If you're a student contemplating settling in Australia and securing permanent residency, there are various pathways available. You can start by applying for a student visa, granting you the opportunity to study, live, and work in Australia.
After completing two years of studies in Australia, you may be eligible for a postgraduate work visa to gain the required work experience for skilled migration that can lead to permanent residency.
To qualify for permanent residency, you need suitable qualifications and sufficient work experience in a high-demand occupation/job.
Your likelihood of obtaining permanent residency increases when you pursue a course aligned with an occupation listed on the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List). This list, published by the Australian government, identifies occupations in high demand in the country.
If you already have enough work experience from another country, you can use the General Skilled Migration program (GSM) to move to Australia and apply for permanent residency. However, you must express your interest first through Skillselect, the General Skilled Migration program platform.
Below are the different available visas for migrating to Australia:
There are Two Visa Streams To Get PR in Australia:
Skilled Visa - Subclass 189, 190, and 491
Employer-Sponsored Visa - Subclass 482, 494, and 186 Visa
The Minimum Requirements For Those Visa Streams Are:
Your qualification must meet the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF)
Positive Skill Assessment
Work Experience in the Nominated Occupation
English and Age Requirements
Things to Consider:
You must complete a minimum of two years of study in Australia, depending on the level or course of study.
Your study program should be .
You should apply for a PSWV (Post Study Work Visa) 485 visa within six months of completion of your course in Australia.
You must fulfil ANZCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) job descriptions. The ANZCO provides detailed information on the experience, job skill level, and qualifications required to work in various fields.
You can contact your educational institution or consult your migration consultant to get more information on these courses.
The 14 Best Courses To Study In Australia For Permanent Residency In 2024
Below is a list of Australia's most popular PR courses and trades that could lead to permanent residency:
1. Engineering
Completing an engineering degree in Australia can open up various employment opportunities for international students.
Engineers innovate and provide practical solutions to unusual and complex problems. Not only that, but they also create, design, build, manufacture, and invent new ideas. Every year, Australia demands a large number of engineers in several areas.
Many international students choose to study a Bachelor of Engineering (Honors), a four-year full-time degree in Australia. This course is in high demand because students can gain postgraduate employment required for the Skilled Migration Program leading to PR.
In most cases, you need work experience to get Australian PR through either the Skilled Nominated Visa 190, Skilled Independent Visa 189, or the Skilled Regional Visa 491. Therefore, we recommend applying for a postgraduate visa to be able to work for at least two years in Australia after you complete your engineering degree.
You could also consider av PhD degree after the honours degree, which offers many attractive scholarship opportunities.
Most engineering professions are on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), making finding skilled visas and employer-sponsored programs easier.
The skill-assessing authority for engineering professions in Australia is:
The Best Engineering Courses in Australia To Study For PR In 2024:
Agricultural Engineering
Structural Engineering
Transport Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Students with an engineering degree can work and live in Australia and meet several country requirements in different aspects. When it comes to salary, an engineer in Australia can easily earn up to AUD 90,000.
2. Accounting
Accounting is one of the most rapidly growing occupations in Australia. Many students pursue accounting in Australia because of the multiple career options available.
You need a bachelor's degree to be an accountant in Australia. Furthermore, completing MPA (Masters in Professional Accounting) will also open excellent job prospects for you.
As an accounting student, you can apply for jobs such as:
Corporate Treasurer
External Editor
Management Accountant
The average salary of an accountant in Australia is around AUD 75,000.
Australia also offers the Accounting Professional Year Program (Accounting PYP). It is a work-ready program approved by the Department of СÓÅÊÓƵ Affairs (DHA). This program is only available to overseas students with an Australian accounting degree who studied in Australia for at least two years.
It provides valuable experience in an Australian workplace, ensuring participants learn the relevant account knowledge. The aim of this program is to provide practical experience, focusing on work preparation that includes ethics, culture, and expectations.
You must participate for at least 44 weeks in this Accounting PYP. The training is divided into classroom learning for 32 weeks and 12 weeks of internship with a host employer.
The Accounting Professional Year Program is an excellent pathway to permanent residency via the General SkilledMogration (GSM) program. It is especially beneficial for students holding a post-graduate visa 485.
3. Nursing
Australia is known among the top destinations in the world for its highly efficient healthcare industry. Many international students who wish to study nursing in Australia regard nursing as the most favourable occupation.
With the growing population in Australia, there's also an increasing requirement for skilled medical employees. Recently, Australia's Future Health Workforce reported that by 2030, around 123,000 nurses would be needed.
If you are passionate about helping others and have all the skills necessary, now is the right time to apply for a nursing course offered by an Australian university.
Some of the popular nursing professions in the skilled occupation list include:
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse (Community Health)
Nurse (Mental Health)
Nurse (Child and Family Health)
Nurse (Medical Practice)
Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
Nurse (Developmental Disability)
To be eligible for a permanent resident visa in Australia, you are required to pass a skills assessment. The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is the authority assessing registered nurses.
assesses qualified nurses from overseas and international students who studied for a nursing degree in Australia and completed their program. For the skill assessment, students must also have registration in Australia or New Zealand.
You can find below the short steps to a PR visa in Nursing:
Complete qualification and training in the field that you are aiming for.
Apply for a skills assessment after registration.
When you receive a successful outcome from the skills assessing authority, you can apply for a visa through Skill Select.
4. Social Work
Social work courses in Australia attract students from all over the globe. The students are keen on studying these courses to work with underprivileged people and make a remarkable impact on the lives of others by providing support, advice, or help to reintegrate socially displaced individuals into society.
In Australia, you can study different social work courses like Health and welfare services, psychology, psychiatry, etc.
Furthermore, once you have a social work degree, you can apply for occupations listed in the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List), such as:
Family Support Worker
Welfare Worker
Disability Service Officer
The average salary of a social worker in Australia is AUD 65,000 per year.
To be eligible for a PR visa in Social Work, you must first pass a skill assessment. The Social Workers’ skill assessment authority is . You have to meet their five criteria for a positive skill assessment for migration and employment:
5. Medical
A medical profession in Australia pays you exceptionally well due to the high demand for health professionals in the Australian healthcare industry.
However, pursuing a medical degree in Australia can also get expensive. Hence, plan your budget accordingly and remember that it is a one-time investment; after completing your studies, you will be eligible for PR.
You can specialise in various medical fields, such as:
Gynaecology
Orthopaedics
Oncology
Prosthetics
Urology
You can apply for jobs in the following positions:
Resident Medical Officer
In Australia, all health and medical professionals must register with the (MBA), which assists the Australian Medical Council in accreditation for national and international medical specialists according to the Australian Standard.
The MBA not only carries out all the registrations for medical professionals but also assists International Medical Graduates who wish to practise in Australia. They provide them with skills assessments for related occupations.
If you are a medical student or a qualified specialist with leading medical qualifications gained in countries other than Australia or New Zealand and wish to move to Australia, you must submit a skills assessment for your occupation with your visa application. This applies if you migrate to Australia through the Skill Migration Program or Employer Sponsored Visas.
The Medical Board of Australia (MBA) is the established authority for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) or Overseas Trained Doctors (OTD). They will determine eligibility for registration with an approved assessment pathway.
Medical applicants must meet various requirements to become eligible for registration. These include educational qualifications and work experience. Furthermore, the work experience must be professional and related to the nominated occupation for migration purposes.
International medical graduates (IMGs) or Overseas Trained Doctors (OTDs) must provide evidence of eligibility to undertake one of the following assessment pathways:
Competent Authority Pathway
Standard Pathway
Specialist Pathway
The assessment tests the knowledge and clinical skills of IMGs
6. Computer and Information Technology (IT)
Computer science and IT professionals are needed everywhere, and Australia is no exception. Australia's booming economy caters well to IT professionals who have attained a degree from a recognised Australian university or excelled in IT in another country.
Various universities in Australia provide courses in Computer and IT fields, such as:
Computer Network and Systems
ICT Business & System Analysis
Cyber Security Specialist
Analyst Programmer
Developer Programmer
Applications Programmers
Taking up these courses opens several career prospects for students and improves their chances of being eligible for permanent residency in Australia.
To get a permanent residency visa, you must have a skill assessment. The skill-assessing authority for people in the ICT area is the (ACS). ACS has various skills assessment pathways, which depend on your qualification and work experience.
You can consider studying in Hobart, Canberra and Sydney, as they are the top destinations in Australia for international students.
An IT professional's salary in Australia starts at AUD 65,000 and reaches hundreds of thousands for well-qualified and experienced individuals in niche roles. So if you have higher qualifications and more experience in the IT field, you will get better financial rewards.
7. Education and Teaching
Australia is known for its high-quality education system. Hence, students who pursue a career in education and teaching can help make a difference by inspiring students' curious minds. Not only that, but it will also enable them to apply for Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia.
Taking up education and teaching courses in Australia can lead to many career opportunities:
Middle School Teacher
Special Needs teacher
Special Education Teachers
The steps below exemplify applying for permanent residency as an early childhood teacher. (The steps and requirements are similar for other teaching/education professions).
Complete a qualification in the relevant field.
Apply for a skill assessment.
When receiving a positive result from the skill-assessment authority, you can apply for a visa to Australia.
Before you are eligible to apply for a permanent residency visa, you need a positive skill assessment from AITSL. For early childhood teachers, the skill-assessing authority is the Australian (AITSL).
You can find below the requirements to apply for an AITSL skill assessment:
In this English test, you must achieve an IELTS score of 7 for Reading and Writing and 8 for Speaking and Listening.
When you meet the above requirements, you can apply for an AITSL skill assessment as an early childhood teacher.
8. Dentistry
Studying Dentistry in Australia presents many exciting career opportunities and leads towards gaining Australian permanent residency.
As an international student, you can pursue any dental degrees Australian universities offer, including Bachelor of Oral Health (BOralH), Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc), Postgraduate programs, and Research Higher Degree.
Furthermore, after finishing your degree, you can choose between some of the most popular dentistry careers in Australia, such as:
Dental Therapist
Dental Prosthetist
Compared to other occupations, the average salary of a dentist is relatively high and impressive. All in all, being a dentist in Australia is a challenging but rewarding profession.
As a part of the application process for certain permanent residency visas, obtaining a skill assessment may be necessary if you intend to migrate to Australia with a dentistry profession.
The skills assessment falls into two categories:
Skills assessment (Only)
Registration and Skills Assessment
Skills Assessment Only
If you meet any of the below criteria, you only need to pursue the 'Skill Assessment Only' pathway with (The Australian Dental Council).
You have a registration to practise in New Zealand.
You have a suitable general dental qualification from the UK, Republic of Ireland or New Zealand.
You have an eligible general dental qualification from Canada (after March 2010), including certification by the National Dental Examination Board of Canada.
You have completed a general dental qualification in Australia.
More information about suitable dental qualifications is on the website.
Registration And Skills Assessment
If you're a dentist who obtained their qualifications overseas and don't satisfy the criteria specified for skills assessment alone. In that case, you must undergo the dental practitioner assessment procedure to be registered in Australia.
This process is supplementary to your skills assessment and involves taking written and practical exams.
Skills Assessment Requirement
A positive Skills Assessment is mandatory to apply for permanent resident visas, except for specific exemptions in very limited circumstances. For Dentists, the Australian Dental Council (ADC) is the Skills Assessment authority, which involves a three-stage assessment.
Many Australian colleges and institutes provide popular trade courses that lead to employment opportunities such as carpenter, welder, cabinet maker, electrician, and more.
To apply for trade jobs in Australia, you require a bachelor's degree, Diploma, or Certificate III / IV, along with a (Trade Recognition of Australia) assessment.
Studying for a trade qualification costs between AUD 12,000 to 14,000 annually, which is comparatively less than pursuing a higher degree.
9. Automotive
Studying Automotive courses in Australia presents ample opportunities for international students passionate about fixing vehicles. It also allows them to gain permanent residency in Australia.
High-in-demand automotive jobs in Australia include:
Motor Mechanic
You can apply for any of these positions after completing your education and starting your career in the automotive industry.
10. Hospitality
Tourism is a booming industry in Australia that offers an exciting career and allows international students to obtain permanent residency. Hence, students passionate about baking, cooking, or hotel management can take a hospitality course in Australia and turn their dreams into reality.
If you focus on gaining extra PR points and working in the Australian Hospitality industry, you can choose from a wide range of hospitality courses recognised institutions in Australia offer.
These courses will lead you to become the following:
Pastry Cook
Bed and Breakfast Operator
Licensed Club Manager
Camping or Caravan Park Manager
Accommodation and Hospitality Manager
The average yearly salary for a person working in the tourism or hospitality industry may range between AUD 45,000 to AUD 169,000.
11. Painting and Decoration
Painting and Decoration courses in Australia can provide international students with a permanent residency pathway. The construction industry is projected to see 10.9% job growth in the future, which means that Painting Trades Workers will be needed more than ever.
Studying Painting and Decoration in Australia will allow you to work in areas like timber staining, paint application, conventional spray painting, wallpapering, and more.
Additionally, as a decorator or painter, you can work on external or internal areas, both commercial and residential.
12. Building and Construction
Pursuing a Building and Construction course is the right choice to gain additional Australian PR points if you are looking to apply for permanent residency in Australia and build a construction career.
This course will allow you to practice and study several building techniques. Also, you will learn how to work on a construction site while dealing with safety standards, managing construction activities, and more.
Once you complete the course, you can get a job as a:
Joiner
Construction Estimator
Glazier
13. Plumbing
With 11.2% projected job growth by 2025 and above 5,500 occupations open for permanent residency, there is a huge demand for plumbers in Australia. Most plumbing is done on commercial, domestic, and retail construction sites.
So if you study a plumbing course in one of the Australian universities or TAFEs, it will prepare you for work-based tasks, and you will gain knowledge and skills that will complement your on-the-job training.
You will learn about many things, including roofing, water and sanitary services, drainage and blockage clearance, pipe fabrication and welding, gasfitting, mechanical services, reading plans, welding and pipe fabrication, and more.
Once you graduate, you will have the confidence, skills, and experience to land a plumbing job.
14. Electrotechnology
It is a fast field with various occupations and specialisations. The most in-demand and common profession is "Electrician". You need an official license in Australia to work in this field. If you are from overseas, your skills must be assessed through the Offshore Skills Assessment Process (OSAP) Pathway via Trade Recognition Australia.
The Skill Assessment is a combination of a paper-based and technical assessment. You must also complete full-time paid employment overseas to get your skills recognised. Once you have a positive skill assessment, you can apply for PR through Skill Select.
The Electrotechnology industry includes the following technical disciplines and trades:
Electrical (Electrician)
Independent Electrician
Maintenance Electricians
Mining Electricians
Construction Electricians
Instrumentation and Control (Technician)
Electronics (Technician)
The average salary for professionals in the category earns between $90,000 to $100,000 yearly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What Courses Can Help To Get PR in Australia?
Australia is among the top study-abroad destinations for overseas students. Students who wish to live, study, and work in this country must apply for Permanent Residency (PR).
Here is a list of the top 10 courses in Australia that can help you obtain Permanent Residency:
IT and Software Engineering (MLTSSL)
Motor mechanic (MLTSSL)
Trades Courses (Electrician, Building and Construction, Wall and Floor Tiler, etc.)
Engineering Professionals (Civil/Mechanical/Mining/Electrical Engineer)
Commercial Cookery ((MLTSSL))
Social Work (MLTSSL)
Health and Welfare Support Work
Teaching and Education (MLTSSL)
Medical (MLTSSL)
Nursing (MLTSSL)
Top Courses for PR in Australia | Study Cost in Australia | Available Roles After Graduation |
---|---|---|
Accountancy | AUD 20,000 - AUD 40,000 |
Accountant | Finance Managers |
Automotive | AUD 8,400 - AUD 10,000 |
Automotive Electrician | Diesel Motor Mechanic | General Mechanic | Motor Mechanic | Motorcycle Mechanic |
Computer and Information Technology (IT) | AUD 41,000 - AUD 52,000 |
Analyst Programmer | Computer Network | Developer Programmer | ICT Business Analyst | ICT Support Engineer | Software Engineer | Software Tester | Systems Analyst | Systems Engineer | Web Developer |
Business | AUD 15,000 - AUD 120,000 |
Business Analyst | Project Manager | Business Development Manager | Chief Marketing Officer | HR Business Partner | Sales Manager |
Engineering | AUD 44,000 – AUD 50,000 |
Aeronautical Engineer | Agricultural Engineer | Chemical Engineer | Civil Engineer | Electrical Engineer | Electronics Engineer | Environmental Engineer | Geotechnical Engineer | Industrial Engineer | Materials Engineer | Mechanical Engineer |
Medicine & Dentistry | AUD 70,000 - AUD 140,000 |
Research Assistant | Research Associate | Lecturer | Postdoctoral Fellow |
Nursing | AUD 42,000 - AUD 70,000 |
Midwifery | Nurse Practitioner | Registered Nurse for all departments |
Trade Qualifications | AUD 7,000 - AUD 14,000 | Air-Conditioning Plumber | General Plumber | Mechanical Services Plumber | Roof Plumber |
Education & Teaching | AUD 20,000 - AUD 45,000 | Primary School Teacher | Secondary School Teacher | Special Needs Teacher | Teachers of English Language | University Lecturer | Vocational Education Teacher |
Building and Construction | AUD 14,000 - AUD 70,000 | Bricklayer | Building Inspector | Carpenter | Construction Estimator | Construction Project Manager | Floor Tiler | Glazier | Roof Tiler | Wall Tiler |
2. Which Course Is Best For PR in Australia?
Considering the rapid growth in the technology industry, there will be a massive demand for IT security and software engineers.
For this reason, IT and Software Engineer Courses such as a 3-year full-time bachelor's degree in IT and a 2-year Master's in IT are the best courses to consider to obtain a PR in Australia.
The list of roles you may pursue after graduation:
Analyst Programmer
Cyber Security Specialist
Developer Programmer
Applications Programmers
Software Engineer
ICT business analyst
Skill assessment for IT graduates in Australia will require one professional year program or 1-year work experience.
Most large organizations offer an employer sponsorship TSS 482 visa to candidates who can't qualify for state nomination.
However, studying IT courses in a regional area benefits the PR pathway through visa 491 and visa 190 streams and career development in developing regions like Tasmania, ACT, and South Australia.
3. How Much Does PR Cost In Australia?
The total Australia PR cost for the primary applicant is from AUD 4900 to AUD 6500. The fee varies from one applicant to another based on their skill assessment authority.
Here is the expected cost you will incur at different stages of the PR visa application procedure:
Stage 1 – Skill Assessment (Fees – AUD 250 to AUD 4000)
Stage 2 – English Proficiency Test (Fees – AUD 180 to AUD 587)
TOEFL – AU$180
PTE Academic
IELTS – AU$236.98
OET – AUD 587
Stage 3 – State Nomination (Fee – Up to AUD 300)
Stage 4 – Visa Application
Primary Applicant – AUD 4045
Dependent (18+ years) – AUD 2020
Dependent (below 18 years) – AUD 1015
Stage 5 – Police Verification and Medical Exams (Fee – AUD 94)
4. Does PR Expire In Australia?
A PR visa allows people to live and work in the country indefinitely. However, the person doesn't have the rights and privileges of a citizen.
The Visa holder gets a 5-year travel facility, enabling him to exit and re-enter the country whenever they want. After five years, the travel component on the visa will expire, making travel back to Australia difficult. It requires renewal/extension of travel facility on their visa every five years.
Thus, the PR never expires, and the travel facility for entry and exit from Australia expires after five years. To return to the country, a PR Visa holder requires an Australian passport (after becoming a citizen) or a return resident visa that costs around $365 per person.
5. Can You Stay A Permanent Resident Forever?
Yes. You can work, study and stay in Australia as a permanent resident forever and enjoy the benefits and perks it brings. However, you do not have an automatic right of entry to Australia that an Australian citizen has.
Your right to re-enter Australia after travelling abroad will depend on whether the travel facility on your PR visa is valid. PR visa holders need to renew the travel facility on their visa once every five years to enjoy unrestricted entry and exit into the country.
6. What Happens After Five Years of PR in Australia?
As the travel/entry rights on your Australian PR visa expire after five years, you will need to get a Resident Return Visa (Subclass 155 or 157) that extends your visa's travel/entry rights. Alternatively, you can apply for Australian citizenship.
7. How Many Years After PR Can You Apply For Citizenship?
"Conferral" is one of the popular methods to apply for citizenship. Under this method, you must hold a permanent residency for the last 12 months and have been living in the country on a valid visa for the previous four years.
PR holders below 60 years would also require to sit a citizenship test.
8. Do Australian Companies Sponsor PR?
The following are the Employer Sponsored PR visas:
Employer Nominated Scheme - Subclass 186
It is a permanent employer-sponsored visa program that enables international employees to apply for an Australian permanent residency in regional and non-regional areas in Australia.
There are two categories in this scheme such as:
Temporary Residence Transition stream
Direct Entry stream
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme - Subclass 187
The visa program allows international employees to apply for Australian permanent residence. This option is available only for existing eligible subclass 457 or 482 transitional workers. Also, both the sponsor and the position must be in a regional location in Australia.
9. Which State in Australia Is Easy To Get PR?
Tasmania offers a convenient way to access Australian PR and citizenship. The absence of an occupation ceiling makes it an excellent place for overseas workers who wish to settle in Australia. It implies that you can still find numerous other options if your occupation isn't on the Skilled Occupation List.
Other options that you can consider for PR are New South Wales and South Australia. Where New South Wales is ideal for pursuing higher studies and employment, South Australia is one of the most economical Australian states where you can reside permanently.
10. What Is The Fastest Way To Get PR in Australia?
The Global Talent Independent Program, a new visa option, is the quickest way to get an Australia PR.
Launched in November 2019, the program supports highly skilled professionals to obtain an Australian PR across seven sectors, including Ag-Tech, Med-Tech, Cybersecurity, space, Data Science, FinTech, and energy and mining technology.
Moreover, GTI demands that applicants show the potential of earning above the threshold of AUD 153,600 annually and have been nominated in their same profession.
Candidates who meet the criteria and whose Expression of Interest meets success can apply online under the Distinguished Talent visa (Subclass 124) if living outside Australia and the Distinguished Talent Visa (Subclass 858) if living in Australia when applying.
With no age criteria, English language test, or skills assessment, GTI attracts several aspiring Australian immigrants who otherwise cannot obtain Australian PR. The flexibility it offers in assessing the visa application makes it a faster way to get a PR visa in Australia.
The time required to process an Australian PR application via the GTI varies from case to case. In most cases, it is in the range of 14 days to three months.
11. Is Getting PR in Australia Difficult?
Yes. It has become challenging for aspirants to get a PR in Australia for numerous reasons.
Reducing the number of PR grants
Increasing immigrant population
The rising local population is, in turn, leading to rising property prices and unemployment. Key cities like Sydney and Melbourne are already facing the pressure of population and resources.
Introduction of new and stringent visa policies by the Department of СÓÅÊÓƵ Affairs
As the country progresses towards regional development, it values experienced candidates in different niches. So, students, professionals, temporary residents, etc., hopping courses with no related work experience will have difficulty getting a PR for Australia.
All these reasons are making it difficult for PR seekers in Australia.
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