485 Visa Duration: How Many Years You Get by Course Type and Study Location (2026)
Last updated: June 2026 The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa gives Australian graduates between 2 and 3 years of full work rights, and the exact number depends on your degree type and whether you studied in a regional area. Getting this right matters because it directly shapes how much time you have to build the work experience, skills assessment, and points needed for permanent residency via the 485 pathway. This guide gives you the exact breakdown for every scenario, based on the official rules at the Department of Home Affairs (updated May 2026). Note that these durations apply to Indonesian nationals as general applicants; different rules apply to Indian nationals under the AI-ECTA agreement and to Hong Kong/BNO passport holders. The Two 485 Streams and Which One You’re In Your degree type determines which stream you apply under, and the two streams have very different durations. The Post-Higher Education Work stream (PHEW) covers graduates with a bachelor’s degree or above: bachelor’s, bachelor’s honours, master’s (coursework, extended, or research), and doctoral degrees. Duration ranges from 2 to 3 years based on degree type before any regional bonus is applied. The Post-Vocational Education Work stream (PVEW) covers trade and vocational graduates with an associate degree, diploma, or trade qualification linked to a nominated shortage occupation. Duration is a fixed 18 months, with no regional bonus. You cannot switch streams after lodging your application. If you hold a university degree, you are almost certainly a PHEW applicant. 485 Visa Duration by Degree Level (PHEW Stream) The table below is based directly on the Department of Home Affairs official page (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, updated May 2026). These are the rules for general applicants, including Indonesian nationals. Degree Level Standard Duration (metro) With Regional Study Bonus (+2 years) Bachelor’s degree 2 years 4 years Bachelor’s degree (Honours) 2 years 4 years Master’s degree — coursework 2 years 4 years Master’s degree — extended 2 years 4 years Master’s degree — research 3 years 5 years Doctoral degree (PhD) 3 years 5 years Graduate Diploma 2 years (if eligible) 4 years Trade/vocational — PVEW stream 18 months No bonus Important: Bachelor Honours is classified together with a standard Bachelor’s degree and gives 2 years, not 3. Many third-party sources still state Honours gives 3 years, but this reflects older pre-July 2024 rules. The official DHA page confirms: “Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years.” Which Master’s Degree Gives 3 Years and Which Gives 2? This is where most confusion happens. Not all Master’s degrees are equal under the Subclass 485 rules. Master’s Type Examples 485 Duration Master’s by Research MPhil, Master of Science (Research), Master of Arts (Research) 3 years Master’s by Coursework MBA, Master of Engineering, Master of IT, Master of Accounting, Master of Education, Master of Nursing, Master of Data Science 2 years Extended Master’s Some longer law, architecture, or clinical programs 2 years A Master’s by Research is a supervised research degree where the qualification is awarded based on a research thesis, not coursework subjects. If your master’s involved attending lectures and completing assignments, it is almost certainly a Master’s by Coursework and gives 2 years, not 3. If you are unsure which type of qualification it is, check your official academic transcript or confirm with your university. What does NOT qualify for PHEW: The Regional Study Bonus: Which Cities and Areas Qualify There are two separate regional benefits under the Subclass 485 that work differently. Mixing them up is the most common source of confusion on this topic. 1. The first 485 regional study bonus: flat +2 years If you completed at least 2 academic years at a CRICOS-registered institution in a regional area of Australia, you receive a flat +2 years added to your standard PHEW duration. This applies regardless of which qualifying regional city or town you studied in. It is assessed at the time of your first 485 application. For this bonus, “regional” means anywhere outside Greater Sydney, Greater Melbourne, Greater Brisbane (including Logan, Moreton Bay, Redlands, and Ipswich), the Gold Coast, and Perth. Cities that qualify include Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin, Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Townsville, Cairns, and most other regional towns across Australia. Students who split their study between a regional and a metropolitan institution can still claim the bonus, provided at least 2 full academic years were completed at the regional location. 2. The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream: +1 or +2 years by location category This is a completely separate new 485 visa grant, not an extension. It is available to PHEW graduates who lived, worked, and studied exclusively in a regional area throughout their entire first TR 485 period. The duration of the second visa depends on the regional category of where you were based: Regional Category Examples Second PHEW Duration Category 2: Regional cities and major centres Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Hobart, Darwin +1 year Category 3: Regional centres and other areas Smaller towns, rural areas, remote locations outside Category 2 +2 years To qualify, you must have both studied at an institution in that regional area and currently be living in that same regional area as the holder of your first PHEW 485 visa. The category that applies is determined by your study location and your current residence together, not just one of them. Tasmania exception: Some areas within Tasmania are treated as Category 3 rather than Category 2, making Tasmania graduates potentially eligible for 2 years rather than 1. Confirm your specific Tasmanian location against the designated regional areas list before applying. Cost for the Second PHEW starts from AUD 1,810 for the main applicant, significantly less than the first PHEW application charge of AUD 4,600. What If You Have More Than One Degree? If you completed multiple Australian qualifications, for example, a bachelor’s degree followed by a master’s, your Subclass 485 duration is based on the highest qualifying degree, not a combination of both. A graduate who completed a Bachelor of Commerce and then a Master of Business Administration (coursework) receives
