements and the updated 485 visa English requirements is essential. The introduction of IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) offers greater flexibility, giving applicants more opportunities to reach the required English score for the Graduate Visa Australia.
Our experienced team of registered Migration Agents in Perth can assist you with every stage of your 485 Visa Australia application — from assessing your eligibility to guiding you through the latest English language and documentation requirements.
Contact today to receive professional guidance from a trusted Migration Agent Perth, and take the next step toward building your future career in Australia.