Physicist — 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 Physicist for migration purposes is handled by: VETASSESS, ACPSEM.
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.
Physicist × Subclass 485 — pathway overview
Physicist (ANZSCO 234914) is a relevant occupation for applicants considering the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa, available to recent graduates of eligible Australian qualifications in areas relating to physics and physical sciences. This temporary visa grants post-study work rights without requiring employer or state sponsorship. Under the Post-Higher Education Work stream, graduates of bachelor, masters, or doctoral degrees from a CRICOS-registered Australian institution in a relevant field may qualify. The visa duration ranges from two to four years depending on the qualification level, allowing graduates to build research or applied professional experience in a physics discipline in Australia. Key requirements include being under 35 years of age at application (limited exemptions may apply), having held a valid student visa within six months prior to application, meeting competent English language standards (IELTS 6 overall or equivalent), and satisfying health, character, and Overseas Student Health Cover requirements. No skills assessment is required under this stream. Work experience gained may support future permanent skilled migration applications. 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 Physicist
- 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 Physicist
States currently nominating this occupation — see the dedicated pages for state-specific criteria.