Apply for
Temporary Graduate Visa - PHEWS
Live, work, and gain valuable experience in Australia after completing an eligible Higher Education Qualification from an Australian institution.
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Post-Higher Education Work stream Subclass - 485 Visa
Work Full-Time After Completing Your Degree
The PHEWS stream allows you to work in Australia with unrestricted, full-time work rights once you finish an eligible Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD qualification from a CRICOS-registered institution.
Bring Your Eligible Family Members
You may include your partner and dependent children in your application, and they will also receive full work rights in Australia.
Flexible Visa Duration Based on Your Qualification Level
Your stay period depends on the degree you completed —
Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years
Masters (coursework and extended) – 2 years
Masters (research) – 3 years
Doctoral degree – 3 years.
Graduate Diploma stay period is 2 years, but may be longer where previous study would have attracted a longer stay period.
Flexible Visa Duration Based on Your Qualification Level
Your stay period depends on the degree you completed —
Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years
Masters (coursework and extended) – 2 years
Masters (research) – 3 years
Doctoral degree – 3 years.
Graduate Diploma stay period is 2 years, but may be longer where previous study would have attracted a longer stay period.
Indian nationals
Bachelor degree (with first class honours in STEM, including ICT) – 3 years
Masters (coursework, extended and research) – 3 years
Doctoral degrees (PhD) – 4 years.
giving you time to work, settle, and build a long-term migration pathway.
Designed for Higher-Education Graduates
This stream is specifically created for students who completed AQF 7–10 qualifications such as Bachelor, Honours, Master’s coursework, Master’s research, or Doctoral degrees.
Your PR Strategy Starts Here
The PHEWS visa gives you the space, stability, and legal status to plan your permanent residency journey with confidence while building your Australian career.
Post-Higher Education Work stream Subclass - 485 Visa
Open to applicants from ANY country
You must be aged 35 years or under at the time of application.*Exceptions apply.
You must be in Australia when you apply.
You must have completed CRICOS-registered higher-education courses that:
- Are registered for at least 92 weeks
- Were completed over a minimum of 16 calendar months
- Meet the 2 academic years Australian Study Requirement
Your qualification must have been completed within the last 6 months before lodging your 485 PHEWS visa application.
The courses must be registered with CRICOS (92 weeks or more) and completed in at least 16 calendar months over 2 academic years.
Eligible AQF qualifications include: Bachelor Degree, Bachelor Honours, Graduate Diploma, Masters Coursework, Masters Extended, Masters Research, Doctoral Degree.
A graduate diploma course is considered an eligible degree if it meets the following criteria:
- you completed it in the same or next academic year as your successfully completed qualification (listed above) and
- the study is related to that qualification.
You held a student visa within the past 6 months before you applied and you now have a BRIDGING VISA A, BRIDGING VISA B, or any other substantive visa granted on the basis of a valid visa application.
Provide evidence of Adequate Health Insurance for all applicants when you apply.
Provide evidence you have applied for an AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE CHECK when you apply.
The applicant achieved the specified test scores within 1 year before the day on which the visa application was made.For more information CLICK HERE
The applicant may be in or outside Australia when the visa is granted, but not in immigration clearance.
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The Knowbal Visa Application Process
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You only need your completion letter and final transcript — not the ceremony.This helps you lodge earlier and secure your Bridging Visa while planning your PR pathway.
This is common. As long as you lodge the 485 within 6 months of course completion and you currently hold a valid bridging visa from another application, you may still be eligible.Because timing can become messy, students usually book a consultation to avoid losing eligibility
Not usually.
Repeating subjects won’t impact your PHEWS eligibility as long as your overall study still meets:
CRICOS 92-week requirement
16-month study rule
2 academic years
We confirm this by checking your CoE + transcript.
Yes, you can enroll in a Professional Year (PY) or take your NAATI test while on your PHEWS visa, and many students do. While both PY and NAATI are optional, completing them can significantly increase your PR points, making your 485 visa period the perfect time to do so
No — BVA does not allow travel.You must apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before leaving Australia.Most refusals and delays happen because students travel without one.
The visa itself doesn’t require fees to be cleared.However, many universities won’t issue your completion letter unless your payments are finalised — which can affect your 6-month lodgement deadline.
Yes. The PHEWS visa gives unrestricted work rights, and you can:
study any course (short or long),
change employers anytime,
work multiple jobs.
This flexibility is why international students use the 485 period to build PR points and secure employer sponsorship.
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