Dr Mohammad Shafiq
Australia, with its point-based immigration system, assesses an applicant on various aspects such as education, skills, work experience, and English language proficiency. With enough points, you can live and work in Australia permanently. Obtaining a PR in Australia has many benefits, like living, working, and travelling without restrictions, sponsoring family members to live in Australia, and many more. Continue exploring this article, and you'll discover how to get PR in Australia after study.
There are three main pathways to PR in Australia for international students. They are:
Each of the above visa categories has its own eligibility criteria. Here are the common criteria for each pathway:
The General Skilled Migration is an immigration program in Australia to attract skilled migrants who can significantly contribute to the Australian economy. This program has three main visa categories:
Here are the steps to apply for a Skilled Migration Visa in Australia:
The following are documents you must submit with your visa application in Australia:
Australia often offers Temporary Skill Shortage Visas, which allow immigrants worldwide to live and work in Australia for up to four years. These visas aim to address the country's skill shortages.
It is a permanent visa program for skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanently. It applies to skilled migrants who can contribute to the Australian economy. You must be nominated and sponsored by an Australian employer to get this visa.
This visa category is a permanent policy allowing skilled workers to live and work permanently in a regional Australian territory. You will also need a sponsorship from an Australian employer.
With an Employer-sponsored visa program in Australia, you can apply for permanent residency. An immigration lawyer or agent will be able to walk you through the process of getting permanent residency from a temporary visa.
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State and territory nomination can be an excellent way to get permanent residency in Australia. Being nominated by a state or territory government has many benefits, including:
There are two state-specific nomination programs in Australia. They are:
If you are willing to apply for a state-sponsored visa in regional areas, first, you should check the in-demand occupations in that part of Australia. You can check it from the Skilled Occupation List, SOL, or the Regional Occupation List, ROL.
Enrolling in a relevant course is crucial for Permanent Residency in Australia. It will provide you with the knowledge and skill sets of in-demand occupations in the country. You can check which occupations are in demand in Australia from the SOL or ROL list and choose a field for higher study accordingly. Here is the list of professions or courses to get PR in Australia:
Aeronautical Engineering |
Agricultural Engineering |
Chemical Engineering |
Civil Engineering |
Electrical Engineering |
ICT Support Engineering |
Software Engineering |
Mining Engineering |
Petroleum Engineering |
Software Tester |
Systems Analyst |
Accountant |
Finance Managers |
Auditor |
Budget Analyst |
Primary Teacher |
University Lecturer |
Vocational Education Teacher |
Midwifery |
Nursing |
Nurse (Paediatrics) |
MBBS |
MD |
General Mechanic |
Motor Mechanic |
Motorcycle Mechanic |
Hotel Management |
Hospitality Management |
Bachelor of Social Work |
Masters of Social Work |
Bachelor of Oral Health (BOralH) |
Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc) |
Construction Project Manager |
Building Inspector |
Construction Estimator |
Bakery and Chef courses |
BSc/MSc Psychology |
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As an international student, you need to ensure that the courses and institutions you choose are accredited by recognized bodies and approved by the educational authority in Australia. It will ensure the course meets the necessary standards, and the Australian government will accept your qualifications.
Educational requirements can vary in different parts of Australia. But in most cases, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree for skilled migration or employer-sponsored visas. Some occupations may demand specific qualifications.
Here is a standard step-by-step PR application process in Australia:
We already know that to get PR in Australia, you must meet certain English language requirements. The requirements can vary depending on many factors, but the typical score is IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.
You must also demonstrate that you have the right skills and expertise to perform the job you are applying for. You can check available in-demand occupations from the ROL or SOL lists.
Australia has a point-based immigration system where you must get a minimum point to be eligible for PR. The following table shows points of various factors:
Factors |
Points |
Age (Up to 44) |
Up to 30 |
English Proficiency |
Up to 20 |
Work Experience |
Up to 15 |
Education |
Up to 15 |
Partner Skills |
Up to 10 |
Following are some ways you can earn additional points for PR in Australia:
Many people want to know how much time to get PR in Australia after studying. The average duration for PR processing time in Australia depends on various visa subclasses. However, depending on the visa category, it can take 6.5 to 18 months.
Several factors can affect the PR processing time. Factors like the current demand for visas, the complexity of your application, and how well your application affects the duration.
Australia has 2 territories and 6 states. Its states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. The territories are the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory.
Each state is unique and has its own economy, culture, and climate. Some states and territories have nomination programs for skilled migrants.
The following table shows comparisons between different states and territories and how many years to get PR in Australia:
State |
Nominated Program |
Average Processing Times |
New South Wales |
Yes |
6 to 8 months |
Victoria |
Yes |
6 to 8 months |
Queensland |
Yes |
6 to 8 months |
Western Australia |
Yes |
6 to 8 months |
Southern Australia |
Yes |
6 to 8 months |
Tasmania |
Yes |
6 to 8 months |
Australian Capital Territory |
No |
6 to 8 months |
Northern Territory |
No |
6 to 8 months |
Applying for PR in Australia is a complex and time-consuming process. It has many clauses and loopholes that only expert eyes can spot. That’s why you should seek professional help where necessary.
To obtain post study work permit in Australia, apply for PR directly after completing your education. Fulfill residency and employment requirements, apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), gain relevant work experience, and then apply for a permanent visa through pathways like Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) or Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
Yes, Australia offers visa extensions for international students to live, pursue further qualifications, or find employment in their field. With a post study work visa, you can stay for up to four years depending on your qualifications.
Getting PR in Australia after study is challenging and requires meeting specific criteria, such as skill assessments and points tests.
Tasmania is considered the easiest state in Australia to obtain a Permanent Residency (PR) due to its streamlined processes, high demand for skilled professionals, and affordable living conditions. Other favourable states include South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria.
SkillSelect is an online service by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection. It allows potential migrants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a skilled visa, indicating their desire to apply for permanent residency based on their qualifications, work experience, and other factors.
As a permanent resident, you can live and work in Australia indefinitely, sponsor family members for PR, access Medicare, be eligible for government schemes and higher education loans, and have a pathway to Australian citizenship. Children born to PR holders in Australia are usually granted Australian citizenship.
You can enhance your chances by gaining work experience in Australia, increasing your level of qualification, improving your English language skills, choosing to study at a regional university, considering your age, and participating in professional year programs (PYP) in fields like computer science, engineering, and accounting.
Reasons for disqualification may include selecting the wrong type of visa, submitting an incomplete visa application, failing to meet health requirements, insufficient financial resources, having reportable offences on an earlier visa, previous involvement in criminal activities, or failing to meet the eligibility criteria.
The processing time for PR visas can vary, but most visas under the General Skilled Migration category, such as the Subclass 189, 190, and 491 visas, typically take between 8 to 12 months to process.
Yes, there is an age limit for most PR visa categories. Applicants are generally required to be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation to apply for PR. Age is also a factor in the points test, with different age groups awarded varying points.
If your PR application is refused, you will receive a notification explaining the reason for the refusal. You may have the option to review the decision if you believe an error has been made, or you may consider alternative visa options or pathways based on your circumstances.
Yes, when applying for PR, you can include certain family members, such as your spouse or de facto partner and your dependent children. Each family member must meet health and character requirements.
Understanding how to get PR in Australia after study can bring you closer to starting the application process. Now that you know all the available options, you can take your time and decide which visa option will be appropriate for you to get PR in Australia. Many government resources are available for further research, and most importantly, do not hesitate to seek expert help from professionals where necessary.
November 13 2024
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Author: Dr Mohammad Shafiq
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