Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream (Subclass 485)
A Closer Look
If you’ve already spent time in Australia on a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after completing a degree in a regional area, you might be eligible for another chapter in your Australian journey. The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream was created for graduates in exactly that situation. It offers extra time to work, study, and immerse yourself in the community you’ve been part of.
Instead of starting from scratch, this visa builds on your previous 485 visa stay—provided you meet the specific conditions.
Who Is It For?
This stream isn’t open to everyone. To qualify, you’ll need to tick a few boxes:
✅You’ve previously held a 485 visa under the Post-Higher Education Work.
✅Your qualification came from a university or higher-education provider located in a designated regional area-outside Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne
✅You’ve spent the past two years living only in that same regional area.
✅Any work or study during that period also took place within the region.
It’s designed for people who have already made a commitment to regional life and want to keep contributing to those areas.
How Much Extra Time Do You Get?
The length of your second stay depends on where you studied and lived:
- 1 year if your location is in a Category 2 regional area (for example, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, Gold Coast, and others).
- 2 years if you were based in a Category 3 regional area (more remote and less densely populated locations).
It’s worth noting that this isn’t simply an “add-on” to your old visa. The second 485 is a completely new visa grant. Once it’s approved, it replaces your previous one.
Age Requirements
From 1 July 2024, applicants must be 35 years old or younger when lodging their application. This limit applies regardless of which 485 stream you previously held.
Why This Visa Exists
Regional Australia offers plenty of opportunities, but attracting and keeping skilled graduates has always been a challenge. By giving graduates extra time in the same location, the government hopes to strengthen local workforces and communities. For individuals, it’s a chance to build more work experience, make stronger local connections, and potentially move closer to permanent residency.
Where Pathway to Aus Fits In
The process of securing a second 485 visa can be surprisingly intricate. Between confirming your eligibility, meeting regional residency rules, and gathering the right paperwork, there’s a lot to think about.
This is where we, at Pathway to Aus, makes a real difference. We work with students from their very first course selection through to their final visa application. As both an education agency and a migration advisory service, we’re able to look at your situation from every angle—helping you choose a regional course that not only suits your career but also keeps future visa options open.
Whether your goal is to gain more work experience, extend your stay, or prepare for permanent residency, we help you plan each step so the transition from study to work (and beyond) is as smooth as possible.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
| Purpose | Gives graduates from regional institutions extra time in Australia |
| Visa Type | Temporary Graduate visa – Second Post-Higher Education Work stream |
| Stay Length | 1–2 years depending on regional category |
| Main Requirement | Lived, studied, and worked in the same regional area for 2 years |
| Age Limit | 35 years or under at application |
| Nature of Visa | New grant, not an extension |
For graduates who’ve already put in the time in regional Australia, this visa offers an invaluable chance to keep building their future here. And with the right guidance, you can make sure your next step is one that sets you up for success—whether that’s more study, more work experience, or a pathway to permanent residency.
If you’d like to discuss your specific situation, never hesitate to contact the team at Pathway to Aus.
