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The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) is one of the biggest attractions for international students choosing Australia. It allows eligible graduates to live, work, and study temporarily in Australia after finishing their degree.
### 1. Post-Higher Education Work Stream
Under the latest 2026 guidelines, graduates of Australian higher education programs can access significant full-time work rights:
- **Bachelor's Degree:** 2 years of post-study work rights.
- **Master's (Coursework or Research):** Up to 3 years of post-study work rights.
- **Doctoral Degree (PhD):** Up to 3 years of post-study work rights.
### 2. Age & Australian Study Requirement
- **Age Criterion:** Applicants must generally be aged 35 or younger at the time of application (or up to 50 for research Master's and PhD graduates).
- **Australian Study Requirement:** You must have completed a CRICOS-registered course with at least 92 weeks of registered study over a minimum of 16 calendar months while holding an Australian Student Visa.
### 3. Regional Migration Advantage
Graduating from a regional university campus (outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane—such as Adelaide, Perth, Wollongong, Hobart, or Gold Coast) allows students to apply for a Second Temporary Graduate Visa, providing 1 to 2 extra years of post-study work rights.
### 4. Pathway to Permanent Residency (PR)
By pairing Australian industry experience with regional nominations and General Skilled Migration (GSM) streams (Subclasses 189, 190, and 491), Nepali graduates can build a realistic, points-tested pathway to permanent residency.
