The three streams
- Post-Higher Education Work. For graduates of a bachelor's, master's or doctorate. This is the stream Indian university students use, with the AI-ECTA lengths below.
- Post-Vocational Education Work. For graduates of VET diplomas and trade qualifications in an occupation on the skilled list, with a skills assessment: 18 months.
- Second Post-Higher Education Work. A second visa for graduates who studied and then lived in a regional area: one or two more years. See the regional second 485.
Free counselling
Shortlist Australian universities for your marks and budget
Expect a call or a WhatsApp message from an Edumapple adviser within one working day. You pay nothing for that first consultation.
- Courses your marks and degree qualify for
- Tuition and the visa living funds, counted in rupees
- GS answers, visa timing and your 485 plan
How long, by qualification
| Qualification completed in Australia | Indian citizen (AI-ECTA) | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's, including honours | 2 years | 2 years |
| Bachelor's with first-class honours in STEM or ICT | 3 years | 2 years |
| Master's by coursework or extended master's | 3 years | 2 years |
| Master's by research | 3 years | 3 years |
| Doctorate | 4 years | 3 years |
The study requirement
You must have completed, in the six months before applying, one or more CRICOS courses totalling at least two academic years, which Home Affairs defines as 92 weeks of registered course time, taught in English and completed over at least 16 calendar months in Australia on a student visa. English courses and enabling programmes do not count, and credit for earlier study can shorten your course below the 16-month floor. This is why most Indian students choose a two-year master's: it meets the rule on its own.
English, age and the police check
IELTS Academic or General 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each band, PTE Academic 55, or TOEFL iBT 81, from a test taken in the twelve months before applying. You must be 35 or younger, or under 50 if your qualifying degree is a research master's or a doctorate, and you must apply from inside Australia with evidence that you have applied for an Australian Federal Police check.
Applying
Apply online within six months of completing your course, while in Australia. The main-stream 485 had a median processing time of five days in 2026. You can hold the 485 as the main applicant only once, so plan the qualification that gives you the longest stay before you finish studying.