Civil Engineering Draftsperson — 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 Civil Engineering Draftsperson for migration purposes is handled by: EA, 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.
Civil Engineering Draftsperson × Subclass 485 — pathway overview
Civil Engineering Draftsperson (ANZSCO 312211) is a relevant occupation for applicants seeking or holding a Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa. The Subclass 485 is available to recent graduates of eligible Australian qualifications in engineering, design technology, or a related field. The Post-Higher Education Work stream applies to graduates of bachelor, masters, or doctoral qualifications from a CRICOS-registered Australian institution. This stream allows graduates to work in Australia temporarily and build local civil drafting experience that can later support a skilled migration or employer-sponsored visa application. Requirements include being under 35 years of age, having held a valid student visa in the six months before application, demonstrating competent English (IELTS 6 or equivalent), and meeting health, character, and health insurance conditions. No skills assessment is required under the Post-Higher Education Work stream. Visa length ranges from two to four years depending on qualification level. 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 Civil Engineering Draftsperson
- 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 Civil Engineering Draftsperson
States currently nominating this occupation — see the dedicated pages for state-specific criteria.