Student to permanent residence pathways
you came to study, you want to stay
There's no single button marked permanent residence, but there is a well-worn road: graduate work, a skills assessment, points, and sometimes a sponsor or state nomination. We map yours from exactly where you stand today.
Start from your step, not the brochure.
The right next move depends on where you are. Find yourself below and we'll show you what comes next.
The choices you make now shape the points you can claim later.
Your course, your provider and where you study all affect what you can claim at the points test down the track. This is the time to plan ahead, not after you graduate.
Plan ahead → Just graduatedThe Graduate 485 buys you years of work rights to build experience and points.
The 485 is the bridge. It gives you full work rights while you build the experience and meet the skills assessment requirements that a skilled visa needs.
About the 485 → On a 485 nowThis is the window that counts. Let's see how your points stack and which skilled visa is in reach.
Skills assessed, experience building, English score locked in. If your points are strong enough, a skilled visa may be closer than you think.
See skilled visas → Skills assessed, ready to goAssessment done and points in range? You may be closer to a skilled visa than you think.
WA state nomination can add 5 points and give you a genuine pathway to the 190 or 491 - and Perth grads often have the profile that WA is looking for.
WA nomination →How study turns into permanent residence.
Study the right course
An eligible qualification, ideally in an occupation with a future on the skilled lists. The course and the institution both matter, and some combinations of the two count for extra points. About the student visa 500.
Move onto a 485
The Temporary Graduate visa gives you the work rights to gain experience and meet the skilled requirements PR asks for. Perth graduates often get an extra advantage here - the city counts as regional for points purposes. About the 485.
Get assessed and score points
A skills assessment for your occupation, English at the level your visa needs, and the points that your target visa requires. We run the numbers with you so you know exactly where you stand. Use our points calculator.
Apply for PR
A skilled visa on points, a state nomination, or an employer sponsor - whichever suits you most. Sometimes it's a combination. We'll help you choose the right target and build toward it. See skilled visa options.
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa has its own government application charge, and that charge is changing. From 1 March 2026 the base charge for the main applicant sits at around AUD 5,750, with dependants adding more. We treat that as a guide, not a quote - it can move, and your situation is confirmed in writing before you lodge. More on the 485 for Perth grads.
Points, nomination or sponsorship - compared.
Once your skills are assessed, permanent residence usually arrives through one of three doors. Most graduates qualify for more than one. Here is how they line up so you can see which suits your profile.
| Pathway | What it asks of you | Suits you if |
|---|---|---|
| Points only Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa |
No sponsor and no state nomination. Your points alone carry the application, so the bar is highest here. | Your occupation is on the right list and your points already sit comfortably above the competitive range. |
| State nomination Subclass 190 / Subclass 491 visa |
A state or territory backs you. The 190 adds 5 points; the 491 is regional and adds 15 points, with Perth currently counting as regional. | Your points are close but not over the line, and your occupation matches what WA is nominating for. |
| Employer sponsorship Skilled employer-sponsored routes |
An eligible employer offers and nominates you. Points matter less; the job and the employer's standing carry more weight. | You have a real job offer, or your occupation is hard to fill, and the points doors feel out of reach. |
The 190 (+5) and 491 (+15) point figures are state nomination settings and apply to WA. Occupation lists and nomination criteria are set by government and change, so we confirm your eligibility before you commit to a door. Compare every skilled visa pathway.
Student to PR questions answered.
Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)
Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.
Not sure where yours leads?
Tell us where you are and we'll map the honest path to permanent residence from that exact point.