How to Get PR in Australia After Study?

Australia has fascinated us with its remarkable natural beauty and exotic wildlife as a distant but developed country.

Australia is one of the few countries where you will want to study, live, and work despite your travel choices or budget.

From its cultural riches to its magnificent beaches, world-class education to a dignified quality of life, and off-the-beaten-path excursions to the wilderness, Australia has it all, and with so many opportunities, who wouldn’t want to study and live there?

Every year more than 500,000 students migrate to Australia. Migrating to Australia is one of the most appealing alternatives for many individuals, especially international students.

Students from different countries come to Australia to study at prestigious Australian institutions. And some students fall in love with this land, decide to stay, and apply for a Permanent Residence Visa after finishing their studies.

In this article, we will discuss PR visas for Australia after study and how to acquire one.

What is a Permanent Resident (PR)?

A permanent resident of Australia is subject to the same privileges as a citizen.

A citizen may enter or leave the nation at any time; but, if a PR citizen intends to travel abroad, he must have a permanent visa with valid travel permission.

Australian permanent residents are Australian residents who possess a PR visa but are not citizens of Australia.

After a set amount of time, permanent residents can apply to become Australian citizens.

What is a PR visa?

It is a permanent resident visa that is only available to those who are not Australian citizens.

Not only is the procedure very systematic and structured, but it is also advanced enough to assess applications based on an individual’s qualifications.

A PR visa holder can reside in Australia indefinitely once granted.

Along with it, a five-year travel permit is provided. The bearer of this travel facility can leave and return to Australia until it expires.

Benefits of PR visa

• A PR visa holder has total flexibility to pursue whatever educational path he or she chooses.
• As a PR visa holder, you can live and work in Australia indefinitely and travel freely within and outside the country.
• A PR visa holder is eligible for the Australian Government’s health insurance.
• Once the relevant qualifications are completed, a PR visa holder is entitled to apply for Australian citizenship.
• A PR visa holder has the option of sponsoring a family member’s visa, which can be temporary or permanent.
• A PR visa holder may also be eligible for various social security benefits.
• A person with a PR visa has the freedom to work for any employer.
• A person with a PR visa may also explore New Zealand or apply for a visa.

How to become a Permanent Resident after study?

Following graduation, many overseas students petition for permanent residency.

To do so, individuals must ‘express interest’ in the SkillSelect migration program of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

It is an Australian government online portal via which students may apply for a skilled visa by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Candidates must give biographical information, work experience information, a specified occupation, and English language competency information.

Aside from that, they must offer information on skill assessments relating to the selected jobs.

Typically, graduates seek a Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189).

It is a point-based system for skilled employees between the ages of 18 and 49 who have not been sponsored by a family member or business or nominated by a state government.

Candidates must perform a skills assessment in addition to submitting an EOI.

The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) permits individuals to work and live permanently in Australia.

General Eligibility Requirements to Get PR in Australia

You can apply for PR under a variety of visa categories, each with its own set of eligibility requirements.

However, the following are some standard qualifying requirements:

Age:

When applying for Australian PR, you must be under 45 years old.

Skilled Occupation List

Your occupation must be on the list of skilled occupations (Short-term Skilled Occupation List, Medium- and Long-term Strategic Skills List, and Regional Occupations List).

These are the jobs that are now allowed for migration to Australia.

The occupations on the list are updated regularly to reflect changes in the Australian labor market.

Language Proficiency:

You must submit documentation demonstrating that you have a decent standard of proficiency in the English language.

Popular Australian PR Visa Options For International Students

The most common choices for overseas students are work-stream permanent residence visas.

This visa category is for those who have the skills that Australia demands or who are seeking sponsorship to work in Australia from an Australian company.

Under this workstream, international students can apply for any of the following permanent visa options:

Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa:

This visa is a point-based visa that does not require a nomination from a territory or a state.

If you are an international student who has graduated from an Australian university and are not sponsored by an employer or a relative, you can apply for the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189).

The visa candidates must earn the point test pass mark to secure permanent residency in Australia.

The minimum number of points needed to get an invitation for the Skilled Independent Visa application is 65 points.

However, the minimum points required to obtain an invitation are also determined by the vocation chosen.

Some of the skilled occupations on the list are more competitive than others.

Typically, receiving an invitation for PR is simpler when the career is in great demand and few individuals have the necessary qualifications and capabilities.

Eligibility Criteria for a Skilled Independent Visa

• You must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and then wait for an invitation to apply for a visa.
• When requested to apply for the visa, you must be under the age of 45.
• You must pass a medical checkup and meet the minimal health criteria.
• Based on your qualifications and talents, you must choose specialized employment.
• Your chosen occupation must be on the Skilled Occupation List.
• Before submitting an EOI, you must also get an acceptable skills evaluation for your proposed employment.
• You must also offer a legitimate English exam to establish your proficiency in the language.
• Once you have gotten an invitation to apply for a visa, you must demonstrate your good conduct.
• Signing an Australian values declaration, submitting police certificates, qualification evidence, the skills assessment, and other vital papers are all required.

How to Apply for a Skilled Independent Visa?

If you intend to apply for a Skilled Independent Visa, you must first complete the following steps:

• Gather all information and documentation, such as English language test results and competence evaluations.
• Check the Skilled Occupation List to check whether your occupation is on it.
• Confirm that you satisfy the fundamental requirements and obtain the minimal point test score.
• Submit an Expression of Interest for the Subclass 189 Visa using the SkillSelect website.
• Following the completion of the EOI procedure, the system will provide results or a points score based on your claims.
• SkillSelect will investigate your claims further, and if you are asked to apply for the visa, you will get an invitation from SkillSelect.
• You will have about 60 days to submit a valid visa application online. The invitation will expire after 60 days.
• It is crucial to remember that not everyone who files an EOI will be invited to apply for the Skilled Independent Visa.
• Your Expression of Interest will be retained in the SkillSelect database for no more than two years.
• During that time, you may update your EOS and make modifications, such as adding credentials or job experience or taking another English exam to obtain additional points to support your application.

Skilled Independent Visa Cost

The application fee for the Skilled Independent Visa 189 is AUD 4,045.

Additional fees apply to visa applicants who wish to bring family members with them to live in Australia.

Other fees for the Skilled Independent Visa may apply, such as the police certificate, medical examinations, skill evaluations, translated paperwork and certification, and English language exams.

An alternative visa option, comparable to the skilled independent visa 189, is the Skilled Nominated Visa 190, which can provide the same outcomes through state sponsorship.

This visa permits you to receive an additional five points if a state in Australia is prepared to sponsor you.

Before submitting your EOS, you may pick this sort of visa on SkillSelect.

Please keep in mind that costs are subject to change at any moment.

Visit the SkillSelect website to remain up to date.

Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa:

This visa is for skilled employees who have been nominated by a territorial or state government agency.

To be eligible for this visa, you must demonstrate that you have an adequate skills assessment for one of the occupations on the Skilled Occupation List.

The Subclass 190 visa is designed specifically for aspirants who possess the skills and talents necessary in certain areas or regions of the nation.

Applicants must have a point score of 65 or above to be eligible for this visa.

One of the most significant benefits of applying for the Subclass 190 visa is the speed with which it is handled.

The subclass 190 visa is essentially a points-based visa that allows talented workers nominated by an Australian territory or state to reside and work in Australia.

Overall, this visa is intended to provide opportunities to skilled tradesmen and specialists in high-demand occupations in Australia’s labor market.

Eligibility Criteria to Apply for Subclass 190 Visa

• You should be between the ages of 18 and 45
• After filing your EOI, you must be nominated or sponsored by an Australian territory or state.
• You must have prior experience in one of the selected occupations on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List.
• The points exam must be completed with a minimum of 65 points.
• You must meet the fundamental standards for Skilled Migration, which include physical and mental health, English language skills, and character assessments.
• You must complete the skills assessment with the appropriate assessing authority for the occupation you have selected.

Advantages of Applying For The Subclass 190 visa

Subclass 190 is a perpetual visa that allows you to reside in Australia indefinitely.

However, you can only go in and out of Australia as many times as you like with this visa for five years from the day it is given to you.

You will need an RRV (Resident Return Visa) after five years to re-enter or return to Australia as a permanent resident.

You can accomplish the following with a Subclass 190 visa:

• Make an application for Australian citizenship.
• There are no limits on working or studying in Australia.
• Sponsor family members who are eligible for permanent or temporary visas.
• Subscribe to Australia’s universal healthcare plan.
• Stay in Australia for an indeterminate amount of time.

This visa also imposes various requirements, such as a two-year residency requirement in the region or state in which you are nominated. You can apply for a change of status after two years and work or reside anywhere in Australia.

Subclass 491 Skilled Regional Visa:

To be eligible for this visa, you must be sponsored, meet skill standards, or be nominated by an Australian region, state, or territory.

How long does it take to process a PR visa?

The procedure of obtaining a PR visa may be broken into many parts. Because of the significant variances in structure, the processing time for each stage may change.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the time spent at each stage.

Skill Assessment:

This procedure is carried out by a designated skill assessment authority. Depending on how promptly you provide your documents, you may receive a speedier answer from them.

In most cases, the examination takes 45 to 60 days to complete.

EOI (Expression of Interest):

The time it takes to complete your EOI is dependent on your eligibility score. Remember that if you have a higher score, you will have a better chance of receiving an ITA (Invitation to apply).

Character and Medical Fitness Certificate:

These papers may take some time to process. As a result, as soon as you receive the ITA, make every effort to get these credentials so that your visa application is not delayed.

Visa Approval:

Once you have provided all of the necessary documentation, the Australian Department of Home Affairs will fully evaluate your profile. They will issue you the visa if they are happy with your profile. This procedure might take three to five months.

Preparation for Departure:

You must go to Australia within six months of receiving your visa approval.

Alternative routes to Australian Permanent Residence

The three most popular visa alternatives or routes are detailed further below.

Post Study Work Visa

The Post Study Work Visa is typically a two-year visa with unlimited employment privileges.

It is open to applicants who have completed two years of full-time study in Australia and are seeking the granting of certain degrees (normally a Bachelor degree or higher, but in some cases applicants who have completed a trade qualification may be eligible for the Graduate Stream of the subclass 485 visa).

The Post Study Work Visa is frequently utilized to assist in meeting the requirements for a permanent visa.

This might be done by undertaking Australian work experience, for example, or by utilizing the time to improve English language skills to gain more points for skilled migration.

Many candidates discover after completing their studies that they are not immediately eligible for permanent residency.

This might be due to a lack of points for skilled migration or a lack of a sponsoring company or state government.

Following their studies, many candidates in this scenario find that the Post Study Work Visa (subclass 485) is appropriate.

General Skilled Migration

Skilled migration is a scheme that provides permanent visas based on your talents and work experience without requiring you to be sponsored by an employer. Several conditions must be met, including skill and English language requirements, as well as a points exam.

Points for skilled migration are assigned depending on characteristics such as your age, English proficiency, job experience, and educational background. To complete the standards or add points to your application, you may need to get a state government nomination in specific instances.

Employer-Sponsored Visas

Employer-sponsored visas might be an alternative immigration route.

When a candidate is unable to fulfill the standards for skilled migration, the next best alternative is employer sponsorship because the standards are different and sometimes simpler to satisfy.

The employer-sponsored pathway frequently entails first getting a temporary visa (subclass 482), then working towards a permanent visa after working in Australia for at least three years for your sponsoring employer.

This is not always necessary — in some situations, you might apply directly for permanent residency (186 visas), but employers frequently prefer the TSS 482 visa transitional approach.