Pathways to Australian Permanent Residence

Every year tens of thousands of students from across the globe choose Australia as their destination for further study. Whilst many return to their country of origin at the completion of their study others decide that they would like to continue to live in Australia. But before being able to call Australia home each student must successfully apply for permanent residence.

There are a number of pathways available to international students. Which one is right for you will be determined by a number of factors such as the qualification you have obtained, your English language ability, employment history and various other requirements. The three most common visa options or pathways are discussed below.

Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)

At the completion of study many graduates are not immediately eligible for permanent residence. This may be because they don’t have enough points for skilled migration, or they don’t have an employer or state government to sponsor them. Many graduates in this situation apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).

Since 1 July 2024 the 485 visa has two main streams:

• the Post-Higher Education Work stream for bachelor, masters and doctoral graduates, generally granted for 2 or 3 years
• the Post-Vocational Education Work stream for diploma and trade graduates with a related occupation and skills assessment, granted for 18 months

You must apply within 6 months of completing your course, be under 35 (with some exceptions) and meet the English requirement. The 485 has unrestricted work rights and is often used to gain Australian work experience or improve English scores for extra skilled migration points.

General Skilled Migration

Skilled migration is a program of visas based on your skills and work experience which does not require an employer to sponsor you. You need a positive skills assessment, competent English and at least 65 points on the points test. The main visas are the 189 (independent), the 190 (state nominated) and the 491 (regional, leading to the 191 permanent visa).

Points are based on factors such as your age, English ability, employment and study history. Studying in a regional area and completing a Professional Year can add points. In many cases you will also need state or territory nomination.

Employer Sponsored Visas

An alternative pathway is through employer sponsored visas. Where you cannot meet the skilled migration requirements, employer sponsorship can be easier because the requirements are different.

The employer sponsored pathway often involves a Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) first, then a permanent 186 visa through the Temporary Residence Transition stream after at least 2 years with an approved sponsor. In some cases you can apply directly for the 186, and regional employers can sponsor you for the 494 visa.

Plan your pathway early

• Choose a course closely related to an occupation on the current skilled occupation lists and at least 2 academic years long.
• From 2 October 2026 most people cannot change to a new Student visa in Australia unless they move up to a higher level course, so plan your study path from the start. See Student visa changes from 2 October 2026.
• Keep track of the 485 age limit and your English test validity.
• Read our guide After Graduation in Australia: Key PR Pathways for International Students in 2026.

Which Option

Each visa option and pathway has advantages and disadvantages. There are a lot of factors to consider before determining which one will work best for you. It is also worth remembering that Australian visa regulations change frequently. To ensure that you have the best chance at securing a permanent visa it is highly recommended that you use the services of VisaEnvoy’s experienced, professional registered migration advisors.

Student visa guides

• Student visa (subclass 500)
• Student Guardian visa (subclass 590)
• Genuine Student (GS) requirement
• Student visa funds calculator
• Student visa fees
• Student visa processing times
• Student visa assessment
• Student visa to PR
• Temporary Graduate visa (485)
• Student visa news