Music Director — Subclass 485 Pathway
Temporary Graduate visa · 18 months to 5 years (depending on stream and qualification)
At a glance
- Visa
- Subclass 485 — Temporary Graduate visa
- Points test
- Not points-tested
- Sponsor
- No sponsor required
- Eligibility list
- No specific list
- Base fee
- from $2,235 (check immi.gov.au for current fee)
- Processing time
- ~4-12 months (median)
Skills assessment for this occupation
Assessing Music Director for migration purposes is handled by: VETASSESS.
No occupation-list eligibility — any qualification recognised by the AQF is in scope, with skills assessment only required for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.
Music Director × Subclass 485 — pathway overview
Music Directors (ANZSCO 211212) who have completed an eligible Australian qualification may apply for the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa. This post-study visa is not points-tested and does not require an employer sponsor. It allows recent graduates of CRICOS-registered Australian courses to remain in Australia temporarily and gain local work experience relevant to their field. Applicants must be under 35 at application, have held a valid student visa in the last six months, meet Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent), and maintain Australian Health Insurance. The visa duration varies from 18 months to several years depending on the stream and qualification level. The indicative application fee is from AUD 2,235, with processing typically 4 to 12 months. The Subclass 485 does not directly lead to permanent residency but provides time to build Australian work experience and complete the skills assessment and points accumulation needed for a future permanent visa pathway. For advice tailored to your individual circumstances, always consult a registered MARA migration agent.
Content last generated: 2026-06-26
Key requirements
High-level criteria for Subclass 485. Verify every requirement on immi.gov.au before applying.
- Under 35 years of age at application (with exemptions for select fields)
- Recent graduate of an eligible Australian qualification (CRICOS-registered)
- Held a valid student visa in the last six months
- Competent English (IELTS 6 or equivalent)
- Positive skills assessment (Post-Vocational Education Work stream only)
- Health, character, and Australian Health Insurance
Other visa pathways for Music Director
- 186Details →Employer Nomination Scheme visa
Permanent employer-sponsored visa for workers nominated by an approved sponsor.
- 189Details →Skilled Independent visa
Permanent points-tested visa for workers not sponsored by an employer, family member, or state.
- 190Details →Skilled Nominated visa
Permanent visa for workers nominated by a state or territory government.
- 482Details →Skills in Demand visa
Employer-sponsored temporary visa (formerly TSS) for occupations on the relevant list.
- 491Details →Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Five-year provisional visa for workers willing to live and work in regional Australia.
- 494Details →Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
Five-year employer-sponsored provisional visa in regional Australia, with a path to PR.
State nominations for Music Director
States currently nominating this occupation — see the dedicated pages for state-specific criteria.