Many international students come to study in Australia not only because of the country’s excellent educational system but also because of the opportunity to stay back in the country after their studies.

Australia is one of the countries that allow students to remain in the country after their studies.

Some of the students who have stayed back go on to become permanent residents.

If this is your target, you want to not only complete your studies in Australia but also become a permanent resident.

Read also: How to find part-time jobs in Australia for international students

We will explore your chances in this guide – how easy or hard it is to get PR in Australia after your studies.

The idea of gaining a Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia after completing your studies is undoubtedly appealing.

And this has been many students’ targets over the years.

Can a student visa lead to permanent residency?

Yes, a student visa can potentially lead to permanent residency in Australia through pathways like the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189).

If you have requirements like relevant qualifications, work experience, and English language proficiency, you have a good chance of getting permanent residency in the country after completing your studies.

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Is it easy to get PR in Australia after study?

It is not, you can get a Permanent Residency in Australia after studying, but it’s not necessarily easy. The process can be lengthy and will take you months if not years to achieve.

PR after your studies is a long shot and it takes time to come by.

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It depends on your certificate, English proficiency, work experience, skills assessment, and points scored on the skilled migration point test.

While Australia has many pathways to permanent residency, the process is competitive, and time-consuming, and do not forget that it changes all the time.

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It isn’t easy to get PR after your studies in Australia however, it is possible.

Permanent residency for international students after graduating in Australia

There are several pathways for anyone who wants to get a Permanent Residency in Australia after graduating, you have options like skilled migration, family sponsorship, and business and investment visas.

However, for international students, the most common route to PR is through the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, which is suitable for Skilled Independent visa holders (subclass 189) and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).

The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is designed to allow international students who have completed at least two years of study in Australia to remain in the country temporarily.

While on a temporary stay in the country, you can gain work experience and with time, transition to a permanent stay.

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There are two streams under this visa:

• Graduate work stream: This stream is for graduates who have specific skills and qualifications that are relevant and are in demand in Australia’s labour market. With this, you can stay for up to 18 months after which you can apply for another visa option.
• Post-study work stream: This stream is for graduates with a postgraduate degree from an Australian institution. It is open to graduates from any field of study. How long you stay with this program depends on the qualifications you have: two years for bachelor’s degree holders and up to four years for doctoral degree holders.

The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is a pathway to permanent residency in Australia that is open to skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state, or a family member.

It is one of Australia’s standout pathways because it is points-based and allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanently.

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To be eligible for this visa, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the SkillSelect system and then receive an invitation to apply.

Your chances of getting an invitation to apply for PR depend on your score from determining factors like your age, English proficiency, qualifications, and work experience.

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How can an international student become a permanent resident in Australia?

Once you complete your studies in Australia, you can become a permanent resident by staying back in the country to work, after a while, you will meet the residency requirements to apply for permanent residency.

In addition, after your studies, you can also explore other suitable PR pathways like the family sponsorship option if you have a family history in Australia.

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Factors that will affect your eligibility for a PR in Australia after your studies

Several factors will influence your eligibility for Permanent Residency in Australia after study:

• Your skills and qualifications: If you have special skills and qualifications that are in high demand in any field in Australia, it will make it easier for you to get Permanent residence after your studies.
• Your English language proficiency level: In most visa categories, your English language proficiency level will be a big decider. You need to have a good command of the English language.
• Family ties: If you have ties with Australia such as having a family in the country, it will make it easier for you to get Permanent residency in the country.
• Your points test score: If you are applying through visas like the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), you must score a minimum number of points on the skilled migration points test.

Challenges you may face in getting permanent residency in Australia after study

There is no doubt, that there are various pathways for anyone who wants to get permanent residency in Australia, however, it is not easy to get PR in the country.

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You will face the following challenges:

• The job market is competitive: You need a job to stay back in Australia after your studies and getting a job in your field of study can be competitive, especially in some industries and regions.
• The immigration policies change over time: Australian immigration policies are subject to change and every change impacts your chances of getting PR after your studies. The changes tighten every pathway and make it harder to achieve.
• The cost: processing PR in Australia requires money, there are application fees, skills assessment fees, English language tests, and other expenses to cover.

In addition to the above, getting PR takes time, it doesn’t happen overnight unless in rare situations.

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If you are currently studying in Australia and wish to stay back in the country after your studies, you have to get prepared, it is not easy to get PR in Australia but it is very possible.

Many students have achieved PR in the country after their studies and you can be eligible through one of the pathways.