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Second 485 Regional Visa 2026: One or Two Extra Years Explained
The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream can provide additional time in Australia to eligible Temporary Graduate visa holders who studied and lived in designated regional areas.
How much extra time is available?
Home Affairs states that the second regional 485 can provide between one and two additional years. A Category 2 designated city or major regional centre generally supports one extra year, while a Category 3 regional centre or other regional area can support two extra years. Specific Tasmania settings can produce different results.
Regional study and regional residence are both important
Applicants need an eligible degree from a CRICOS-registered provider in a designated regional area and generally need to have lived in an eligible designated regional area for at least two years immediately before applying.
Who is not eligible?
The second regional stream is not simply available to every first 485 holder. Home Affairs identifies the eligible first-stream histories and excludes certain primary holders, including those whose first 485 was in the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.
For the main 485 framework, read Temporary Graduate Visa 485 Australia 2026.
Official source
This article provides general information only. Regional postcode classifications, study location and residence evidence need to be checked for the individual applicant.
