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

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

• 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 

• 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) 

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.

Related Articles: A complete guide to skilled migration in Australia, Calculating your PR points 

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.

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.

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.

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