Every international student pursuing a degree in Australia wishes to stay back in Australia permanently. From its uncanny scenic beauty to its quality of life, there are plenty of reasons for choosing to live in Australia. The Australian government offers an option called the Permanent Residency, which allows an international student to stay back in Australia permanently under certain conditions.
Source: www.gitgroup.co.in
What is Permanent Residency in Australia?
Your Permanent Residency in Australia is confirmed when you are granted a permanent visa. A permanent visa allows you to stay back in Australia for an unrestricted period of time and gives you legal privileges like any Australian citizen; however, with a few restrictions, on voting rights and travel.
The two most common permanent visas are skilled work visas and family visas. International students wanting to become permanent residents usually apply for a skilled work visa
What is ‘points-test’?
Some visas require you to have a certain number of points to be eligible for the visa. A point- test can be considered as a means of identifying the suitable applicants for a particular visa. Once you have submitted your Expression Of Interest (EOI), an online application form, you must score the minimum points specified by the particular visa to be invited for a visa application.
You get points based on different categories such as age, English language proficiency, occupation, qualifications, completing a Professional Year Program (PYP), and more. The addition of these factors contribute towards the overall points obtained by the applicant. For example, A 22-year-old student who has obtained one or more degrees from Australia will receive 5 points for his/her qualification and 25 points as he/she falls in the age category of 18 to 24.
Below listed are the Visa options that international students can opt to gain Permanent Residency in Australia:
| VISA | APPLICATION METHOD |
|---|---|
| Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) | SkillSelect |
| Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) | SkillSelect |
| Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) | Employer |
| Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) | ImmiAccount |
1. Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
This is the common type of visa opted by international students who have not been nominated by their employers. This allows them to become permanent residents allowing them to stay work or live in Australia as long as they want.
Cost : AUD 4,045 or more
Eligibility:
The first and foremost thing you have to do is submit an EOI (Expression of Interest) in SkillSelect. Based on the content of your EOI, you will be nominated by any state or territory government agency in Australia. Once nominated, you can apply for a Skilled Independent Visa online, only if the Australian Department of Home Affairs invites you.
Requirements:
- The Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) is a points-tested type of visa. This means you will need at least 65 points to receive an invitation.
- You have to submit your EOI (Expression of Interest)
- You must be between the age group of 18 and 45 while applying for the visa.
- You have to prove your English Language Proficiency.
- Your occupation must be under the category of skilled occupations for the Skilled Independent Visa.
- You must fulfill all the essential health requirements defined by the immigration department.
- You must satisfy the character requirements defined by the immigration department.
- You must not have a visa cancellation, or a previous application refused.
For more details, please visit the following link
2. Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
With this visa, nominated skilled workers can stay, work, or study in Australia permanently as residents. They also get the rights to access the health care system and can also become Australian citizens in the future.
Cost: From AUD4,045
Eligibility:
Like the Skilled Independent Visa, you can only apply for a Skill Nominated visa if you are nominated by any state or territory government agency in Australia. However, you will also submit an EOI (Expression of Interest) in SkillSelect to be considered for nomination. Once nominated, you can apply for a Skilled Nominated visa online after you receive an invitation from the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Requirements:
- The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a points-tested type visa; this means you will need at least 65 points to receive an invitation.
- You have to submit your EOI (Expression of Interest)
- You must be between the age group of 18 and 45 while applying for the visa.
- Prove your English Language Proficiency.
- Your occupation must be under the category of skilled occupations for the Skilled Nominated visa.
- You must fulfill all the essential health requirements defined by the immigration department.
- You must satisfy the character requirements defined by the immigration department.
- You must not have a visa cancellation or a refusal of an application previously.
For more details, please visit the following link
What is SkillSelect?
International students who have graduated from Australia must apply for a Skilled Independent visa or Skilled Nominated visa via SkillSelect. SkillSelect is an Australian government online system designed for Permanent Residency Visa applicants to submit their Expression of Interest (EOI). The EOI is a document where you briefly explain your reason to migrate to Australia. Its is through EOI that the Australian government invites you to submit your application. SkillSelect was created to simplify the visa application process for international citizens seeking Permanent Residency in Australia.
3. Employer Nomination Scheme visa- (subclass 186)
To be eligible for this visa, you must have an occupation that is on the list of eligible skilled occupations, have a minimum of three years of relevant work experience, and a positive skills assessment unless you are exempted from the same.
Eligibility:
To get an Employer Nomination Scheme Visa, you need to be nominated by your Australian employer of an active and lawfully operating company or firm. In addition to this, you must also have relevant work experience unless you are exempted from the same. You will only be eligible to apply for the visa within six months from being nominated.
Cost : From AUD 4,045
Requirements:
- Your occupation must fall under the category of skilled occupations.
- You must be below the age of 45 years during the time of your application unless exempted.
- You must fulfill all the essential health requirements defined by the immigration department.
- You must either be registered to or be a part of a professional body, if the state you intend to work demands you to do so.
- You must satisfy the character requirements defined by the immigration department.
- You are required to prove your proficiency in the English language.
- You must not have a visa cancellation or a refusal of an application previously.
For more details, please visit the following link
4. Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
Although the Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 is valid only up to be 18 months, you can obtain a Permanent Residency in Australia once you have gained the relevant work experience. The subclass 485 visa is only applicable to international students who have studied in Australia for at least two years, and want to live or work in Australia. These two categories of workstream come under Temporary Graduate Visa, namely Post-Study and Graduate.
Cost : AUD1,650 or more
Requirements:
- The applicant needs to have completed a course with a minimum duration of two years in Australia and has lived in Australia for a minimum of 16 months to complete their study.
- You must be below the age of 50 years during the time of your application.
- You must have relevant skills and qualifications.
- You must meet the health requirements prescribed by the immigration department.
- For applicants from the UK, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, or Ireland, it is enough to have a valid passport, whereas citizens from the other countries must prove their English language proficiency additionally.
For more details, please visit the following link
Conclusion:
This article gives you comprehensive details about various types of visas to acquire Permanent Residency in Australia. We have given you the cost, academic requirements and other criteria you need to fulfill to be deemed eligible. However, we suggest that you read the latest updated instructions and rules for all the visas on the immigration and homeaffairs website of the Australian government.
