Executive Summary
What Every International Graduate in Australia Must Know Before Lodging Their Application
485 visa – If you’re an international student finishing your studies in Australia and counting on the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) as your next step — stop, read this, and then plan accordingly. Effective 1 March 2026, the Australian Department of Home Affairs has doubled the 485 Graduate Visa visa application fee from $2,300 to $4,600 for most applicants. This is the largest single-day visa fee increase in recent Australian migration history, and it has caught many graduates — and even some migration practitioners — off guard.
This is not a minor administrative adjustment. For graduates from India, Nepal, China, Bangladesh, or most other countries, the cost of a single 485 application has literally doubled overnight. For families applying together, total government fees have jumped past $8,000. Whether you’re mid-study, about to graduate, or already in the job market on a bridging visa, understanding exactly what has changed — and what your smartest move is from here — could save you thousands of dollars and months of confusion.
What Exactly Changed on 1 March 2026?
The Department of Home Affairs announced that all 485 temporary graduate visa applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026 are subject to the new, doubled fee schedule. Applications that were already lodged before that date are not affected — they continue to be assessed under the old fee structure.
The increase applies specifically to what the department classifies as “non-eligible passport holders” — which, in plain English, means graduates from most countries including India, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and the majority of the world. A small group of Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste are exempted from the increase (more on that below).
The fee hike was introduced alongside broader policy settings aimed at reducing net overseas migration, reinforcing the Genuine Student requirement for student visas, and discouraging the use of the 485 as a simple stopgap rather than a genuine post-study work pathway.
485 Visa Fee Breakdown: Before vs. After 1 March 2026
The fee structure works on a tiered system — it depends on whether this is your first or a subsequent 485 application, whether it’s the standard or regional stream, and whether you hold an eligible passport. Here is the full comparison:
| Stream / Category | Applicant Type | Before 1 March 2026 | From 1 March 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 485 – Non-Eligible Passport Holders | Primary | $2,300 | $4,600 |
| Secondary 18+ | $1,150 | $2,300 | |
| Secondary Under 18 | $580 | $1,160 | |
| Subclass 485 – Eligible Passport Holders | Primary | $2,300 | $2,300 (no change) |
| Secondary 18+ | $1,150 | $1,150 (no change) | |
| Secondary Under 18 | $580 | $580 (no change) | |
| Subclass 485 Regional – Non-Eligible Passports | Primary | $905 | $1,810 |
| Secondary 18+ | $455 | $910 | |
| Secondary Under 18 | $230 | $460 | |
| Subclass 485 Regional – Eligible Passports | Primary | $905 | $905 (no change) |
| Secondary 18+ | $455 | $455 (no change) | |
| Secondary Under 18 | $230 | $230 (no change) |
Table 1: Subclass 485 visa application fees — before and after 1 March 2026.
Who Is Exempt from the Fee Increase?
The following passport holders are classified as “eligible” and continue to pay the previous, lower fees regardless of when they lodge their application: citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
For everyone else — and that includes the overwhelming majority of international graduates in Australia studying from India, Nepal, China, and other high-volume student source countries — the doubled fees apply in full.
The Real Cost of a 485 Application in 2026
The government fee is only one part of the picture. When you add up everything required for a complete 485 application, the true cost for a single applicant now looks like this:
| Cost Component | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Visa application fee (primary applicant) | $4,600 |
| English language test (if required) | $300 – $400 |
| Health examination | $300 – $500 |
| Police clearance certificates | $40 – $200 |
| Skills assessment (if applicable) | $300 – $800 |
| Professional migration assistance | Variable |
| Total (approximate) | $5,800 – $7,500+ |
Table 2: Approximate total cost of a 485 visa application for a single primary applicant in 2026.
For a graduate applying with a partner and one child under 18, total government fees alone now reach $8,060 — exactly double what the same family would have paid before 1 March. If a student visa extension is also needed before lodging the 485, combined government fees can easily exceed $10,000 to $11,000.
Why Did Australia Double the 485 Visa Fee?
The Department of Home Affairs has cited several reasons behind this decision, and they need to be understood in the broader immigration policy context of 2025–26.
Australia’s net overseas migration hit a record 518,000 in 2022–23. The government has since committed to reducing that figure to approximately 260,000 annually. The 485 visa, which provides temporary work rights to graduates for two to four years, was identified as one of the pathways being used beyond its original intent — with some graduates using successive post-study work arrangements to delay rather than pursue a genuine skilled migration pathway.
The fee increase is part of a package of measures that also includes the strengthened Genuine Student requirement for student visa Australia holders, tighter restrictions on mid-study course changes, and enhanced real-time data-matching between visa holders and educational institutions. The government’s position, in effect, is that the 485 should be used by graduates who are genuinely leveraging Australian study and work experience to build toward permanent residency — not as a mechanism to extend stay indefinitely.
Does This Make the 485 Visa Not Worth It?
This is the most important question — and the honest answer for most graduates is: the 485 is still worth it, but only if you use it strategically.
The temporary graduate visa Australia remains the single most important bridge between completing your Australian degree and achieving permanent residency. It gives you unrestricted work rights, two to four years in Australia to accumulate skilled employment, and time to improve your English test scores — all of which translate directly into points under the General Skilled Migration program.
For Indian graduates in particular — where the competition in Express Entry-style points pools is intense — the Australian work experience gained on a 485 can add between 5 and 20 additional PR points depending on duration and skill level. At invitation rounds where a single point separates thousands of applicants, that difference is enormous.
What the doubled fee does change is the cost of getting it wrong. A refused 485 application means the full $4,600 government fee is lost — the charge is entirely non-refundable regardless of outcome. That reality alone makes professional guidance far more financially sensible in 2026 than it was even a year ago.
What Should You Do Right Now?
Step 1: Check Whether You Actually Need the 485
Before spending $4,600, verify whether you already qualify for a direct permanent residency pathway. Use an Australia PR points calculator to assess your current points score under the skilled migration system. If you already have 85 points or more, a direct application for a Subclass 189 or skilled nominated Subclass 190 visa may be more efficient and ultimately cheaper than the 485 route.
Step 2: Explore All Available Visa Pathways
The 485 is not your only option. Depending on your occupation, work history, and employer relationships, the following pathways may be available to you:
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent): Points-tested PR visa requiring no employer or state sponsor
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated): Sub class 190 visa with state or territory nomination — typically adds 5 points to your score
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional): Regional pathway; 491 visa requirements include state or family nomination and a commitment to live and work regionally
- Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme): The employer nomination scheme visa Subclass 186 and 186 direct entry stream allows employer-sponsored permanent residency for those with a strong employer relationship
- Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand): Employer-sponsored temporary work visa with a pathway to PR
Step 3: Get a Professional Assessment Before Lodging
With government fees non-refundable and now sitting at $4,600, the financial stakes of a refused or poorly prepared application have never been higher. Working with a migration agent Melbourne who is registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) ensures your stream selection is correct, your documentation is complete, and your application gives you the strongest possible chance of approval.
An Australian registered migration agent can also identify whether there are bridging arrangements or strategic timing considerations that reduce your overall cost exposure — something that is particularly valuable given how quickly the fee schedule changed in early 2026.
A Note for Indian Graduates
For graduates from India — who represent one of the largest cohorts of international students in Australia — the 485 visa remains a genuinely powerful tool when used correctly. The combination of an Australian qualification, relevant skilled work experience, and strong English test results is one of the most competitive profiles in the General Skilled Migration system.
The key is not to treat the 485 as an open-ended holding pattern. Use the time on your 485 purposefully: build your Australian work history in a skills shortage occupation, sit your English test again if you’re close to a higher score band, complete any required skills assessment through the relevant authority, and check your PR calculator Australia score regularly. Graduates who treat their 485 years as deliberate PR preparation — rather than simply deferring the decision — consistently achieve better outcomes.
Fields such as diploma of nursing Australia, engineering fabrication, commercial cookery, and construction trades continue to appear strongly on state nomination and skills shortage lists, giving graduates in these areas a measurable advantage in both employer sponsorship and points-based pathways.
The Bottom Line
The doubling of the 485 visa fee is real, it is in effect, and it is not going to be reversed. For most graduates, the 485 English requirement and post-study work pathway still represent the most practical route from study to permanent residence in Australia — but the cost of getting it wrong has doubled alongside the fee itself.
Plan carefully. Check your points. Explore every pathway available to you. And if you’re going to invest $4,600 in a government application fee, make sure the application is prepared by someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.
The best migration agents in Melbourne at Shri Krishna Consultants are MARA-registered and experienced in navigating exactly these kinds of policy shifts. Whether you need a full 485 application assessment, a PR points check, or advice on whether an alternative pathway better suits your situation, speak to our team before you lodge anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When did the 485 fee increase come into effect?
The new fees apply to all applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026. Applications submitted before that date are assessed at the previous rate.
Q: How much is the 485 visa fee now?
Primary applicants from non-eligible countries now pay $4,600. Secondary applicants aged 18 and over pay $2,300, and children under 18 pay $1,160.
Q: Does the fee increase apply to everyone?
No. Citizens of 13 Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste continue paying the previous lower fees. The increase applies to most other nationalities including those from India, Nepal, and China.
Q: Is the 485 fee refundable if my application is refused?
No. Government visa application charges are non-refundable regardless of outcome, which makes professional preparation even more important.
Q: What if I already have enough points for PR?
If you have 85 or more points, you may not need the 485 at all. Use our PR points calculator to check your score and discuss direct PR pathways with a best migration consultant before deciding.
Q: Are there alternatives to the 485 visa?
Yes. Depending on your situation, the Subclass 190, 491, 186 direct entry, or employer-sponsored 482 visa may be more suitable. A registered immigration agent Melbourne can assess which pathway gives you the best outcome.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Visa fees and policies are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs or consult a MARA-registered migration agent.
