What documents do I need to prepare before submitting a 485 visa application?
Preparation is the most important phase of any 485 application. The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) reviews Graduate Temporary visa applications in the order they are lodged, so the faster you can respond to any follow-up request — or better yet, avoid one entirely — the sooner you receive your grant. At VJ Consulting and Education, we advise every client to treat document preparation as a separate project that starts at least four to six weeks before their intended lodgement date.
Below is the master pre-lodgement checklist we use internally:
| Category | Key Items | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Current passport (all pages), previous passports if relevant | Must be valid; include any expired passports used during study |
| Australian qualification | Official transcript + testamur/completion letter | Must be certified; digital credentials from the university portal are acceptable if they carry an official seal |
| CRICOS evidence | CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment) for every study package | Covers the full duration of your registered course |
| Visa grant history | Student visa grant letter(s), any bridging visa evidence | Demonstrates continuous lawful status |
| Skills assessment | Positive assessment letter from the relevant authority (ACS, VETASSESS, Engineers Australia, etc.) | Required for Graduate Work stream only; not required for Post-Study Work stream |
| Health examinations | HAP ID, completed medical + chest X-ray results uploaded by panel physician | Book early — some panel clinics have 2–4 week wait times |
| Police clearances | AFP check for Australia; overseas police clearances for each country where you lived 12+ months after age 16 | AFP check takes 15 business days on average; overseas checks can take months |
| English evidence | IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, OET or Cambridge result showing each component ≥ 6.0 (IELTS equivalent) | Results must be within 3 years for most assessments |
| Statutory declaration | Stat dec confirming study was completed in Australia | Must be witnessed by an authorised person |
| Secondary applicant docs | Partner/children: passports, birth/marriage certificates, NASDs or de facto evidence | Each secondary applicant needs their own health and police checks |
| Relationship evidence | Marriage certificate or de facto evidence (joint lease, bank statements, photos) | NAATI-certified translation required for non-English documents |
| NAATI translations | Certified translations of all non-English documents | Only NAATI-credentialed translators are accepted by DOHA |
What documents do I need to apply for a 485 visa in Australia?
While the pre-lodgement checklist above covers everything you should have ready, the documents you actually attach at the time of lodgement are formally broken into two categories: mandatory documents that must be uploaded before you submit, and supporting documents that can be provided after a case officer requests them. However, submitting everything upfront dramatically reduces processing time.
| Document | Graduate Work Stream | Post-Study Work Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Australian degree/diploma (transcript + testamur) | ✅ Required | ✅ Required |
| CoE for each course | ✅ Required | ✅ Required |
| Passport (bio page + all used pages) | ✅ Required | ✅ Required |
| Health examination (HAP) | ✅ Required | ✅ Required |
| AFP check | ✅ Required | ✅ Required |
| Overseas police clearances | ✅ If applicable | ✅ If applicable |
| English test results | ✅ Required | ✅ Required |
| Skills assessment outcome | ✅ Mandatory | ❌ Not required |
| Occupation on MLTSSL | ✅ Must match assessment | ❌ Not applicable |
| Secondary applicant evidence | ✅ If applicable | ✅ If applicable |
How long does it take to get a 485 visa after submitting?
DOHA updates its global processing time estimates on a rolling basis. As of mid-2025, the median processing time for the Subclass 485 visa sits between three and five months for straightforward applications lodged with all documents. Applications involving secondary applicants, overseas police clearances from countries with slow government agencies, or character issues can extend well beyond this range.
It is important to understand that DOHA processes 485 applications on a "queue" basis — your application is generally assessed in the order it was lodged. This means lodging a complete application as early as possible (ideally the day you receive your completion letter and your HAP results are finalised) gives you the best chance of an early grant.
How long does it take to get a 485 visa granted after lodging in 2025?
The 2025 processing environment has been shaped by two major factors: a significant increase in international student graduations following the post-pandemic recovery in enrolments, and DOHA's ongoing digital transformation of its case officer workflows. The net effect is that the queue is longer than in 2022–2023, but processing rates have improved compared to the peak backlogs of late 2023.
Key factors that influence how quickly your specific application moves through the queue in 2025:
| Factor | Impact on Speed |
|---|---|
| All documents uploaded at lodgement | Faster — avoids section 56 delays |
| Health exam completed before lodgement | Faster — results already in DOHA system |
| AFP check completed before lodgement | Faster — no post-lodgement waiting period |
| Secondary applicants included | Slower — additional checks required per person |
| Character or health concerns | Significantly slower — referred to specialist team |
| Overseas police clearances outstanding | Slower — depends on foreign government agency speed |
| Skills assessment still pending at lodgement | Slower — case officer waits for assessment result |
How long does it take to get a 485 visa grant after submitting all documents including AFP check and health clearance?
This is one of the most common questions our team at VJ Consulting and Education receives. The reason applicants ask it is logical: they know that the AFP check and health examination are the two biggest "pending" items, and once both are cleared, it feels like nothing should stand between them and a grant. In practice, that instinct is largely correct — when a case officer picks up a fully complete file with no outstanding character or health issues, they can and often do finalise it quickly.
However, there are still internal DOHA steps that occur after all documents are received:
1. Merits assessment: The case officer verifies that all legislative criteria under Schedule 2, Subclass 485 of the Migration Regulations 1994 are met — including the correct stream, qualification level, CRICOS registration of the institution, and English language requirement.
2. Identity checks: Cross-referencing your passport details, biometrics (if applicable), and visa history against DOHA's movement records system.
3. Final decision and system processing: The officer records the decision, the system generates the grant letter, and the notification is dispatched to your ImmiAccount and email address.
One important nuance: the AFP check result is not automatically "cleared" the moment you submit it to DOHA. If the AFP discloses any disclosable court outcomes, a character assessment must occur under section 501 of the Migration Act 1958 before the visa can be granted. This can add significant time — sometimes six months or more.
What is the current application fee for Australia subclass 485 visa?
Visa application charges (VACs) for Australian visas are updated on 1 July each financial year. The figures below reflect the 2025–2026 financial year rates. All fees are paid in Australian dollars at the time of lodgement and are non-refundable (with very limited exceptions — see the next section).
| Applicant Type | Fee (AUD, 2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Primary applicant (main applicant) | $1,945 |
| Secondary applicant aged 18 or over | $975 |
| Secondary applic *This article is intended as general guidance only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Visa requirements, fees, and processing times change regularly — always verify details on the relevant authority's official website before making decisions.* Ready to start your journey?Every migration case is unique. Book a private strategy session with our MARA-registered agents to get advice tailored to your situation. Schedule ConsultationOur Accreditations Migration Agents  Victoria  Migration Institute VJ Consulting is an independent migration firm which is not associated in any way with the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA). Information on this website does not constitute personal migration advice. For an appraisal of your unique personal situation, please book a consultation and talk to one of our Registered Migration Agents, who are all bound by the MARA Code of Conduct. © 2026 VJ Consulting. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy |