Australia 485 Post-Study Work Visa Calculator
Calculate your 485 visa duration, Genuine Student health score, PR pathway options, and total fee including March 2026 changes. Built for Nigerian graduates planning their post-study path.
Must be from a CRICOS-registered institution, completed in English, minimum 92 weeks (2 academic years) in duration, and you must have been physically in Australia for at least 16 months during the course.
Select STEM, health, or education if your degree is in these areas. These fields had temporary extended post-study work rights (up to 4-6 years) but those extensions are no longer available for new applications. Your standard duration still applies.
Studying in a designated regional area or regional centre may make you eligible for a second 485 visa. Regional Centres (Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast) add +1 year to a second visa. Other regional areas add +2 years. This is separate from your current visa duration.
From 1 July 2024, the general age limit dropped to under 35. Only PhD and Master by research graduates remain eligible up to age 49. All other applicants aged 35 or over are generally not eligible for the 485.
The GS (Genuine Student) test replaced the old GTE test from 23 March 2024. Tick each signal that applies to your situation. Each strengthens your GS case and reduces refusal risk.
Each adult secondary applicant (including a partner) pays A$2,300. Each child applicant pays A$1,150. All fees are per the March 2026 schedule and are non-refundable.
Applications lodged before 1 March 2026 pay the old fee (A$2,300 primary). Applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026 pay the new fee (A$4,600 primary). The fee is paid at lodgement and is non-refundable even if refused.
Your 485 plan appears here
Complete the inputs on the left. Your visa duration, GS health score, PR pathways, fees, and action timeline update instantly.
How the 485 Tracker Works
The 485 Temporary Graduate visa grants international graduates a set period to live, work, and build PR-ready experience in Australia. This tool calculates three things simultaneously: how long your specific 485 visa will last, how strong your Genuine Student (GS) profile is for avoiding refusal, and what your total cost will be at March 2026 fee rates.
GS_Score = Sum(ticked_signals) out of 100
Total_Fee = Primary_Fee + (Adults × 2300) + (Children × 1150)
PR_Runway = Duration – Processing_Time_For_Next_Visa
485 Visa Duration by Qualification (2026 Rules)
The duration was revised from 1 July 2024 and the temporary COVID-era and skills-shortage extensions are no longer available for new applications.
| Qualification | 485 Duration | Age Limit | Second 485 (Regional)? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma or trade qualification | 18 months | Under 35 | Yes if regional study (RC: +1yr, other regional: +2yr) |
| Bachelor degree (inc. honours) | 2 years | Under 35 | Yes if regional study |
| Master degree (coursework or extended) | 2 years | Under 35 | Yes if regional study |
| Master degree (by research) | 3 years | Under 50 | Yes if regional study |
| Doctoral degree (PhD) | 3 years | Under 50 | Yes if regional study |
The March 2026 Fee Shock: What Nigerian Graduates Need to Budget
From 1 March 2026, the 485 primary applicant fee doubled from A$2,300 to A$4,600. This is the largest single-step fee increase in the visa’s history and it was not telegraphed in advance. Nigerian passport holders are not in the Pacific Island exemption group, so the full A$4,600 applies.
| Applicant Type | Before 1 Mar 2026 | From 1 Mar 2026 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary applicant (you) | A$2,300 | A$4,600 | +A$2,300 (100%) |
| Secondary adult (partner, 18+) | A$1,150 | A$2,300 | +A$1,150 (100%) |
| Secondary child (under 18) | A$575 | A$1,150 | +A$575 (100%) |
| Couple with no children | A$3,450 | A$6,900 | +A$3,450 |
| Couple with 2 children | A$4,600 | A$9,200 | +A$4,600 |
All fees current as of 1 March 2026. Always verify at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-pricing before lodging.
The Genuine Student Test: What GTE Decay Means for Nigerians
The old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test was replaced by the Genuine Student (GS) test from 23 March 2024. The concept is the same but the framing changed. You need to demonstrate that you studied in Australia to build genuine career-relevant skills, not simply to extend your stay or acquire a post-study work visa.
GTE decay is the informal term for how your GS case weakens over time if you are not actively building toward PR or skilled employment. A graduate with a clear job in their field of study, an active EOI in SkillSelect, and a skills assessment in progress has a strong GS profile. A graduate who graduated 12 months ago and is working in an unrelated occupation with no PR plan has a “decayed” GS profile. Case officers assess the plausibility of your transition-to-Australia narrative.
PR Pathways from the 485 Visa
The 485 is not PR. It is a bridge. The question is which PR bridge you step onto during your 485 period. Options differ by qualification, occupation, and employer situation:
Pathway 1: Skilled Migration (189/190/491)
Build points during your 485: Australian work experience adds 5 to 20 points. Get your skills assessment done. Target a 65+ point EOI in SkillSelect. Timelines: 8 to 30 months from EOI to PR grant depending on your visa type and occupation. Realistic for engineers, nurses, IT professionals, and educators who score 75+ points.
Pathway 2: Employer Sponsorship (482 SID or 186 ENS)
Find an employer willing to sponsor you on a 482 SID Core Skills or Specialist Skills visa, then transition to ENS 186 after 2 years. The 482 Specialist Skills stream processes in 7 to 14 days if your salary is A$141,210 or above. More realistic for senior professionals and STEM graduates moving into high-paying roles during their 485 period.
Pathway 3: Second 485 Visa (Regional)
If you studied in a designated regional area or regional centre, you may be eligible for a second 485 visa. Regional Centres (including Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast) add 1 year. Other regional areas add 2 years. This extends your Australian work experience and points-building runway before you need to commit to a PR application.
Realistic Scenarios for Nigerian Graduates
Scenario 1: Nursing graduate, 27, studying in Melbourne
Adaeze completed her Bachelor of Nursing at a Melbourne university. She is 27, applying before the 35-year limit is an issue. Her 485 duration is 2 years. Nursing has a clear ANZSCO pathway, AHPRA registration provides skills assessment, and she has a graduate nurse position at a Melbourne hospital. Her GS profile is strong. Her fee is A$4,600 (primary only, lodged after March 2026). She lodges her skills assessment with AHPRA immediately, registers an EOI with 75 points (age + English + qualification + Australian work experience growing over 2 years), and targets a 190 state nomination within 12 months.
Scenario 2: IT graduate, 30, partner and one child, studying in Sydney
Chukwuemeka completed a Master of Information Technology (coursework) in Sydney. His 485 duration is 2 years. He applies with his spouse and child. Total fee: A$4,600 + A$2,300 (adult) + A$1,150 (child) = A$8,050. He registers with ACS for skills assessment during his final semester, lodges his EOI with 80 points, and targets ICT roles during his 485. With 1 year of Australian IT work experience on the 485, his EOI grows to 85 points. He receives a 190 state nomination from South Australia and transitions to PR before his 485 expires.
Scenario 3: Civil engineering PhD, 38, Adelaide
Emeka completed a PhD at the University of Adelaide. He is 38, within the under-50 PhD/Research exemption from the age cap. His 485 duration is 3 years. Adelaide is a designated Regional Centre, making him eligible for a second 485 (+1 year) if needed. He has a research-linked industry position and a strong GS profile. His fee is A$4,600. His 85 GSM points (age 25 + IELTS 20 + PhD 20 + Australian work experience growing + singles 5 = 70 base, growing to 85+ with Australian work) make him competitive for the 189 independent pathway within 18 months.
