Form 80 for a 485 Visa (Temporary Graduate)

What is the 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa?

The Subclass 485 visa allows recent overseas graduates of Australian institutions to live and work in Australia temporarily. It has two streams: the Graduate stream and the Post-Study Work stream. The Graduate stream is for recent graduates of an Australian education institution, while the Post-Study Work stream is for those who have completed a higher education degree.

Form 80 may be requested as part of the character assessment component of the 485 application. The Department uses Form 80 to gather biographical and character information to determine whether an applicant satisfies the character requirement under the Migration Act.

Who typically gets asked for Form 80?

Not all 485 applicants are asked for Form 80. The Department makes this assessment individually. You are more likely to be asked if you have:

• Lived in a listed country for 12 months or more in the last 10 years
• Prior visa refusals or cancellations in Australia or elsewhere
• Any criminal history, including minor matters, in any country
• Circumstances the Department considers warrant additional character information

The best way to confirm whether Form 80 is required for your application is to check your ImmiAccount for any document requests from the Department.

Form 80 vs Form 1221

The Department may ask for Form 80 (a comprehensive 20-section personal character assessment form) or Form 1221 (a shorter biographical supplement). Your ImmiAccount or a case officer communication will specify which document is required. The two forms are not interchangeable — submit whichever one is specifically requested.

For a detailed comparison of the two forms, see the Form 80 vs Form 1221 guide.

What to prepare before completing Form 80

Gathering your documents before you start will make the process much faster. Before beginning Form 80, have the following ready:

• All current and expired passports (all countries)
• All residential addresses for the last 10 years with move-in and move-out dates
• Full employment history including casual and part-time work — employer names, addresses, job titles, start and end dates
• Complete international travel history for the last 10 years
• Education history including your Australian study (qualification, institution, dates)
• Details of any criminal matters, charges, or convictions in any country
• Details of any prior visa applications, refusals, or cancellations

Keeping information consistent with your student visa records

Many 485 applicants held a student visa immediately before applying. The address history, employment, and travel history in Form 80 should be consistent with records from that period — including CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment) dates, lease agreements, and employment payslips.

Discrepancies between Form 80 and your prior student visa records can prompt follow-up requests from the Department. Cross-check your Form 80 against your student visa application, CoE dates, and any employment or accommodation records from your study period before submitting.

Where to upload Form 80

Once you have completed and downloaded your Form 80 PDF, upload it in ImmiAccount. If the Department has issued a specific document request, upload your form against that request. If no specific request has been issued but Form 80 is required at lodgement, upload it in the character or supporting documents section of your application.

For step-by-step instructions, see the ImmiAccount upload guide.

What FormMate 80 can help with

• Guiding you through all 20 sections of Form 80 with structured input fields
• Auto-saving your progress so you can complete the form across multiple sessions
• Generating a completed, downloadable PDF that you can upload to ImmiAccount
• Helping you organise address history, employment history, and travel history with no-gap prompts

What FormMate 80 cannot do

• FormMate 80 is not affiliated with the Australian Government or the Department of Home Affairs
• It does not provide migration advice, legal advice, or visa advice
• It does not submit Form 80 to the Department on your behalf — you must upload the PDF to ImmiAccount yourself
• It cannot advise you on the specific requirements or circumstances of your individual application

Related visa guides

• Form 80 for skilled visas (189 / 190 / 491)

Frequently asked questions

Is Form 80 required for a 485 visa?

Form 80 may be requested depending on your individual circumstances. Not all 485 applicants are asked to complete it. Check your ImmiAccount for any document requests from the Department.

How long does Form 80 take to fill out?

Allow 1–3 hours depending on how far back your address and employment history goes. Gathering documents like passports, lease agreements, and employment records beforehand will speed up the process.

Do I need to list my student visa addresses in Form 80?

Yes. Form 80 requires a complete address history with no gaps for the last 10 years. This includes all addresses you lived at while studying in Australia.

What if my address changed frequently as a student?

List every address, including short stays in student accommodation or shared houses. Use Part T / Q44 of Form 80 to add any additional explanation about your accommodation history.

Can FormMate 80 submit Form 80 to the Department for me?

No. FormMate 80 is an independent tool that helps you complete and download Form 80 as a PDF. You upload it to ImmiAccount yourself. FormMate 80 is not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs.