Are you among the many students dreaming of studying in Australia and making it your permanent home? You would be amazed to note that the latest statistics from the Australian Government highlight an increase of a whopping 29% as of October 2023 compared to 2022.

Explore the journey from student visa to PR status in this comprehensive article along with discovering the secrets to increasing your chances and unlocking your pathway to Australian PR after study.

Australia Permanent Resident

An Australian Permanent resident is an immigrant who has relocated to the country but has not yet been granted citizenship. The PR holders in Australia have the eligibility to enter and leave the country whenever they want.

Highlights of a Permanent residency visa include

A few of the important highlights of being an Australian PR holder include the following

• PR visa gives you the permit to study, work, and stay in the country, with NO restrictions imposed.
• PR holders have access to the “Medicare” scheme provided by the Australian Government.
• PR holders don’t get to avail of the “HELP” scheme (loan program to defer the cost of their tuition fee) like Australian citizens.
• PR visa holders are eligible to become Australian citizens after a certain period.

How to Get Permanent Residency in Australia After Study

For international students to avail a PR in Australia after master’s or completing their study program, they need to apply for the visa through SkillSelect, managed by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. It is an online portal for candidates to submit an Expression of Interest.

The portal provides access to different PR visas, both on a permanent and provisional basis. The portal functions as an automated system, wherein it rolls out ITAs to top-ranking applicants twice monthly. The criteria for application include:

1. Age (16 – 49)
2. Personal information of the candidate
3. Nominated employment
4. Education and work experience details
5. English language proficiency results
6. Skill assessment scores for the nominated employment
7. Business and investment experience

Post-study Visa Options for International Students

Now that you have grasped the different factors accounted to when calculating your eligibility for Australia PR after master’s, let us further learn what are the different pathways that you could choose from as an international student.

1. Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

The post-study work visa is the easiest way to get PR in Australia for international students along with offering up to 3 years of validity to work in Australia with No restrictions. This visa can be availed by students who have completed a minimum of 2 years of the full-time study program (bachelor or Master) in Australia.

This visa type is highly preferred by Indian students and the eligibility requirements include a CRICOS-registered degree and English proficiency. This visa is a pathway to gain work experience and potentially secure PR after master's in Australia.

2. Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

This visa type is for applicants who have not been sponsored by an employer or an Australian resident (family member). Skilled Independent visa eligibility is based on the applicants’ skills, language proficiency, and qualifying points. The point is allotted based on various factors like age, education qualifications, and English language proficiency.

Having received this visa you become eligible to stay in Australia for 5 years, with multiple entries granted for out–the–country travel. Once you have completed your 4 years of stay under the visa you gain the eligibility to apply for citizenship and in the case, you have only stayed for 2 years of the 5 years of visa tenure, still, you hold the eligibility to renew your visa for another 5 years.

If we look into the cost of applying for the visa, the skilled independent visa application cost is AUD 4,640, and to apply for a visa you need to pass the following eligibility or requirements

• Age (Below 45 years)
• Nominate an occupation matching your skills and qualifications
• A minimum score of 65 points on the points test
• English language proficient
• Have the applicants’ skills asses by the authority in charge
• Acceptable character and health record as per standards set by the authority
• Receive an invitation to apply from SkillSelect

Also Read: Australia Point System for Subclass 188, 189, 190 and 491: Know your eligibility today

3. Employer-Sponsored Visa

This is another well-known way to get long-term visas in Australia. Under this visa, employers sponsor international workers by providing them with employment opportunities in Australia.

One of the key benefits is that under this sponsor visa, the sponsored applicant gets to enjoy an indefinite stay and access to Medicare, multiple out-the-country travel feasibility for 5 years, and last but not least opportunity to sponsor relatives for various Australian Visas.

The Employer Nomination visa scheme offers multiple gateways to filter the incoming applicants and the one for international students is the Direct Entry System. The applicants under the direct entry system would require to stick to the eligibility criteria which are-

For the position, the employee is nominated

• Must be a genuine and valid position
• Must be a full-time position with a tenure of a minimum of 2 years from the time of visa acquiring
• The position must be listed on the Skilled Occupation List
• Include T&C same as offered to Australian citizens and permanent residents

For the Nominating employer

• Be lawfully and currently operating in Australia
• Meet the requirement for employee training
• Not have any adverse info about them or any person associated with them

Tips on How to Increase Your Chances of Securing Australia PR

Though we are aware of how to get PR in Australia after studying and the best visa options for international students, next we need to primarily look into how to score well and update your chances of securing this PR opportunity.

• Working in Australia Post–study

Working in Australia after graduation using the Temporary Graduate Visa will help you extend your stay in the country and brush up on the required skills and language proficiency.

• Pursue Higher Qualifications

Focus on increasing your qualifications, as a higher qualification adds more points to your point scores.

For example: for diplomas and similar degrees, you gain 10 points, while for a bachelor's degree adds 15 points and for the highest degree i.e. doctoral adds 20 points.

• Age factor

Age greatly affects your points score, for example, you could gain 30 points for ages 25-32, and for 45 years and over you get 0 points.

• Work Experience

Having work experience in Australia fetches you additional points. For example, if you have at least 1 year of experience post-study, you gain an additional 5 points.

• Opt for Regional Universities

If you can complete your degrees from a regional area, for example, Southern Queensland, you have the benefit of availing extra points when applying for a PR visa.

• Language Proficiency

By demonstrating higher Language proficiency (English) test scores you get to bag more points and prior eligibility. For example, scoring 7 or 8 in IELTS earns you 10 or 20 points, respectively.

• Complete Professional Year Program

Candidates who have enrolled and completed this 1-year professional course program get to enjoy an additional 5 points.

Application Process to Applying for Australia PR After Study

To apply for PR in Australia after your studies, it's crucial to understand the process thoroughly to avoid errors. The PR application process requires various supporting documents and details.

Step 1: Gather the Required Documents and Information

Start by collecting all necessary documents, such as work history, academic qualifications, family details, and financial records.

Step 2: Select the Appropriate Visa Type

Australia offers different PR visa options, like Temporary Graduate Visa, Skilled Independent Visa, or Skilled Nominated Visa. Choose the one that suits your situation best.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

Once you have all the documents ready and selected the visa type, submit your application either online or via mail.

Step 4: Pay the Visa Application Fee

After submission, pay the required visa application fee. The amount varies depending on the chosen visa type and can be paid through various methods.

We are not done yet. Now that you have learned the details of how to get PR in Australia after master’s, you need to also know how to track your application, to not miss any update from the Australian Immigration department

Tracking Your Australian PR Application Process Status

To check your PR visa application status online, continue to log in to your ImmiAccount. Your application will be assigned a status to indicate its progress:

*Source: Skillselect Australia

Also, note that some forms like My Health Declarations and Partner Sponsorship will always display as submitted and will not change status to received.

Have you correctly weighed your chances of securing PR in Australia?

Australia has ever since been a very welcoming nation and majorly looks for applicants who wish to have a long-term association with the country. Students when choosing a course need to think and weigh every factor associated with the decision, like what could be the possible prospects, how to get PR in Australia, the chances of converting to PR, and more.

Looking for the best consultants for your immigration to Australia queries? Look no further than GetGIS, as our assistance team is here to help you with every smallest of your immigration needs, ensuring your secure and safe integration into the Aussie land.

Book Your Free Consultation

Useful Links: For Further Information

• 15 Best Part Time Jobs in Australia for Students
• IELTS Band Requirement for Australia Immigration
• Skilled Occupation List Australia
• Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students
• What is the best way to get PR in Australia?