About this visa
This visa allows overseas students who have completed their course studies in Australia and holders of certain temporary visas to apply for permanent residency.
This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market.
You must be sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or obtain nomination from a participating State or Territory government agency.
Who is this visa for?
This visa is for you if you are in Australia and you are one of the following:
- an overseas student or former overseas student
- a holder of a Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 485) or Skilled – Recognised Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 476)
- a holder of a Trade Skills Training visa (subclass 471).
You must:
- be under 45 years of age
- have good English language skills
- have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and your nominated occupation is classified as either:
- a 60 point occupation
or - a 50 point occupation
- a 60 point occupation
The SOL is a list of skilled occupations that are in need in Australia. Each occupation listed on the SOL is allocated a points value for use in the visa assessment process.
See: Form 1121i Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL) (129KB PDF file)
This visa also requires that either:
- You, your spouse or your interdependent partner have an eligible relative living in Australia who is willing and able to sponsor you
or - You have a nomination from a participating State or Territory government agency.
Note: All State and Territory governments in Australia are participating in this visa scheme.
How much does this visa cost?
You must pay the relevant visa application charge when you lodge your visa application.
See: Professionals and other Skilled Migrants
What does this visa let me do?
This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.
Australian permanent residents can:
- live and work in Australia on a permanent basis
- study in Australia at school or university
- receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
- be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
- sponsor people for permanent residence.