How to stay working after graduating from university in Australia

Australia is consistently ranked among the most attractive countries for graduates who want to make an international career. The combination of a high standard of living, a stable economy, the demand for qualified specialists and a loyal migration policy makes it a promising platform for professional implementation.

After completing their studies, many international students think about how to stay in the state and turn their temporary student status into a long-term opportunity to work and live in Australia. This is quite realistic: local legislation provides several legal mechanisms for the transition from a student visa to work status. However, this process requires a clear understanding of the rules, deadlines and requirements: from choosing the right visa to finding an employer and confirming qualifications.

In this article, we will analyze:

• Residence permits that are available to graduates,
• Features of obtaining permanent residency,
• Typical mistakes when applying for the status.

From our guide, you will learn what steps to take while studying to maximize your chances of employment, and how to build a strategy from a student visa to Australian permanent residence.

Residence permits that are available to international graduates in Australia

After graduating from an educational center in Australia, foreign students can apply for several types of visas that will allow them to stay in the country for further work, accumulation of professional experience and subsequent obtaining a permanent residence permit. The most popular options are a temporary graduate visa, regional and professional visas.

A temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) is the most common option: it gives the right to live and work in Australia for a set period. This visa is divided into 2 main streams:

• Post-Vocational Education Work stream is designed for graduates of professional programs at least the Diploma level in accredited educational institutions. Qualifications must meet the MLTSSL list. The visa is valid for up to 18 months. In addition, an assessment of the foreigner's skills through an authorized body is required.
• Post-Higher Education Work stream — it is aimed at holders of bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees. The period depends on the level of education: 
  • Bachelor – 2 years, 
  • Master of Coursework – 2,
  • Master of Research – 3,
  • Doctor – 4.

Regardless of the visa type, the foreign applicant must be under 50 years old (for certain categories – under 35), have an overall English score greater than or equal to 6.0 (minimum 5.5 for each module), have no criminal record, meet medical requirements and have valid health insurance. From 2021, guests from abroad in Australia can have a one-time visa extension for 1-2 years, provided that they study and live in the regional part of the state.

Regional permits open up opportunities for work in regions where a particular profession is in demand:

• Subclass 487 (Regional Sponsorship) visa – requires sponsorship from a regional employer or organization and often serves as an intermediate stage for obtaining permanent residence,
• 491 is designed for qualified specialists with professions from the list of in-demand professions, is valid for 5 years and can also become the basis for permanent residence.

Professional visas are available to graduates who have already accumulated work experience in Australia during their studies:

• Subclass 189 (independent professional visa) – does not require sponsorship, but involves a high score in the immigration system (Points Test), which takes into account age, level of English, qualifications and work experience,
• 190 (sponsored professional) – requires sponsorship from an Australian state or territory, conditions vary by region,
• 887 (Experienced Worker Visa) – involves 2 years of residence in Australia and a year of work in the profession, opens the way to permanent residence.

Other options for obtaining a residence permit in Australia:

• Internship and Research Visa (subclass 442) – allows you to improve your skills for two years, you need to be sponsored by an employer or research organization,
• 885 and 886 are associated with the availability of sponsorship or job offers, are not tied to specific regions.

From 2024, changes have been made to Australia's migration policy: the age limit for some categories of visas has been lowered, and the requirements for English language proficiency and financial capabilities have been tightened.

Features of obtaining permanent residence in Australia

The path to permanent residency in Australia is a multi-stage process. It can be simplified by the foreigner's previous experience of studying and working in the state. If a foreigner immediately plans for the future and wants not only to obtain an education in Australia, but also to stay there for many years as a legal resident, it is important to take into account several factors at the initial stages:

1. Choose an educational center that is registered with CRICOS.
2. Find a specialty that is in demand in the Australian labor market. The country has compiled lists of Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 professions: if you choose a specialty from any of them upon admission, it will increase the chances of obtaining permanent residence in the future.
3. After entering a university and moving, a foreigner must actively prove himself in the social and professional spheres, make useful contacts and immediately start looking for a job.
4. Get a graduate visa immediately at the end of your studies so that you can continue working and accumulate more experience.

After gaining experience and meeting all the requirements, you can apply for immigrant visas, such as:

• Subclass 189 - it allows you to live and work permanently throughout Australia.
• 190 or 489 – these permits are easier to obtain for those who do not have sufficient language or professional abilities, who initially chose regional programs.

However, do not think that studying and living in the regions of Australia is not prestigious! In recent years, the country's government has been actively developing and encouraging migration to sparsely populated areas, so often those who decide to move to these locations are provided with more lucrative bonuses and privileges. For example, regional universities have closer interaction with the local population and business, creating opportunities for specialized internships during their studies and prompt employment after graduation.

Additional nuances for obtaining permanent residence in Australia:

• It is required to successfully pass exams that will confirm a sufficient level of English proficiency,
• It is necessary to prove with documents that the applicant has money to live in Australia.

Typical mistakes when applying for residency status

Choosing the wrong visa subclass is a common reason for refusals. For example, if a candidate applies for a 189 (independent) visa but does not consider the points or age requirements, their application may be denied. It is important to carefully study the criteria for each type of visa and choose the one that suits the foreigner's capabilities and plans.

Most professional visas require a skills assessment. At this stage, several problems often arise:

• Choosing the wrong organization to evaluate: For example, engineers should contact Engineers Australia and IT should contact ACS.
• Insufficient substantiation of experience. Summary statements from employers that do not disclose job responsibilities in accordance with the Australian Standards (ANZSCO) are often the reason for rejection.
• Incorrectly executed diplomas, resumes or other papers can slow down the process. All translations must be notarized.

Low results in PTE or other English exams reduce the chances of visa approval. For example, some categories require a minimum of 6 points in each module, while Points Test requires 8.

Australia is strict about the health and criminal past of applicants: to keep silent about medical and legislative problems in the past means to deprive yourself of the chance to obtain the status of a permanent resident of the country.

The situation is similar with the validity of documents. Not all papers that are included in the list of required documents for applying for a visa are indefinite: some certificates, such as skills assessment, are limited in validity. Submission of overdue documents automatically makes the foreigner's application invalid.

If the foreigner's previous application was rejected, it is important to analyze the reasons and correct the shortcomings before sending the documents again. Otherwise, there is a high risk of repeated refusal.

Applying for Australian residency is a complex and multi-step process that requires attention to detail. To avoid these mistakes and many others, it is better to contact professional consultants in advance: they will help you choose the right type of visa, an educational program that meets all the criteria, and fill out all the documents on time. In addition, some rules change quite often, so that ordinary people do not have time to follow them! Experienced specialists are always up to date with the latest updates, which will also be a great advantage for an international student when planning a move to Australia.