From Temporary Graduate to Permanent Resident (SC 485 Visa to PR)

What we cover

We will look at:

What is the SC 485 Temporary Graduate Visa
Permanent visas in Australia
Pathways from Temporary Residence (TR) to Permanent Residency (PR)
Employer Sponsored Pathways
Skilled Migration
Planning ahead

Key Takeaways

Applying for a Temporary Graduate Visa after your student visa will give you time to find work and gain experience in your nominated occupation
After your TR visa, you can proceed to PR through skilled migration
You should always ensure that the courses you study will lead you to an occupation which is eligible for PR
Getting an employer sponsorship after your TR visa will lead you to permanent residency

What is SC 485 Temporary Graduate Visa?

A Temporary Graduate visa is granted after you have completed your studies in Australia.
It is a temporary visa with full work rights which allows you to live and work in Australia during the vias grant period.
A SC 485 is ideal for you to work and get experience in an occupation relevant to your education.
The grant period depends on the qualifications you have completed and its duration. Read more about the Temporary Graduate Visa for Australian Graduates (SC 485)

PR

Permanent Residency (PR) visas in Australia

You can obtain permanent residency in Australia if you apply for and are granted a permanent visa within the Australian migration program.

Australia has many permanent visas under skilled migration, employer sponsored migration, business migration and family-based migration pathways. After your SC 485 visa, you can seek to progress in one of these pathways, depending on your circumstances.

A permanent visa lets you live and work in Australia indefinitely, while opening up opportunities for Australian citizenship.

If Australian PR is on your mind, you should make sure that every step you take in your immigration journey leads you closer to it.

Pathways to PR from TR (485 to PR)

Applying for your Temporary Graduate Visa, after your studies is always essential because most students will not be eligible to apply for permanent residency right after completing their studies.

Getting your TR gives you time to seek an occupation related to your qualifications, gain some experience and meet residency requirements that would be useful for you in your PR journey.

Deciding your pathway after your Temporary Graduate Visa will be the most crucial decision you make in your migration pathway.

The most commonly used PR pathways after your TR includes:

Employer sponsored pathway: where an Australian employer sponsors you for a position in their organization.
Skilled migration pathway: where you migrate to Australia based on your skills relevant to an occupation on an Australian skilled occupation list.
Partner visa pathway: where your partner who is an Australian resident or citizen sponsors you.

Employer sponsored pathways

There are several Employer Sponsored Visas that you can apply for after your 485 visa which allows you to progress to permanent residency.

SC 482

Skills in Demand Visa (SC 482)

This visa is granted for employees who have at least 2 years of experience and relevant qualifications in a specific occupation. If you have the relevant years of work experience after your SC 485 visa, you can directly apply for this visa.

This is a temporary visa which leads to PR.

SC 186

Employer Nominated Scheme Visa (SC 186)

This visa is for employees who have 3 years of post qualification work experience. Provided you have the relevant years of work experience after your SC 485, you can apply for this visa upon being nominated by an employer.

This is a permanent visa which grants you PR in Australia.

SC 494

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (SC 494)

This is an employer sponsored visa where a regional employer nominates you for a position in their organization. You need to have at least 3 years of work experience to apply for this visa.

This is a temporary visa which allows you to apply for PR through the SC 186 visa after 3 years.

SC 407

Training Visa (SC 407)

This is a temporary visa which allows you to take part in training activities in an Australian workplace, to gather the skills and experience required to perform a particular occupation in Australia.

When applying for this visa, you need to show that you will be trained by an expert.

Skilled Migration Visas

After your SC 485 visa, if you have obtained a positive skill assessment to prove that your skills and experience are line with Australian qualifications, you can seek to apply for skilled migration.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (SC 491)

This is temporary skilled visa which grants you a stay period of 5 years. You must meet the Department requirements and the specific requirements set by the different states. You can apply for this visa if you still don’t meet the requirements for the skilled permanent visa, and then proceed to PR.

Skilled Nominated Visa
(SC 190)

This is a permanent skilled visa which grants you PR in Australia. You should be skilled in an occupation and be able to meet the requirements set by the state you want to apply to. These requirements often include residency and work experience requirements.

Skilled Independent Visa
(SC 189)

The Skilled Independent visa grants you permanent residency upon being invited by the Australian federal government. You should meet the minimum points, skills and language requirements in order to be eligible. If you are granted this visa, you become a permanent resident in Australia.

Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (SC 191)

This visa is a newly introduced permanent visa for applicants who have lived and worked in regional Australia for a minimum of 3 years. It is essential that you have held a SC 491 or SC 494 visa before applying for this visa.

Partner visa pathway

Apart from pathways led by the your qualifications and work experience the partner visa pathway is also an option to continue your stay in Australia. If your spouse or partner is an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident, then you can apply for a partner visa.

Partner visa (Onshore)

This is a partner visa that can be applied to when the partner of the Australian resident or citizen is in Australia.

Partner visa (Offshore)

This is a partner visa that can be applied to when the partner of the Australian resident or citizen is outside of Australia.

Planning ahead

It is always important that you consider your journey from your TR, and that you are on the correct pathway to PR. The following tips can assist you in deciding the best options for you:

Always follow courses relevant to an occupation that leads to PR
It is advisable that the occupation is always on the Medium or Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
Discuss with your employer how a sponsorship would work before completing work experience
Getting on a training visa is a good option to gather experience required for 482 visa
If you have 3 years post qualification experience, you can directly apply for the 186 visa