Free tool · Temporary Graduate 485 · Rules as at 15 October 2026
485 visa deadline calculator
Three dates decide when a Temporary Graduate application can still be lodged: the day you completed the course, the day you sat the English test, and your birthday. Enter what you have and see the last day to lodge, and which of the three sets it.
What the calculator applies
- The 6-month rule. The Australian study requirement must have been met within the 6 months immediately before the application date. Lodge on or before the date 6 months after the completion date.
- English validity. The test must have been taken within the 12 months before lodgement. The earlier of the two dates is your deadline unless you retest.
- Age. Under 35 at the time of application for most applicants. A 35th birthday before the 6-month date brings the deadline forward to the day before it.
- Your visa. Not calculated, only flagged: lodge while the student visa is in force so a bridging visa carries you through.
Family members can no longer be added to most new 485 applications under the 17 September 2026 package once the instrument is made. See the 485 guide and the change log.
Frequently asked questions
How long after finishing my course can I apply for the 485 visa?
The Australian study requirement must have been met within the 6 months immediately before you apply. The clock runs from the date your course was completed as shown on the completion letter or transcript, not from graduation day or the date the student visa ends. Lodge on or before the date 6 months after completion.
How old can my English test be for the 485?
As at 2026 the test must have been taken within the 12 months before the application is made. If the result will be older than 12 months on your planned lodgement date, you need to sit a new test first, so the earlier of the two dates is your real deadline.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. Most applicants must be under 35 at the time of application, with exceptions for Masters by research and PhD graduates and for certain passport holders. If a birthday falls before the 6-month deadline, the birthday is the deadline.
What if my student visa expires before the 6 months are up?
You must hold an eligible visa when you apply, or have held one in the previous 6 months and now hold a qualifying bridging visa. Lodging before the student visa ends is the safe course: a bridging visa then carries you to the decision. Read the 485 guide for the eligible visas and the family rules that changed in 2026.
Does this calculator cover the Replacement stream?
No. It is for the Post-Vocational Education Work and Post-Higher Education Work streams, where the 6-month rule applies. Replacement stream eligibility is different and is covered in the guide.
Check your case
Tell Keshab the dates and your course. He replies personally with whether a 485 is open to you and what to lodge first.
How this works: Keshab reads every case check himself and replies personally, usually within a business day: which route fits, what it turns on, and whether a consultation is worth your money. If it is, he offers you a time; if it is not, he says so.
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