You’ve just landed your CoE from an Australian uni. Fees paid, agent ticked, visa in hand. Now the practical question: how long can you actually stay and work in Australia after graduation? This is the piece of the puzzle most Nepali students underestimate.
The short version for 2026: a Bachelor or Master-by-coursework gives you a 2-year Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485), a Master-by-research gives you 3, a PhD gives you 4, and if you studied at a regional campus you can add another 1 to 2 years on top. The age cap is 35 at application. Below is what that really means for your planning.
The 2026 numbers, without fluff
- Bachelor / Master by coursework: 2 years open work rights.
- Master by research: 3 years.
- Doctoral (PhD): 4 years.
- Regional graduates: qualify for a Second Post-Study Work stream, adding 1 year (Cities/Major Regional) or 2 years (Regional Centres/Remote) after the first PSW.
- Age cap: 35 at time of application for Bachelor / Master-by-coursework. Home Affairs allows exceptions up to age 50 for Master by research / PhD graduates and for holders of a Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport.
- Visa fee (from July 2026): AUD 5,750 for the primary applicant (the Department of Home Affairs increased the base charge from AUD 4,600 to AUD 5,750 effective 1 July 2026; the previous rise from AUD 2,300 to AUD 4,600 took effect 1 March 2026). Confirm the current amount on the Home Affairs Subclass 485 page before you lodge.
- Work rights on PSW: open. You can work full time, change employers, and self-employ.
Who this cuts out (real talk)
Two groups need to plan around the age cap:
- Late starters — if you’re over 33 when you begin a 2-year Master in Australia, the PSW window closes on you. Options: start earlier, choose a shorter Master (some coursework Master programmes are 1 year), or aim for regional to stack more time.
- Career changers with older undergrads — the age is at the time of PSW application, not enrolment. Plan your intake accordingly.
Regional stacking — the underused move
If you study at a regional Australian campus (think Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, Cairns, Wagga, Bendigo, Toowoomba, Launceston, Bathurst — the Home Affairs regional postcode list is the authoritative source), you become eligible for the Second Post-Study Work stream (Subclass 485) after your first PSW.
- Category 2 regional areas (Home Affairs examples include Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, Gold Coast and others): +1 year on top of your first Subclass 485.
- Category 3 regional areas (more remote and less densely populated locations — the authoritative list is the Home Affairs designated regional area postcode list): +2 years on top of your first Subclass 485.
- Additional requirement: you must have lived in an eligible designated regional area for at least 2 years immediately before applying for the second visa.
For a Bachelor graduate from a Category 3 area who completes the residence and lodgement requirements, the theoretical maximum is 2 + 2 = 4 years of open work rights across both Subclass 485 grants. Eligibility is not automatic — you must meet every criterion at the time of the second application, including the 2-year regional residence requirement.
Aligning Subclass 485 with a PR pathway
The Subclass 485 is a temporary work visa, not a permanent one. To move from the 485 to permanent residence, your degree and post-study work should align with an occupation on Australia’s current Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and, where applicable, the Skills in Demand stream. Confirm the current list on the Home Affairs website before selecting a course. You will also typically need a positive skills assessment from the assessing authority for your nominated occupation.
- ICT and Data Science graduates — assessment by ACS (Australian Computer Society).
- Engineers — assessment by Engineers Australia.
- Architects — registration via AACA, followed by the Architectural Practice Examination.
- Accountants — assessment by CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA plus the professional year.
- Nursing and health — registration with AHPRA (occupation-specific board).
- Generalist Bachelor / Master by coursework — typically VETASSESS.
Common Nepali mistakes we see — and how to avoid them
- Choosing a course that doesn’t lead to a listed occupation. A generic Master of International Business will give you PSW, but VETASSESS may not tie it to a CSOL/MLTSSL occupation you can use for PR. Pick an occupation first, then reverse-engineer the degree.
- Missing the regional bonus. Students default to Sydney or Melbourne. If PR is the goal and your family situation allows, a regional campus can literally double your PSW window.
- Not counting the age. If you’re starting a 2-year Master at 34, you’re out of PSW at 36. Rethink intake, level, or apply for the shorter 1-year Master option.
- Lodging PSW late. You have 6 months from the date of course completion (the date on your official Completion Letter or transcript). Don’t leave Australia before you lodge.
- Forgetting OSHC. Your PSW must have valid health cover from the day it starts. Extend OSHC or switch to OVHC before the student visa expires.
Documents you need for a Subclass 485 lodgement
- Completion Letter or final transcript from your Australian institution.
- Valid IELTS / PTE Academic / TOEFL iBT / OET / CAE score meeting the current 485 threshold (typically IELTS overall 6.0 with no band below 5.0 for the base stream).
- Australian Federal Police check.
- Overseas police clearance for every country you spent 12+ months in during the past 10 years.
- Passport bio page.
- Valid post-graduation health insurance (OSHC extension or OVHC).
- Skills assessment (only required for specific streams).
Timeline you can plan around
- 3 months before graduation: book your PTE / IELTS retake if your student-visa test is expiring.
- On completion: collect Completion Letter, apply for AFP check, extend OSHC.
- Within 6 months: lodge the Subclass 485 online.
- First 90 days after grant: secure skilled work in your nominated occupation.
- Year 1: begin your skills assessment.
- Year 2: lodge an EOI in SkillSelect, then Subclass 189 / 190 / 491 depending on state nomination.
How The Next helps
We map your Bachelor / Master to a real CSOL or MLTSSL occupation before you pick a course, get your family sponsor documents in order (NOC, sponsor tax clearance, bank balance), and plan the whole 2-year PSW window against your PR timeline. Book a counselling session at any of our 20+ Nepal branches or in Sydney.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Australian PSW visa in 2026?
2 years for Bachelor and Master by coursework, 3 years for Master by research, 4 years for PhD. Regional graduates get an additional 1 to 2 years.
What is the age cap for the Subclass 485?
35 years at the time of application for Bachelor and Master by coursework. PhD may have a different limit.
Do I need to be on a shortage occupation list for PSW?
No, PSW itself doesn’t require a listed occupation. But for PR after PSW, your occupation should be on the CSOL or MLTSSL.
Can I still get the regional extension after 2026?
Yes. Graduates from regional Australian campuses can apply for the Second Post-Study Work stream after the first PSW.
What should I do while I am on PSW to maximise PR chances?
Get skilled work, complete professional year if applicable, get skills assessed, hit the points threshold, and lodge an EOI early.