POSTERN

Australia

Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), then skilled migration. Australia lets graduates stay 18 months to 3 years with full work rights after an expensive degree, but the 2024 reforms cut the age cap to 35 and shortened the streams, and the 485 itself scores no points and grants no permanence; it is a runway to a skilled or employer-sponsored visa.

Free · The law behind every answer · Checked Sep 27, 2026

Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), then skilled migration

A temporary visa with full work rights: up to 18 months on the vocational stream, 2 years for bachelor’s and coursework master’s, 3 years for research master’s and PhDs (longer for Indian nationals under the 2023 trade agreement).

Who qualifies

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

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It could fit.

Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), then skilled migration needs admission to a qualifying course; enrolment and passport-specific conditions have not been checked.

What would settle itYour admission and the course's eligibility under the destination's rules.

Every door that fits your family

Not legal advice.

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What it takes.

Time
2–4 years of study, 2–6 months for the 485 decision, then 18 months to 3 years on the visa to secure something permanent.
Cost
International tuition of A$25,000–45,000 a year (about $16,000–29,000), the 485 charge of about A$2,300 (about $1,500), health insurance, and about A$29,710 a year in proof of funds for the student visa.
The hard part
Over 35 and you are out unless you did a research degree; under 35 you have less time and a higher English bar than before 2024 to turn the 485 into a points-tested or sponsored visa in a tighter market.
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Citizens by 2032.

If your first permit is issued in 2027 and you keep living there, this is the road.

  1. 2027
    First residence permit

    2 years, not renewable.

  2. 2031
    Apply for citizenship

    With a language test and a civics test.

  3. 2032
    Citizenship
Language
Basic English; there is no separate language exam, but the test and interview are in English.
Civics
The citizenship test: 20 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes; pass with 75% overall and all 5 questions on Australian values right.
Time away
Four years living in Australia on a valid visa immediately before applying, the last 12 months as a permanent resident; no more than 12 months away in total in the four years, and no more than 90 days in the last year.
Two passports
Yes. You keep your U.S. citizenship.
  • Time on student and graduate visas counts toward the four years, but citizenship also needs the last twelve months as a permanent resident, so the family must win a skilled or sponsored permanent visa before the 485 runs out.
  • Permanent residence comes from a permanent visa (skilled, family, parent), not from years of residence, so `permanent` is null; each program sets its own.
  • Home Affairs publishes processing times monthly but the page could not be read today, so no decision range is given; ceremonies add weeks to months.
  • The test details come from Home Affairs' test page as returned in search; applicants aged 60 and over follow different rules.
  • How long the decision takes isn’t published; we allow a year.
The law behind these dates
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Living there.

Time you must spend there
The program sets no minimum number of days. Renewal still expects it to be your home.
Tax
Living in Australia on the visa makes you a tax resident on worldwide income at resident rates; no special regime.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

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Start today.

  1. Check your stream, age and English-test validity on Home Affairs’ subclass 485 page before your student visa expires.Open immi.homeaffairs.gov.au ↗
  2. Round up the papers.
    • The degree or admission letter, and proof of funds
    • Request your FBI Identity History Summary
    • Health insurance that meets the program’s rules
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Or let us run it.

$900for your first year as a founding member. Then $399 a year, automatically.Standard first year: $1,200. Everyone renews at $399.One membership, the whole family. Accounts and activation included.

16 steps, from the first paper to the passport. You do 4 of them: send what we ask for, sign, and show up. We run the rest, and keep every permit renewed on time. Accounts and activation are included, whether you move now or keep the plan ready. Accounts depend on provider availability. Government, record and approved third-party charges are extra.

Run it for my family →
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ISSUED TO

YOUR FAMILY

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