1. Overview
Know these facts cold before the first client conversation - they are also what the exam below tests. No (temporary) - but the key bridge to PR. Use it to gain points, experience or sponsorship for 189/190/491/482/186.
Visa typeTemporary
LodgementOnshore
Stay~18 months to 3 years (longer for some regional study)
Work rightsUnlimited
Study rightsYes
Government charge~$2,300
Processing time~4-6 months (median ~35 days)
2. Process flow
The handling sequence for a 485 file, from first consultation to decision. Each step assumes the one before it is genuinely finished - not "mostly done".
- Check the clock first
The application window is 6 months from course completion, and the client must have held a student visa in the last 6 months and be under the age limit. If the window is at risk, everything else waits.
- Pick the right stream
Match the qualification to the correct stream (Post-Vocational Education Work vs Post-Higher Education Work). The wrong stream is a refusal, not a correction.
- Verify the Australian Study Requirement
At least 2 academic years of CRICOS-registered study in Australia, in eligible qualifications. Check transcripts, not the client's memory.
- English and police checks
A valid English test at Competent level and an AFP national police check are needed at lodgement - both take time to obtain, so order them early.
- Lodge onshore and manage
Lodge before the current visa ceases; a bridging visa holds the client lawfully while it is decided.
- Grant briefing
Map the 485 period to a PR plan on day one: points build-up, state nomination or employer sponsorship. The 485 clock does not pause.
5. Cost checklist
Quote the full stack, in writing, before the client signs. Surprise costs are the fastest way to lose a client's trust (and earn a complaint).
| Item | Indicative amount |
|---|
| Base visa application charge (2025-26, indicative) | ~$2,300 |
| English test (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL) | ~$400-460 |
| OSHC (single, per year) | ~$500-700 |
| Health examinations (per person) | ~$300-500 |
| Additional applicant charges (family members) | Varies by age |
| Your professional fee | Per your agency's schedule - quote in writing before Form 956 |
| Rule of thumb | Government charges usually change every 1 July - re-quote any file that lodges after 30 June |
7. Case studies - eligible cases
Illustrative composites showing what a grantable 485 file looks like in practice.
Grant: Wei from the UK
- Background
- Wei, a Master of IT applicant from the UK. Recent graduates of an Australian qualification who want to live and work here after study.
- Why it qualified
- (1) A recent eligible qualification meeting the Australian Study Requirement. (2) Under the age limit (generally 35, with exceptions). (3) Held an eligible student visa in the last 6 months.
- What made the file strong
- The agent tested the weakest criterion first and fixed it before lodging, not after a natural-justice letter.
- Outcome
- Granted within the indicative processing window (~4-6 months (median ~35 days)).
Grant: Elif from Pakistan
- Background
- Elif, an undergraduate nursing applicant from Pakistan. Recent graduates of an Australian qualification who want to live and work here after study.
- Why it qualified
- (1) A recent eligible qualification meeting the Australian Study Requirement. (2) Under the age limit (generally 35, with exceptions). (3) Held an eligible student visa in the last 6 months.
- What made the file strong
- Dates, names and figures matched across every document - no internal inconsistencies to trigger checks.
- Outcome
- Granted within the indicative processing window (~4-6 months (median ~35 days)).
8. Case studies - refusal cases
The same visa, handled badly. Every one of these failure modes is screenable at the first consultation.
Refusal: Kwame from China
- Background
- Kwame, a VET commercial-cookery student from China, engaged an agent late and pushed for a fast lodgement of the 485.
- What went wrong
- Missing the 6-month application window after course completion
- Outcome
- The case officer decided on the papers without a further request - the file had to stand on its own, and it could not.
- Lesson for the agent
- Screen for this at the first consultation, before money changes hands. It is cheaper to delay a lodgement than to fight a refusal.
Refusal: Mariana from Vietnam
- Background
- Mariana, a public-health postgraduate applicant from Vietnam, engaged an agent late and pushed for a fast lodgement of the 485.
- What went wrong
- Falling outside the age cut-off
- Outcome
- The refusal went to review: another year, more cost, and no certainty the outcome changes.
- Lesson for the agent
- Put this issue on the document checklist on day one and refuse to lodge until it is closed out.
9. Self-exam
10 questions drawn from this manual. Pass mark 80%. Answers are graded on the server and your result is recorded against your agent profile - retakes are unlimited and your best score is kept. Log in to the agent portal first so your result is saved to My trainings.