Australia guide · After study · 4 min read
After graduation in Australia: the 485 visa, your first job and the routes to PR.
After a bachelor's or coursework master's in Australia you can apply for the Temporary Graduate (485) visa: 2 years, or 3 after a research degree, if you're 35 or under. It costs AUD 5,750 from 1 July 2026, needs a fresh English score, and gives unlimited work rights. Permanent residence is a separate application through points, a state, or an employer. It's possible, and it's never automatic.
The short version
- The 485 visa: 2 years after a bachelor's or coursework master's, 3 after a research degree, age 35 or under, AUD 5,750.
- Apply within 6 months of finishing, from inside Australia, with an English test taken in the last year and your completion letter.
- Graduates of regional campuses who lived there can get extra time on a second 485.
- PR comes through the points test, state nomination or an employer. Most occupations need a skills assessment first.
- Our 2026 survey: 356 of 412 graduates started a post-study work visa; median first salary in Australia AUD 71,400.
The 485 visa in one table
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who | Graduates of a CRICOS-registered bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate studied in Australia (at least 2 academic years, 16 months) |
| Length | 2 years (bachelor’s, coursework master’s); 3 years (research master’s, PhD) |
| Age | 35 or under when you apply (some exceptions) |
| Fee | AUD 5,750 from 1 July 2026 (about Rs 6.1 lakh) |
| English | A test taken in the year before you apply, at the 485 level |
| When | Within 6 months of completing your course, from inside Australia |
| Work | Unlimited, any job |
| Health | Health insurance for the whole stay (overseas visitor cover) |
The 485 is the reason many Nepali families choose Australia. Two years of full-time pay after a degree changes the maths of the whole investment.
Regional study: extra years
If you studied at a regional campus and lived in that region, you may be eligible for a second 485, adding time on top of the first. The extra length depends on the region’s category. Regional study benefits explains which cities count and how the second visa works.
The order of things in your final year
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Start of final year | Decide your occupation; check if it needs a skills assessment and what the assessing body asks |
| 6 months before you finish | Book an English test so the result is fresh when you apply |
| Final semester | Apply for graduate programs and jobs; many close months before graduation |
| On completion | Request your completion letter and academic transcript from the university |
| Within 6 months of finishing | Lodge the 485 from inside Australia, before your student visa ends |
Your first job
What our graduates in Australia tell us:
- Graduate programs (hospitals, banks, councils, big firms) open months before you finish. Apply in your final year, not after.
- Your part-time job is a reference. A manager who can say you’re reliable is worth more than a certificate.
- Local experience opens doors. Placements, internships and volunteering in your field all count.
- Fields with clear registration (nursing, teaching, some engineering roles) turn into jobs faster.
Our 2026 survey of 412 graduates from 2023 to 2025: 323 were working in their field within 6 months (78.4%), 356 started a post-study work visa (86.4%), and the median first full-time salary in Australia was AUD 71,400 (188 respondents).
The routes to permanent residence
| Route | What it needs | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (points tested) | An occupation on the list, a positive skills assessment, points from age, English, work and study | High English scores, in-demand occupations |
| State or territory nomination | The above, plus a state choosing you; regional states nominate more | Graduates willing to live and work in a particular state or region |
| Employer sponsorship | An employer who sponsors you, after a period on a temporary skilled visa | Graduates who’ve built a strong employer relationship |
Points come from things you can plan: an English score well above the minimum, a degree studied in Australia, regional study, a professional year in some fields, and skilled work. Things you can’t plan: your age on the day, and how many places the government offers that year.
Don’t get this confused
The 485 isn’t PR, and a degree isn’t a PR application. We’ve seen families choose a course only because a website called it “PR friendly”, then find the occupation’s assessment needs years of work or a higher English score than the student can reach.
Choose a degree you’d be glad of even if PR never comes. If it does, it’s a bonus on top of a career, not the only thing that makes the money worth it.
When the plan is to come home
Not every graduate stays, and that’s a good outcome too. Two years on the 485 in your field, then a return to Nepal with Australian experience, often pays back far more than going straight home. Keep your references, payslips and certificates; employers in Nepal and the Gulf ask for them.
Your post-study checklist
- Occupation chosen and skills-assessment rules read in year 1 or 2
- English test booked for your final semester
- Completion letter and transcript requested on the day you finish
- 485 lodged within 6 months, before your student visa ends
- Health cover arranged for the 485 period
- References from every job and placement collected
