Options to permanent residency after studying in Australia

After completing their studies, some students decide to live in Australia and apply for a Permanent Residence Visa.

When choosing a course, it is wise to consider its prospects and chances of getting a permanent visa. You might want to start by looking at our occupation lists and finding out which list(s) and visas apply to you. Although your occupation might be on the list TODAY, it could be removed by the time you are eligible for a PR visa or another temporary visa. This will put you one step closer to getting permanent residency.

Apart from the course you choose, there are many other factors to consider:

• Age
• English language ability
• Qualifications
• Employment experience
• Partner’s skills.

Pathways to Australian Permanent Residence

Tens of thousands of students from around the world study in Australia every year. After completing their studies, many graduates return home, but others decide to stay in Australia. Students must apply for permanent residence before they can call Australia home.

International students can choose from a variety of pathways. What is the right one for you? You will be assessed based on a number of factors, including your qualifications, your English language ability, your employment history, and others. Below are three of the most common visa options.

Post Study Work Visa

After completing their studies, many applicants are not immediately eligible for permanent residence. It may be that they don’t have enough points for skilled migration, or that their employer or state government won’t sponsor them. Following their studies, many applicants in this situation find the Post Study Work Visa (subclass 485) to be an appropriate visa.

Post-study Work Visas are normally two-year visas with unrestricted work rights. It is available to applicants who have completed two years of full-time study in Australia for the award of certain qualifications (normally a Bachelor’s degree or higher, but in some cases a trade qualification may qualify for the Graduate Stream of the subclass 485 visa).

Often, the Post Study Work Visa is used to help meet the requirements for a permanent visa. For example, you could complete Australian work experience or use the time to improve your English language score for additional points.

 

General Skilled Migration

A skilled migration program allows you to apply for permanent visas based on your skills and work experience without being sponsored by an employer. A number of requirements must be met, including skills and English language requirements, as well as a points test.

The points you receive for skilled migration are based on your age, English ability, employment history, and study history. Obtaining state government nomination may be required to meet the requirements or add points to your application.

Employer Sponsored Visas

Employer-sponsored visas could be an alternative visa pathway. When an applicant cannot meet skilled migration requirements, employer sponsorship may be the next viable option, as the requirements are different from skilled migration.

Obtaining a temporary visa (subclass 482) is often the first step on the employer-sponsored pathway, followed by working towards a permanent visa after working for your sponsoring employer for at least three years. In some cases, you can apply directly for permanent residence (186 visas), but employers often prefer the TSS 482 visa transitional process.

Which Option

There are advantages and disadvantages to each visa option and pathway. Choosing the right one depends on a number of factors. It is also imperative to keep in mind that Australian visa regulations change frequently. Use VisaTasker’s experienced, professional registered migration advisors to ensure that you have the maximum chance of securing a permanent visa.

In our capacity as a registered migration agency, we see many students who have been led down the wrong path because of unprofessional advice from education institutes or friends. Making a decision is crucial.