Student to Australian permanent residency pathways: 485 to skilled migration, mapped.

The standard student-to-PR pathway in Australia has four steps: complete an Australian qualification (minimum 2 academic years for most pathways), apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) to gain work experience and prepare for skilled migration, meet the points test threshold or secure employer sponsorship, and lodge a skilled migration visa application (subclass 189, 190, 491) or an employer-sponsored visa (subclass 482 transitioning to ENS 186). Each step depends on having your occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list at that time.

The subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa is the bridge between study and skilled migration. It gives you 2-4 years (depending on your qualification level and passport) to work in Australia, gain skilled experience, complete a skills assessment, and improve your points score. During the 485 period, you should: complete a skills assessment with the relevant assessing authority for your occupation, achieve competent or proficient English (higher than the 485 minimum), gain skilled employment experience that counts toward points, and research state nomination opportunities (for 190/491) if your occupation is on the state's list.

The skilled migration pathways form a hierarchy. The subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) is the most flexible — no employer or state ties — but requires the highest points score. The subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) adds 5 points and has lower invitation thresholds but requires you to live and work in the nominating state. The subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) has the lowest invitation thresholds but requires 3 years in a regional area before you can transition to permanent residence. The new Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) replaces the TSS and offers a direct employer sponsorship route if you find an approved sponsor.

Current subclass 500 student visa holders who are planning their post-study work and PR strategy. Prospective students who are deciding which course to study based on PR outcomes and want to understand which occupations and pathways are realistic. Temporary Graduate 485 visa holders who are in the work-rights period and need to plan their next steps toward PR.

This is a map and orientation page — it covers the structure of the pathways and how they connect. For the detailed 485 eligibility and documents, use the 485 checklist. For English language thresholds for each pathway, read the English requirements guide.

The documents you need depend on the specific pathway, but common requirements across skilled migration visas include: skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation, English language test results at the level required for your pathway (competent, proficient, or superior), evidence of skilled employment (employment references, payslips, tax returns), educational qualification certificates and academic transcripts (Australian and any overseas), and a valid passport.

For state-nominated pathways (190, 491), also prepare: evidence of your connection to the state (study, work, or family ties), state nomination application documents (varies by state — check the state's migration website), and a commitment to live and work in the nominating state. For the Skills in Demand 482 and the employer-sponsored pathway (186), prepare: employer sponsorship documents, a Labour Market Testing report (if required), and a skills assessment for the nominated occupation.

If you are seeking points for a partner, prepare: your partner's skills assessment and English test results (for extra points), evidence of your de facto or married relationship (shared finances, joint tenancy, correspondence), and your partner's passport and birth certificate.

Each visa subclass has its own deadlines and processing times. The subclass 485 must be applied for within 6 months of completing your Australian qualification (or within 12 months for some post-COVID concessions — check current rules). Invitation rounds for the subclass 189 and 190 are held periodically — you need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and wait for an invitation. The points score at which you receive an invitation changes based on the occupation and round.

The main risk is relying on the skilled occupation list staying stable. Occupation lists are reviewed and updated by Home Affairs periodically. An occupation that is on the list today may be removed or capped when you are ready to apply. Mitigate this risk by monitoring the occupation lists regularly, choosing occupations that have been consistently in demand, and having a backup pathway if your primary occupation is removed.

A second risk is the age points cliff. Points for age decline significantly after 33 (from 30 points at age 25-32 to 25 points at age 33-39, and 15 points at age 40-44). If you are over 45, you cannot apply for most skilled migration visas at all. Plan your study-to-PR timeline with your age in mind — if you are an older student, consider faster pathways like employer sponsorship or regional migration.

Sophie, a 28-year-old student from Malaysia, completed a 2-year Master of Professional Accounting in Australia. She applied for the Temporary Graduate 485 visa and began working as an accountant. During the 485 period, she completed her skills assessment with CPA Australia, achieved IELTS 7.5 (proficient English — 10 points), accumulated 2 years of skilled work experience, and researched state nomination options.

Sophie's points calculation was: age 28 (30 points), IELTS 7.5 (10 points), Master's degree (15 points), Australian study requirement (5 points), 2 years skilled employment (5 points) = 65 points. This met the pass mark but was below the typical 189 invitation threshold for accountants (often 85+ points). Sophie applied for state nomination through Victoria (subclass 190), which added 5 points (now 70 points) and was invited to apply for the 190 visa. Two years later, she was granted permanent residence.

For the detailed Temporary Graduate 485 document checklist, use the 485 checklist. For English language score thresholds for each PR pathway subclass, read the English requirements guide.

A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority is a prerequisite for most skilled migration visas. Each occupation has a designated assessing body: Engineers Australia for engineering occupations, the Australian Computer Society (ACS) for IT roles, CPA Australia/CAANZ for accounting, TRA for trades, and VETASSESS for many professional occupations. The assessment evaluates your qualifications and work experience against Australian standards for the nominated occupation.

Your Australian qualification may satisfy part of the assessment, but you still need to apply to the assessing body with certified documents. Assessment processing times vary from 2 to 16 weeks. Start this process early — during your 485 period — as you cannot lodge a skilled migration EOI without a positive assessment.

Each Australian state and territory publishes its own occupation list and nomination criteria. State nomination for the 190 visa adds 5 points and for the 491 visa adds 15 points. States prioritise occupations in demand in their local labour market. For example, Western Australia and South Australia actively nominate health and education professionals, while New South Wales and Victoria prioritise IT and engineering. Research the state nomination pages for your occupation before choosing which state to target.

Some states require evidence of a genuine commitment to live and work in the state, such as a job offer, rental agreement, or family connection. Others accept a declaration of intent. Check whether your state of choice requires a binding commitment (for the 190 visa) or a regional commitment (for the 491 visa) before you apply.

The Skills in Demand (SID) visa subclass 482 replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa in December 2024. It allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers for up to 4 years. To qualify, you need a valid skills assessment, at least 2 years of skilled work experience in the nominated occupation, a job offer from an approved sponsor, and English at the required level (IELTS 5.0 with minimum band scores for most occupations). The SID has three streams: the Specialist Skills stream for high-income earners, the Core Skills stream for most occupations, and the Labour Agreement stream for negotiated arrangements.

The SID visa can lead to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) after 2-3 years of working for the sponsoring employer. Unlike the skilled migration visas, the SID does not require a points test or state nomination. It is an attractive pathway for graduates who find an employer willing to sponsor them. However, the visa is tied to the sponsoring employer — if you leave the employer, you must find a new sponsor within 60 days or depart Australia.

The points test awards points across several categories: age (30 points for 25-32 years), English ability (20 points for superior, 10 for proficient), skilled employment experience in Australia (up to 20 points) and overseas (up to 15 points), educational qualifications (up to 20 points for a doctorate), Australian study requirement (5 points), specialist education such as a Master's by research or PhD in STEM (10 points), community language accreditation (5 points), study in a regional area (5 points), partner skills (up to 10 points), and state or territory nomination (5 points for 190, 15 points for 491).

The pass mark is 65 points, but this is the minimum entry threshold — not the score at which you receive an invitation. Home Affairs invites the highest-scoring applicants in each occupation group. For competitive occupations like accounting, IT, and engineering, the invitation threshold is often 85-100 points. For less competitive occupations like nursing, social work, or teaching, the threshold may be 65-75 points. Research recent invitation rounds data published by Home Affairs to understand where your occupation stands.

If you are willing to live and work in regional Australia, there are additional PR pathways with more generous requirements. The Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) program allows employers in specified regional areas to sponsor skilled workers under more flexible arrangements, including concessions on age, English language, and work experience requirements. Each DAMA is negotiated between the Australian government and a regional authority, so the specific occupations and concessions vary depending on the region.

For international students, the most accessible regional pathway is often the subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa, which requires nomination by a state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area. The subclass 491 is a provisional visa valid for five years, and after holding it for at least three years you may be eligible to apply for the subclass 191 Permanent Residence visa. Regional visas are processed more quickly than general skilled migration visas and often require a lower score on the points test, making them a practical option for graduates who cannot meet the competitive thresholds for the subclass 189 or 190 visas.