Australia PR, the most sought-after visa by international students, allows you to live, study, and work indefinitely, with access to social security benefits, Medicare (Australia’s public healthcare system), and eligibility to sponsor family members to the country. It also serves as a pathway to Australian citizenship, given that you meet the residency requirements. For students, the most common path for Australia PR is the General Skilled Migration Program, which includes visas like the Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189), Skilled Nomination visa (Subclass 190), and Skilled Work Regional visa (Subclass 491).
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Step-by-step process to achieve Australian PR for students
Below is a step-by-step guide to help international students transition from a student visa to Australian PR based on the most common pathways, especially the General Skilled Migration program.
Step 1: Choose an institution that matches your PR goals
- Enroll in a course that is registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
- Opt for a course with two academic years to be eligible for a post-work visa.
- Consider regional areas to get more points in the Australian Points Grid.
Step 2: Obtain an Australian Student visa (Subclass 500)
- Apply for an Australia student visa after receiving a confirmed enrolment offer from a CRICOS-registered university.
Read more…
What is a subclass 500 visa in Australia?
Step 3: Complete your studies and identify PR pathways
- After completing your studies, you can apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) or post-study visa, which allows international students to work in Australia for 2-4 years.
- International students can transition to work visas (Subclass 186 or Subclass 482) if a recognized Australian employer sponsors them. After a specific period on a work visa, you may become eligible for Australian PR
- The Skilled Migration Program also offers a pathway to PR if you meet specific requirements and score higher on the Australian Points Grid. (Subclass 189 visa)
Step 4: Check eligibility for Australia PR
- Once you complete a specific period of work visas, you must meet certain requirements to be eligible for PR.
- The requirements include skill assessment, English proficiency, age, work experience, etc. For most work visas under the General Migration Program, a minimum of 65 points is required to be eligible for the Australian PR.
Step 5: Submit an Expression of Interest
- After you meet the PR requirements, submit an expression of interest (if applying through the General Skilled Migration Program) through SkillSelect, expressing your interest in applying for a PR visa.
Step 6: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
- The immigration authorities will carefully assess the requirements before issuing an invitation to apply for a PR visa.
Step 7: Pay the visa fee and submit the application
- Once you receive the ITA, submit your application, including necessary documents such as transcripts, work experience, English proficiency score, medical examination reports, etc.
Step 8: Wait for approval
- The immigration authorities will assess your application, and you will receive a decision. The processing time may vary depending on the applicant’s circumstances.
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