Overseas Students Apply for General Skilled Migration (GSM)

I have just completed a Degree in Australia, can I apply for a skilled permenant residency visa?

Yes! You may even receive Bonus Points for having completed eligible study in Australia. Furthermore, depending on the course you have studied, you may be able to become a permanent resident of Australia without having any prior work experience.

If you have recently completed a course of study in Australia you must apply for your permanent residency visa within 6 months of the completion of your course.

Under the General Skilled Migration reforms of September 1st 2007, the GSM visa programme has been streamlined. International students should now consider the following Onshore Visa Subclasses:

• Skilled - Independent (subclass 885) - this permanent visa replaces the Skilled Independent Overseas Student (subclass 880) visa.
• Skilled - Sponsored (subclass 886) - this permanent visa replaces the Skilled Australian Sponsored Overseas Student (subclass 881) visa.
• Skilled - Graduate (subclass 485) visa - this 18 month temporary visa replaces the Graduate - Skilled (subclass 497) visa. Skilled - Graduate visa holders have unrestricted work and study rights and can apply for a permanent General Skilled Migration or employer sponsored visa at any time.
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (subclass 487) visa - this 3 year provisional visa replaces the Skilled - Independent Regional (subclass 495) visa and the Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored (subclass 496) visa. Skilled - Regional Sponsored visa holders can apply for a permanent Skilled - Regional visa once they have lived for two years and worked full-time for one year in regional Australia.
• Skilled - Regional (subclass 887) visa - this is a permanent visa for holders of Skilled - Regional Sponsored (subclass 487 and 475), Skilled - Independent Regional and Skilled - Designated Area-Sponsored visas and replaces the second stage Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored (subclass 883) visa and the State Territory Nominated Independent (subclass 137) visa.

Onshore Skilled Permanent Residency Visas are available for Overseas Students who have completed Eligible Study in Australia

These visas can only be applied for when the visa applicant is physically in Australia. Upon successful application a Bridging Visa is granted. An applicant must also be in Australia for visa grant under these visa subclasses.

If you are an International Student who wants to make an application for permanent residency under the skilled visa stream (on the basis of Australian qualifications) and your Student Visa is due to expire before you are able to complete the necessary steps to submit a valid skilled visa application, you may be able to obtain a temporary residency visa to help keep you lawful as you undertake the path to permanent residency.

An overseas student who has completed Eligible Study who can't score the required 120 points on the Skilled Visa Points Test, or who does not have an eligible family sponsor willing and able to sponsor them or State/Territory government willing to sponsor them, should consider other visa options which may enable them to extend their stay in Australia with a view to obtaining permanent residency.

The new GSM reforms include the creation of an 18 month Skilled-Graduate (subclass 485) which will allow overseas students to build on their skills and work experience. This visa has unrestricted work rights and provides pathways to permanent residency via the Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 885 and Skilled Regional Subclass 887.

The changes aim to ensure that overseas students who decide to stay on in Australia after completing their studies have a much better chance of competing for jobs in their chosen vocation.

Therefore, you should not wait until you have graduated - if you have completed your course or are about to complete your course you may be eligible. Time is of the essence, as you must have your skills assessed by the appropriate assessing body as suitable for your nominated occupation.

If you would like a detailed assessment of your profile and advice of your eligibility then you can contact us to  make an appointment for a personal assessment.

Even if you have not finished your course - contact us now