Can I apply for a Student Visa
after a 485 Temporary Graduate Visa?
Yes, you can apply for a student visa after you have held a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485). If you would like Pathway to Aus assist to find a course for you and lodge your student visa, feel free to contact Pathway to Aus.
The Department of Home Affairs announced the change as part of a broader crackdown on 'visa hopping' – the practice of switching from one temporary visa to another to extend your stay in Australia.
Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders will no longer be able to apply for a Student (subclass 500) visa while in Australia and will need to apply from outside Australia from 1 July 2024.
What Changed and When?
|
Date |
Change |
|
23 March 2024 |
The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement was replaced with the Genuine Student (GS) for Student Visa applications. |
|
1 July 2024 |
Student Visa Applicants could not apply while in Australia on a visa. The fee for a 485 Student Visa application increased from AUD $710 to AUD $1,600. |
|
14 November 2025 |
A new traffic-light system for processing offshore Student Visa applications was introduced by Ministerial Direction 115. |
|
1 July 2026 |
The Student Visa application fee has been increased from AUD$2,000 to AUD$2,500. The application charge for the 485 visa increased from AUD $4,600 to AUD $5,750. |
The Offshore Application Process
Now that you can’t apply from within Australia, the process requires meticulous planning around your departure and course start dates.
Step 1: Select Your Course and Obtain CoE
You will need to select a course and get an offer of enrolment from a CRICOS registered education provider and get a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). You are not required to study at a higher level than your previous qualification, provided you meet the Genuine Student requirement.
For example, if you already have a Bachelor degree, you can still apply for a Diploma course – as long as you can clearly explain why you are doing this in your GS statement.
Step 2: Leave Australia Before Your 485 Visa Expires
You must depart Australia before your 485 visa expires. It is important that you do not overstay your visa as this can result in exclusion periods which may prevent you from returning to Australia and applying for future visas. If you overstay your visa for more than 28 days, you may be banned from re-entering for up to 3 years.
Step 3: Lodge Your Student Visa Application From Offshore
Once you are outside of Australia, you can lodge your Student Visa application online through the Department of Home Affairs portal. You will need to provide your CoE, meet the English language requirements, show sufficient financial capacity and complete the Genuine Student statement.
Step 4: Wait for a Decision and Travel to Australia
Offshore Student Visa processing times vary depending on the education provider you have chosen. Under Ministerial Direction 115 (effective from 14 November 2025), offshore applications are now assessed using a traffic-light priority model:
- Priority 1 (institutions using below 80% of their enrolment allocation): fastest processing
- Priority 2 (institutions using 80–115% of their allocation): standard processing
- Priority 3 (institutions using above 115% of their allocation): slower processing
Once your visa has been granted, you can return to Australia to start your studies. You will not hold any work rights until your course start date.
The Genuine Student Statement Requirement
The key part of your Student Visa application is meeting the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. The GS requirement replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test on 23 March 2024.
The GS section includes four main prompts, and Home Affairs also states there is an additional question for applicants who have held a student visa or who are applying in Australia from a non-student visa.
The Department of Home Affairs assesses your GS statement to ensure you genuinely intend to study in Australia and meet your visa conditions. The GS requirement recognises that genuine students may develop skills Australia needs and may later choose to apply for permanent residence — so it does not require you to state that you will never return to Australia permanently. However, your primary intention must be to study.
This is where having skilled education and migration agents like Pathway to Aus assist with drafting your Genuine Student statement can significantly strengthen your application.
Questions to Answer
Your current circumstances: including ties to family, community, employment history, and financial situation.
Why you wish to study this particular course in Australia and why you did not choose a similar course in your home country.
How this course will benefit your career and future plans.
Anything else that you think might be relevant and shows that you’re a real student.
What course can I study?
You do not need to be studying at a higher level than your previous qualification, as long as you can show you meet the Genuine Student requirement. You are free to choose any course that interests you (from a Certificate or Diploma to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree) as long as you can clearly explain why you want to study that course and how it relates to your career aspirations.
Student Visa (Subclass 500) Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
| Visa application charge | AUD $2,500 (from 1 July 2026) |
| English language | IELTS 6.0 overall (minimum) for main course; IELTS 5.0 for packaged ELICOS courses; IELTS 5.5 for foundation/pathway programmes |
| Financial capacity | AUD $29,710 per year for living costs, plus AUD $10,394 for a partner and AUD $4,449 per dependent child |
| Work rights | 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session; unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. Master's by research and PhD students may work unlimited hours at all times. |
| Health insurance | Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory for the duration of your visa |
| Genuine Student requirement | Four written responses (maximum 150 words each) expressing genuine interest in studying |
NO Bridging Visa
Important: No Bridging Visa for 485 Visa Holders
The previous process (which allowed 485 holders to apply onshore and get a bridging visa with full work rights while their Student Visa was being processed) no longer applies. From 1 July 2024, 485 visa holders will not be able to lodge a Student Visa application from within Australia and therefore will not be granted an onshore bridging visa in these circumstances. You must depart Australia and apply from offshore.
What Are the Alternatives?
If going back to study isn’t your first choice then you might want to consider other options after your 485 visa:
- Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): This is a permanent visa for skilled workers who aren’t sponsored by an employer, a state or territory or a family member. Skills assessment and sufficient points on points test required.
- Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): Permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government.
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491): A 5 year provisional visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in a designated regional area and then use the Subclass 191 visa as a pathway to permanent residence.
- Employer-Sponsored Visas (Subclass 482 / Subclass 186): There are temporary and permanent skilled worker options for those sponsored by an Australian employer.
- Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801 or 309/100): If you are in a relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
If you would like Pathway to Aus to help you find a course and lodge your Student Visa application, or to explore alternative visa pathways, feel free to contact us.
How Much Gap Can I Have from My 485 Visa Expiration Until My New Course Starts?
This will depend on the next available course intake date. Many courses only have intakes in February and July.
To meet the Genuine Student requirement, it is recommended that there is only a month or two between your visa finishing and your new course starting.
A larger gap could arouse questions about your actual intention to study. It may alsoraise questions about your genuine intention to study.
This article was updated on 21 July 2026. Visa rules and government policies change frequently. We recommend verifying all information against the Department of Home Affairs website or consulting a registered migration agent before making any decisions.