Visa Categories Skilled Student Migration
If you are just starting to look at the options available to you to convert to a PR visa after you finish your study, the vast variety of information available can be confusing and overwhelming.
Australian Migrations and Visa Lawyers have dedicated team that focuses on helping students move from temporary visas to permanent residency.
The General Skilled Migration program is available for overseas students who wish to immigrate to Australia either as permanent or temporary residents. This option is for people who are not sponsored by an employer and who have skills in particular occupations required in Australia.
You (or your Partner) must meet the basic requirements, set by DIAC, in order to qualify for a visa in the General Skilled Migration Program. These requirements include:
| Age: |
You must be over 18 and under 45 years of age at the time of application. |
| English Language: |
You will need to show that you have a competent level of English language ability. See IELTS for further information. |
| Skill Assessment: |
You will be required to get your skills assessed from the relevant Australian assessing authority to determine what occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) you will nominate. |
| Australian Study: |
You require a minimum of 2 years (CRICOS 92 weeks) of Australian Study. You will have a deadline of 6 months after completion of your course to submit an application. |
| Health Assessment: |
You and your family members must meet the health criteria for a visa to Australia. All applicants must undertake a medical examination by a panel doctor for your health assessment. |
| Character Assessment: |
You must be of good character and this is assessed as part of your application. More information on the requirements is available at Character Requirements. |
| The Points Test: |
All applications (aside from the Graduate Temporary Visa) must meet the pass mark on the points test. |
The General Skilled Migration categories for students that have completed study in Australia are as follows:
Skilled Independent (subclass 885) - PR This is a permanent Australian visa suitable for overseas students who have completed their 2 year course of study in the last six months in Australia as well as the holders of certain temporary visas, such as the Skilled Graduate Subclass 485 visa; or a Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa.
You must satisfy all basic requirements, have a nominated occupation on the SOL and reach a pass mark of 120 on the Skilled Migration Points Test
No sponsorship by state or family is required for this visa, and visa holders are able to live anywhere in Australia.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
Skilled Graduate (subclass 485) - TR
This is a temporary Australian visa suitable for overseas students who have satisfied all basic requirements, but do not meet the other criteria for a permanent visa, such as the pass mark, to remain in Australia. This visa is valid for 18 months and allows overseas students to gain skilled work experience or improve their English language skills.
There are no restrictions on work or study with this visa and you may apply for permanent residence once you are able to meet the pass mark on the General Skilled Migration points test.
We can help you get your 485 visa and then convert to either an 885 or 886 visa once you do meet the requirements.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
Skilled Sponsored (subclass 886) – PR
State Sponsored
This is also a permanent Australian visa suitable for overseas students, who have satisfied all basic requirements.
However with this visa the pass mark is lower (currently 100 points) and the applicant must be nominated by a participating State or Territory or by an eligible relative living in Australia.
Each State and Territory has a skills shortage list and to be considered for State Sponsorship your occupation will need to be on the list. Further requirements may need to be met and these vary from State to State. Contact us for further information on these requirements.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
Family Sponsored
Alternatively, you or your partner can be sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia who is willing sponsor you.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487) This is a three (3) year provisional (temporary) visa for overseas students and certain visa holders who are unable to meet the criteria for a permanent skilled visa. There are separate lists for each State and Territory for the SRS visa so this may be another pathway to obtain permanent residency.
Regional Areas are based on postcodes.
Once the applicant and family have lived in any regional area for at least 2 years and have been working in any regional area for one year, they can then apply for permanent residency.
The applicant must satisfy the basic requirements and reach a pass mark of 100 points.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
Skilled Designated Area Sponsored – Provisional This visa came into effect on 1 July 2006. This visa is also points tested but if your relative sponsors you, an extra 25 points are awarded to assist you to reach the pass mark. The applicant must still meet the basic requirement and the types of relatives who can sponsor is wider (extends to cousins and grandparents). The sponsor relative must live in a designated area to be eligible, which is based on postcodes.
This is a temporary visa.
Once granted the visa is valid for a period of 3 years in much the same way as the Skilled Regional Sponsored visa. Similarly, to move to permanent residency you must live in a designated area for 2 years and work in a designated area for one year to then be able to apply for permanent residency.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
The General Skilled Migration categories for students that have completed study outside of Australia are as follows:
Skilled – Recognised Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 476) This is a temporary visa which allows recent Engineering graduates of recognised overseas universities to gain up to 18 months of skilled work experience in occupations in demand in Australia.
This visa does not have a points test but other requirements must be met.
There are no restrictions on work or study with this visa and you may apply for permanent residence once you are able to meet the pass mark on the General Skilled Migration points test.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
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