Processing times · Subclass 485
How long does the subclass 485 visa take? (November 2026)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) applications (Post-Higher Education Work stream) were finalised within 24 days, and 90% within 33 days. In September 2026 the 75% figure was 13 days. The 485 has 2 streams with different times, listed below. These are official global processing times for applications decided in the previous month, not a promise for any individual case.
Subclass 485 processing times by stream
| Stream | 75% of applications | 90% of applications | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Vocation Education Work | 3 months | 4 months | 4 months |
| Post-Higher Education Work | 24 days | 33 days | 13 days |
What to expect when you apply for the subclass 485
How the application moves
- You lodge within six months of your course completion letter, with the English test, Australian study evidence and health insurance in place; many applications are decided from documents without further contact.
- Health and character checks, including an Australian Federal Police check, are completed before grant.
What most often slows a 485 application
- Lodging before the completion letter or English result is available, or with a police check still pending.
- Course and qualification evidence that does not clearly meet the Australian study requirement.
What to have ready before lodging
- Completion letter and transcript, valid English test result, Australian Federal Police check, health insurance, and health examinations booked early.
What the 75% and 90% figures mean
Home Affairs publishes the time within which it finalised 75% and 90% of the applications decided in the previous month. Three in four applicants got a decision faster than the 75% figure; one in ten waited longer than the 90% figure, almost always because the application was incomplete, needed health or character follow-up, or sat outside the current processing priorities. The figures move every month, which is why we keep a history on the processing-times tracker.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 485 visa take to process in November 2026?
Home Affairs reports that 75% of Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) applications in the Post-Higher Education Work stream were finalised within 24 days and 90% within 33 days, as at 2 November 2026. Other streams differ; see the table on this page.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of the applications it decided in the previous month. Three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure; one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, usually because the application was incomplete or needed extra checks.
Can a 485 visa be processed faster?
There is no paid priority service for the 485. The things that reliably shorten processing are lodging a complete, decision-ready application (identity, health, character and every eligibility document attached at lodgement), responding to any request for information quickly, and avoiding avoidable requests for further information.
Related visas: processing times and costs
- Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189): processing times · fees
- Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190): processing times · fees
Source: Department of Home Affairs — global visa processing times, as at 2 November 2026. Cost: subclass 485 visa fees. Eligibility and steps: 485 Graduate Visa 2026: Streams, Age Limit & Fee. General information only, not migration advice.