Many international students migrate to Australia every year to take advantage of the excellent work environment and picturesque locations. A visa is required to pursue further studies and obtain permanent residency. International students enjoy their time in Australia so much that they apply for permanent residence! Doing so allows them to continue living and working in Australia, an increasingly popular destination for international students. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection offers a Skill Select migration program that allows you to express your interest in applying for permanent residence. Several skills-based migration programs are available to you based on your qualifications and skills, such as the Skilled Independent Visa, the Employer Nomination Program, and the Regional Sponsored Migration Program.
How can you apply for permanent residency in Australia?
After graduation, many international students choose to apply for permanent residency. To apply for permanent residence, you must first express interest in the SkillSelect migration programme run by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. SkillSelect is an online service that allows applicants to submit an Expression of Interest to be considered for a skilled visa (EOI). Submitting an EOI through SkillSelect is the first step in applying for a skilled visa.
Applicants must provide the following:
- Personal information.
- A preferred profession.
- Work experience and education information.
- Information on their level of English proficiency.
- Details on a skills assessment for the nominated occupations.
- Business and investment experience information.
The most common applications are the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) for graduates. A Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is for skilled workers who are not sponsored by their employers or families nor nominated by their state or territory governments. This allows the holder to live and work as a permanent resident in Australia. In addition to submitting an EOI, applicants must undergo a skills assessment to demonstrate that their skills are appropriate for the nominated occupation.
Migrating to Australia through the SkillSelect migration program
After completing their studies, many international students apply for permanent residency in Australia. The SkillSelect migration program is one way these students can migrate to Australia.
So, let’s understand the SkillSelect migration program and how it can help you become a permanent resident in Australia.
What is SkillSelect?
SkillSelect is an online government system that allows prospective migrants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). An expression of interest does not guarantee a visa application. Nonetheless, it increases your chances of being invited to submit a visa application by the Australian government or nominated for a skilled visa by various Australian employers or state governments. SkillSelect makes it easier for employers and state governments to find skilled migrants and improves the employment prospects of skilled migrants.
What are the most popular PR visa options in Australia for international students?
The most popular options for international students are work-stream permanent residence visas. This visa category is for people who have the skills required by Australia or are sponsored by an Australian employer to work in Australia.
Under this work-stream, international students can apply for any of the following permanent visa options:
The Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)
A permanent resident visa, known as the Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189, enables New Zealand nationals and invited workers to live and work in Australia. Before submitting the EOI via the Skill Select portal, applicants for Australia’s 189 visas must receive a favourable skills evaluation.
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
- Be younger than 45 years
- Identify an occupation that suits your skills and qualifications
- Score a minimum of 65 on the conducted points test
- Receive an invitation to apply via the skill portal
- Meet requirements for English language proficiency
- Evaluation of skills by authorities in charge
The Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190)
The subclass 190 visa is a points-based visa that allows skilled workers nominated by an Australian territory or state to live and work in Australia. Points are awarded based on age, English proficiency, and work experience. Subclass 190 visas are for skilled tradespeople and experts in high-demand occupations.
You must meet the following requirements to apply:
- You must be between the ages of 18 and 45.
- You must be nominated or sponsored by a territory or state in Australia.
- You must have previous experience in one of the occupations listed on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List.
- The points test requires a minimum of 65 points.
- You must meet the basic requirements for Skilled Migration, which include physical and mental health, English language proficiency, and background checks.
The Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 491)
The subclass 491 skilled regional visa allows you to live and work in specified regional areas of Australia for up to five years. You may be eligible for this visa if you receive a sponsorship from an eligible relative or your employer, meet the skilled work requirements, or receive a nomination from an Australian state or territory government.
The Employer-Sponsored Visa (subclass 186)
The Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 visa lets Australian employers sponsor international workers for job opportunities and a chance to live and work permanently in Australia as permanent residents. This visa allows the holder to work and stay in Australia.
There are more than two streams to filter the interested applicants. The most relevant stream for students is the direct entry stream. This stream is made for international students who do not meet the requirements of the temporary transition stream.
To be eligible for the direct entry stream, applicants must:
- Legally and actively operate in Australia
- Meet the relevant requirements for employee training
- Not possess any adverse information about themselves or people associated with them
- Be in a genuine and valid position of employment
- Have a minimum of 3 years of work experience
- Hold a successful skill assessment for the relevant working field
- Meet the character and health requirements
- Show good English-speaking skills
The applicant for the visa must:
- Be under 50 years of age
- Have a minimum of 3 years of professional work experience
- Adhere to the relevant health and character requirements
- Demonstrate good proficiency in the English language
Applying for permanent residency can be confusing and difficult to navigate. An experienced and reputable educational consultant in Perth can provide accurate information and the best path to permanent residence. At Indeedvisa, we will help you from the initial assessment of your case based on immigration requirements to settling into your new home. We will be with you every step of the way to help you achieve your dream of living in Perth- why not call us today?