The study-to-PR pathway in Australia, step by step

Plenty of people come to Australia to study and end up staying. There is no single "study to PR" visa, but there is a well-worn sequence. Here is what it looks like.

1. Study on a subclass 500

You need at least two academic years of study in Australia (the Australian study requirement) for the later steps to work. A single one-year masters usually is not enough on its own. Two years of study also has to be in a course that leads to an occupation you can get assessed.

2. Move to a subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa

The 485 gives you two to three years of open work rights depending on your qualification. This is the window where you build skilled experience and sit a higher English test if you need the points.

3. Get a skills assessment

Every skilled visa needs a positive skills assessment from the authority that covers your occupation. Some assessments also require a year of post-qualification work, which is another reason the 485 matters.

4. Lodge an Expression of Interest

Through SkillSelect you claim points for age, English, qualifications, experience, Australian study, regional study, a Professional Year, and more. You need 65 to submit, but competitive scores are higher for most occupations.

5. Get invited and apply

For the 189 you wait for a federal invitation round. For the 190 or 491 a state nominates you first, which adds 5 or 15 points. The 491 is provisional and converts to permanent residence through the 191 after three years in a regional area.

Where people get stuck

The common failure points are choosing a course that does not map to an assessable occupation, running out of time on the 485 before hitting a competitive score, and underestimating how much regional study and work can lift a borderline profile.