Possible pathways can include:

• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
• Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
• Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494)
• Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)

Graduating from an Australian course does not automatically provide permanent residency.

Your next visa should be selected based on your individual circumstances and the requirements applicable at the time you apply.

What Can You Do After Graduation?

After completing your studies, you can consider several directions.

Option 1 – Continue Your Career in Australia

Find employment related to your qualification and build professional experience.

Option 2 – Apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa

Eligible graduates may be able to remain in Australia temporarily under subclass 485.

Option 3 – Explore Skilled Migration

If your occupation, skills assessment, English, age and points meet the requirements, you may consider a points-tested skilled visa.

Option 4 – Seek Employer Sponsorship

An eligible employer may potentially sponsor you for a temporary or permanent employer-sponsored visa.

Option 5 – Consider Regional Australia

Regional employment can provide additional skilled and employer-sponsored pathways.

Temporary Graduate Visa – Subclass 485

One of the key options for eligible graduates is the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).

It allows eligible graduates to temporarily:

• Live in Australia
• Work
• Study
• Travel
• Gain professional experience

Home Affairs describes Temporary Graduate visa holders as being able to live, study and work temporarily after completing their studies. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

The 485 visa is temporary, not permanent residence.

Post-Higher Education Work Stream

The Post-Higher Education Work stream is designed for eligible graduates of higher education qualifications.

Current general stay periods include:

Special arrangements can apply to certain passport holders, including eligible Indian nationals under the Australia-India ECTA.

The current 485 requirements also include age, Australian study, English, health insurance and other criteria. Always check the requirements applicable to your circumstances before applying.

Post-Vocational Education Work Stream

Eligible graduates of certain vocational qualifications may potentially consider the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.

This stream has specific occupation and qualification requirements.

The occupation and qualification should be checked against the current legislative requirements before relying on this pathway.

Home Affairs currently identifies LIN 19/051 as the relevant occupation and assessing-authority instrument for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Important: The 485 Visa Is Not PR

A common misconception is:

Study → 485 → Automatic PR

This is incorrect.

The 485 provides a temporary period in Australia. During that period, an eligible graduate may explore another visa pathway.

A possible strategy can be:

Australian Study

↓

485

↓

Relevant Employment

↓

Skills Assessment / Registration

↓

Skilled or Employer-Sponsored Visa

↓

Permanent Residency, if eligible

There is no automatic transition from subclass 485 to permanent residency.

Find Relevant Employment

After graduation, gaining employment related to your qualification can be important for your career and may also support certain future migration pathways.

For example:

IT Graduate

Qualification

→ Software / ICT employment

→ Relevant experience

→ Skills assessment

→ Skilled or employer-sponsored pathway

Nursing Graduate

Qualification

→ Registration

→ Registered nursing employment

→ Skilled or employer-sponsored pathway

Engineering Graduate

Qualification

→ Engineering employment

→ Skills assessment

→ Skilled or employer-sponsored pathway

Teaching Graduate

Qualification

→ Teacher registration

→ Teaching employment

→ Potential skilled or employer-sponsored pathway

Your actual occupation and duties should align with the occupation you intend to nominate.

Skills Assessment After Graduation

Many skilled migration pathways require a suitable skills assessment.

The assessing authority depends on the occupation.

Examples can include:

• ACS for eligible ICT occupations
• Engineers Australia for many engineering occupations
• CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA for relevant accounting occupations
• AITSL for relevant teaching occupations
• Other occupation-specific assessing authorities

Home Affairs maintains different occupation and assessing-authority instruments for different visa programs, so the correct assessment should be checked against the intended visa and occupation. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Professional Registration After Graduation

Some careers require professional registration before you can practise.

This can apply to professions including:

• Nursing
• Medicine
• Teaching
• Allied health
• Certain regulated occupations

For example, completing a nursing degree does not by itself give unrestricted permission to practise as a registered nurse.

Similarly, an overseas medical graduate must satisfy the applicable Australian medical registration requirements.

Professional registration and migration eligibility are separate requirements.

Skilled Migration After Graduation

Eligible graduates may potentially consider Australia's points-tested skilled migration pathways.

Subclass 189

Skilled Independent visa

A permanent points-tested pathway for eligible applicants who receive an invitation.

Subclass 190

Skilled Nominated visa

A permanent skilled visa requiring state or territory nomination.

Subclass 491

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa

A provisional regional pathway for eligible applicants nominated by a state or territory or sponsored by an eligible family member.

Home Affairs confirms that subclasses 189, 190 and 491 are points-based and require an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect before an invitation. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

SkillSelect and Expression of Interest

For subclasses 189, 190 and 491, you need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect.

The general process is:

1. Check occupation eligibility
2. Obtain the appropriate skills assessment
3. Meet English requirements
4. Calculate your points
5. Submit an EOI
6. Wait for an invitation
7. Apply for the visa within 60 days if invited

The minimum points threshold is currently 65 points, but achieving 65 points does not guarantee an invitation. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

An EOI remains active for two years and can be updated before an invitation is received. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

State or Territory Nomination

Graduates may potentially consider state or territory nomination for:

• Subclass 190
• Subclass 491

Each state and territory can have its own nomination requirements and priorities.

Criteria may consider:

• Occupation
• Qualification
• Employment
• Location
• English
• Work experience
• Salary
• Graduate status
• Regional residence
• Other state-specific factors

Meeting the general visa requirements does not guarantee nomination.

Employer Sponsorship After Graduation

Employer sponsorship can be another important pathway.

A possible route is:

Graduate

↓

Relevant Employment

↓

Skills in Demand visa 482

↓

Employer Nomination Scheme 186

where the applicant and employer meet the applicable requirements.

Home Affairs currently states that the Skills in Demand subclass 482 is a temporary sponsored visa, generally requiring applicants to have the skills to perform the nominated occupation and 12 months of work experience in the occupation or a related field. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Skills in Demand Visa – Subclass 482

The current subclass 482 is the Skills in Demand (SID) visa.

It replaced the former Temporary Skill Shortage arrangements on 7 December 2024.

The current SID visa has:

• Core Skills stream
• Specialist Skills stream
• Labour Agreement stream

An eligible graduate may potentially be sponsored if the occupation, employer, salary, experience and other requirements are satisfied.

The current Home Affairs employer comparison page states that the 482 visa can generally be granted for 1–4 years, depending on the circumstances. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

482 to 186 Permanent Residency

For eligible sponsored workers, subclass 186 may provide a permanent employer-sponsored pathway.

The Employer Nomination Scheme includes:

• Temporary Residence Transition
• Direct Entry
• Labour Agreement

Home Affairs currently confirms that the Temporary Residence Transition stream is available for eligible SID visa holders in all occupations, while Direct Entry has separate requirements, including a skills assessment unless an exemption applies. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

There is no automatic PR simply because you have held a 482 visa for a particular period.

You and your employer must satisfy the requirements of the relevant 186 stream.

Regional Pathway After Graduation

Regional Australia can provide additional options for eligible graduates.

Potential pathways include:

Subclass 491

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)

Subclass 494

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)

Subclass 191

Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)

Home Affairs currently identifies subclass 491 as a regional visa for people nominated by a state or territory or sponsored by an eligible family member, while subclass 494 is an employer-sponsored regional visa. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Eligible holders of regional provisional visas may later pursue subclass 191 after satisfying the applicable regional requirements.

Home Affairs states that regional provisional visa holders need to show they have lived and worked in regional Australia to qualify for the permanent regional pathway. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Study → 485 → Skilled Migration

One possible graduate pathway is:

Stage 1

Student visa 500

Complete your Australian qualification.

Stage 2

Temporary Graduate visa 485

Where eligible, remain temporarily and gain relevant work experience.

Stage 3

Skills Assessment

Obtain the appropriate assessment for your occupation.

Stage 4

SkillSelect

Submit an EOI for 189, 190 or 491 if eligible.

Stage 5

Invitation / Nomination

Receive an invitation or state/territory nomination.

Stage 6

Permanent Visa

Apply for the relevant permanent or provisional skilled visa.

This is only one possible pathway.

Study → Employer Sponsorship

Another possible strategy is:

Student 500

↓

Graduate

↓

Relevant Employment

↓

482 Skills in Demand

↓

186 Employer Nomination Scheme

This pathway depends heavily on your occupation, employer, work experience, salary and visa eligibility.

Study → Regional Employment → PR

Another possible strategy is:

Student 500

↓

Graduate

↓

Regional Employment

↓

491 or 494

↓

Meet Regional Requirements

↓

191 Permanent Residence

The 491 and 494 are provisional visas. They do not provide immediate permanent residency. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

What Should You Do Immediately After Graduation?

1. Check Your Visa Status

Know your current visa expiry date and conditions.

2. Check 485 Eligibility

If you are eligible, determine whether the Temporary Graduate visa is appropriate for you.

3. Identify Your Occupation

Determine the occupation that matches your qualification, skills and actual employment.

4. Check Skills Assessment

Find the correct assessing authority.

5. Check Registration

Determine whether your profession requires registration.

6. Find Relevant Employment

Focus on work aligned with your professional pathway.

7. Calculate Your Points

Assess your potential points for 189, 190 or 491.

8. Research State Nomination

Check current state and territory criteria.

9. Explore Employer Sponsorship

Consider whether your employer may be able to sponsor you.

10. Consider Regional Options

Regional employment may provide additional pathways.

After Graduation – Documents to Keep

Keep copies of:

• Passport
• Australian qualification
• Academic transcripts
• Completion letter
• CoE
• English test results
• Skills assessment
• Professional registration
• Employment contracts
• Payslips
• Tax records
• Employment references
• Position descriptions
• Visa grant notices
• VEVO records
• Health insurance documents
• Police certificates where applicable

Good record keeping can make future visa applications easier.

Do Not Wait Until Your Visa Is About to Expire

A common mistake is waiting until the final weeks of a temporary visa before investigating the next pathway.

Instead, start planning early.

Ideally, assess your options well before your current visa expires so you have time to:

• Complete a skills assessment
• Improve English
• Gain relevant work experience
• Research state nomination
• Find an eligible employer
• Prepare documents
• Identify alternative visa options

Common Mistakes After Graduation

❌ Assuming graduation means PR

Graduation does not automatically provide permanent residency.

❌ Waiting until the 485 expires

Your next pathway should be assessed early.

❌ Working in an unrelated occupation

Relevant employment can be important for some future pathways.

❌ Ignoring skills assessment requirements

Your qualification alone may not be sufficient.

❌ Ignoring professional registration

Regulated professions have separate requirements.

❌ Assuming 65 points guarantees an invitation

It does not. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

❌ Assuming an employer must sponsor you

Employer sponsorship is subject to employer and visa requirements.

❌ Relying on old migration information

Occupation lists and visa requirements can change.

Why Choose The Visa After Graduation?

The period after graduation can be an important time for planning your next Australian visa.

The Visa can assist with:

• Temporary Graduate visa assessment
• Skilled migration assessment
• Points calculation
• Skills assessment guidance
• State nomination pathways
• Employer sponsorship
• Regional migration
• Visa strategy
• PR pathway planning
• Documentation preparation

We can help you assess your options based on your:

• Qualification
• Occupation
• Age
• English
• Work experience
• Skills assessment
• Registration
• Current visa
• Employment
• Location
• Future goals

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after I graduate in Australia?

You may be able to continue working or studying under another visa, depending on your circumstances. Eligible graduates may consider subclass 485, skilled migration, employer sponsorship or regional pathways.

Can I apply for a 485 after graduation?

Eligible graduates may be able to apply for the relevant Temporary Graduate stream if they satisfy the current requirements.

Can I get PR after my 485?

Potentially. You may explore skilled, employer-sponsored or regional pathways while holding or after holding a 485, but PR is not automatic.

Can I apply for 189 after graduation?

Potentially, if you meet the occupation, skills assessment, English, points and invitation requirements.

Can I apply for 190 after graduation?

Potentially. You must satisfy the visa requirements and obtain nomination from an Australian state or territory.

Can I apply for 491 after graduation?

Potentially. Eligible graduates may consider state/territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship.

Can an employer sponsor me after graduation?

Potentially. An eligible employer may be able to sponsor you under an applicable employer-sponsored visa, such as subclass 482, subject to the requirements. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Can I get PR through regional Australia?

Potentially. Subclasses 491 and 494 can provide provisional regional pathways, with subclass 191 providing a permanent pathway for eligible holders who meet the applicable requirements. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Do I need a skills assessment?

Many skilled migration pathways require an appropriate skills assessment. The exact requirement depends on the occupation and visa.

Does Australian study guarantee PR?

No. Australian study can support certain future pathways, but permanent residency requires a separate visa application and eligibility assessment.

How early should I plan my next visa?

It is generally better to assess your options well before your current visa expires so you have enough time to address skills assessment, English, employment, nomination or sponsorship requirements.

Plan Your Next Step After Graduation

Graduation is not the end of your Australian journey — it can be the beginning of your professional career.

Your next step should be based on a clear strategy:

Qualification → Occupation → Employment → Skills Assessment / Registration → Visa → PR, if eligible

The Visa can help you assess your options after graduation and identify potential skilled, employer-sponsored and regional pathways.