A Comprehensive Guide to Post-Study Work and Permanent Residency for International Students in Australia

There are two major types of Post-Study Work (PSW) visas for students who want to prolong their stay in Australia and desire to work in an occupation of their choice.

Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa (Subclass 476)

This visa is for students who have attained a degree in Engineering from any specified institution in Australia. This visa will grant you to live, work, and study in Australia for up to 18 months. To apply for this visa, you must fulfil the following requirements:

• a degree in Engineering from an institution registered through CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) in the last 2 years
• must be under 31 years of age
• must not be a previous holder of 476 visas or 485 visa
• must meet the health and character requirements
• Must have the required score in English proficiency exams or a passport holder from the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, and the US.

This visa processing may take up to 8 months to 18 months. The fee starts from AUD 405.

Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

This visa can be further divided into two categories:

A. Graduate Work Stream- This visa allows international students to live, study, and work in Australia temporarily for 18 months. Recent graduates with specific skills and qualifications can apply for this visa. To be eligible for this visa, you must fulfil the following requirements:

must be the holder of a suitable student visa in the last 6 months must be qualified for a relevant occupation in the skilled occupation list of the Australian government be under 50 years of age appeared for a skills assessment in your nominated occupation on the professional occupation list meet adequate health requirements for all applicants while applying proof of an AFP (Australian Police Check) while applying evidence of the required level of English with the application

The visa processing may take 9 months to 13 months, and the fee starts from AUD 1,680. With this visa, you can also bring your immediate family members with you.

B. Post-Graduate Work Stream- This visa allows international students who have recently graduated from an Australian institution to live, work and study in Australia temporarily. You can stay in Australia for 2 to 4 years, depending on your qualifications.

To be eligible for this visa, you must fulfil the following requirements:

1. must be under 50 years of age
2. must be the holder of a suitable student visa in the last 6 months
3. must be qualified for a relevant occupation in the skilled occupation list of the Australian government
4. must be a recent degree holder in a CRICOS-registered course
5. appeared for a skills assessment in your nominated occupation on the professional occupation list
6. meet adequate health and character requirements for all applicants while applying
7. proof of an AFP (Australian Police Check) while applying
8. evidence of the required level of English with the application

The visa processing may take 8 months to 10 months, and the fee starts from AUD 1,680. With this visa, you can also bring your immediate family members with you.

Permanent Residency should not be confused with Australian citizenship. To hold a PR in Australia essentially means that you can live and work there and be granted most rights and entitlements. You can bring your family members here. You can also choose to apply for PR for your relatives. Your family can also be entitled to work and health benefits. Furthermore, you can also apply for citizenship after a few years of PR status.

The initial step is to apply for 'express interest' through the Department of Immigration and Border Protection's SkillSelect migration program. This online service allows potential applicants to be considered for a skilled visa by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI). You must fill out the relevant personal and professional details, health, work, character requirements, and a proficiency in the English language.

The Work-stream Permanent Residence Visas are the most popular option for international students who wish to stay and work in Australia with minimum difficulties.

Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa (Subclass 476)

This visa is for students who have attained a degree in Engineering from any specified institution in Australia. This visa will grant you to live, work, and study in Australia for up to 18 months. To apply for this visa, you must fulfil the following requirements:

• a degree in Engineering from an institution registered through CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) in the last 2 years
• must be under 31 years of age
• must not be a previous holder of 476 visas or 485 visa
• must meet the health and character requirements
• Must have the required score in English proficiency exams or a passport holder from the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, and the US.

This visa processing may take up to 8 months to 18 months. The fee starts from AUD 405.

Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

To apply for this visa, you must have prior experience in the nominated occupation on Australia's Skilled Occupations List. Other eligibility criteria remain the same as the Subclass 189 visa requirements. The processing time is between 5 to 20 months, and the fee starts from AUD 4,115.

To get a PR in Australia might be a long-term process filled with anxiety, but once successful, this will reap you a lifetime of benefits. As you fall in love with the country, you can also start your own family there. Additionally, as you work and grow there, you may also be eligible for Australian citizenship sooner than you think. Do not let go of this extraordinary opportunity.

1.) Can I get permanent residency in Australia after study?

Definitely. Many international students choose to stay back in Australia after their degree is complete. There are stay back options after bachelor’s in Australia such as the Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa, which lets you stay for a period of 18 months to live and work there, considering you have a degree in the stream of Engineering. You also have stay back options after master’s in Australia by holding a Temporary Graduate Visa in the Post-Graduate Work Stream. Or you can also apply for a PR in Australia through their SkillSelect program online.

2.) What is the age limit for permanent residency in Australia?

The average age limit for PR in Australia is between 18-50 years, depending on the type of Australian PR eligibility criteria set for post-study work and work-stream PR visas. Most of the visa processing time is between 7-20 months. Be sure to apply for it within 6 months of the completion of your course or degree in Australia.

3.) How can I stay in Australia after getting a student visa?

There are two stay back options in Australia after getting a student visa. Either you can apply for temporary Post-Study Work (PSW) visas or for Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia. PSW visas will grant you temporary living in Australia for a period of 18 months to 2-or-4 years. You can also choose to extend it accordingly. Whereas, a PR in Australia will permit you to live there permanently while giving you most of the Australian rights and entitlements, but not full, as is done in citizenship. However, depending on your growth and stay in Australia, you can also choose to apply for Australian citizenship as well.

4.) What are the best stay back options for Indian students in Australia?

You can either get a PSW visa or a Work-stream visa to stay back as an Indian student in Australia. Additionally, since November 2019, the Australian government has declared up to 4 years of PSW rights to international students, especially Indian students, post completion of their bachelor’s or master’s degree in regional areas. You have an added benefit of ‘added’ everything: time, opportunities, fun, and a lot more!

5.) How long can I stay back in Australia post study?

It depends on how long you decide to stay. If you apply for a PSW visa, you can stay for a period of 1-4 years. If you decide to prolong your stay, you can extend your visa duration. Another way would be to get a PR in Australia if you feel like staying there for much longer. Courses like Engineering, Social Work, Information Technology, etc. usually come with a lot of benefits if you choose for a PR pathway. You can be invited for a PR visa, depending on your relevant experience and qualifications.