PR Pathway Courses

The facts about Australian permanent residency (PR)

If you are currently studying in Australia or would like to do so in the future, the prospect of

gaining Australian permanent residency (PR) might be on your mind.  We address some

common questions below.

What does it mean to be an Australian permanent resident?

An Australian permanent resident is a non-citizen who holds a permanent visa. Permanent

residents can live, work and study in Australia without restriction, and are given most of the

rights and entitlements of Australian citizens. Permanent residents also have access to

Medicare, the Australian Government’s national health scheme.

How can I become a permanent resident?

Australia has different visas leading to permanent residency available for migrants.  These

visas are often referred to as skilled-migration visas (Genera Skilled Migration).  Here are

some of the well-known visas:

  • Skilled Independent Visa – Subclass 189

  • Skilled Nominated Visa – Subclass 190

  • Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa – Subclass 491 (State or Family Sponsorship Streams Available depends on State)

Occupations that are eligible for these visas are listed out on the Combined Skilled

Occupation List on the Home Affairs Website. With more than 170 occupations on the

Combined Skilled Lists, there are different courses that you can take to gain PR in Australia.

Following are the popular courses that lead to a GSM pathway in Australia.

PR in Australia – Increase your Chances of Securing PR after your study in Australia

The Skilled Independent Visa is considered to be the best chance for international students to

secure their permanent residency in Australia after they have completed their education. Your

approval for a GSM or General Skilled Migration category visa (the skilled independent visa

is part of this category) is highly dependent upon how well you score in the Points Test.  The

following are some of the ways you can boost your scores in the test:

  • Post-Study work in Australia – Staying back in Australia after the completion of your program will give you more time to work on getting job experience and brush up on your language skills, if required. You can secure a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) which will allow you to remain in the country for 18-months.

  • Increase your qualifications – You can increase your level of qualification to help you get a better score on the points test. For example, diplomas and trade degrees give you 10 points on the test scores while bachelor’s degrees give you 15. The highest points are given to doctorate degree holders with 20.

  • Language proficiency – Applicants are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English language. It benefits them as they get more points if they score higher on the language exams. An IELTS score of 7 or 8 awards you with 10 and 20 points respectively.

  • Opting for regional universities – If you have completed your degree in a regional area like southern Queensland, it will provide you with some benefits when applying for a permanent residency visa. People who have lived in a specified regional area for a period of 2 years and have worked full-time in that area for 12 months become eligible to apply for the Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887).

  • Age factor – Remember that your age can have a large impact on your scores in the points test. People between the ages of 25 and 32 are given 30 points but people who are 45 years old and above do not receive any points at all! So try to time your application with that in mind.

  • Job experience – Even if you have just one year of work experience in Australia after your degree’s completion, you will find that it provides you with 5 additional points on the test. The more experience you have in your chosen field or profession, the more points you will be awarded. That’s why it’s important for international students to gain some work experience either along with their studies, or after they have completed. Experience in the same field but gained outside Australia will also net you some points.

  • Professional year program – These are designed to combine formal learning and hands-on workplace experience which leads to structured professional development of the candidates. Professional year courses last for 12 months and candidates who have completed a course are eligible to receive 5 extra points in the test as well as gain precious Australian workplace experience. These courses are available in the fields of computer science, engineering and accounting. Remember to take a course that is closely related to your degree or your chosen profession.

General Skilled Migration (GSM) Steps

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Current Popular PR Pathway Courses

A. Cookery & Hospitality Course; Pathway to PR

Courses under the Cookery and Hospitality field not only promise an exciting career but also

hold potential in obtaining permanent residency status. Passionate students invest in their

career through quality Australian education and hands-on work experiences. Whether your

passion is in cooking, baking, or managing hotels, Australia’s booming tourism industry is

always in need of hospitable and passionate persons making a difference in their job.

Cookery and Hospitality jobs on the list are Chef; Café or Restaurant Manager; Hotel or

Motel Manager; Licensed Club Manager; Bed and Breakfast Operator; Accommodation and

Hospitality Managers; and more.

B. Nursing Course; Pathway to PR

Australia’s ever-growing population depends on its highly skilled medical staff in providing

healthcare. Medical and nursing courses attract thousands of local and international students

determined to profess their passion and lay foundations to a promising career. Consistently

being included in the skills lists, nursing is one of the desired courses in the medical field.

C. Automotive Course; Pathway to PR

There are plenty of automotive courses available for international students. The most popular

among international students are Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology and Automotive

Mechanical Diagnosis.

Taking these courses can lead to a career as a light vehicle mechanical technician, automotive

technician, or automotive technical adviser. Graduates also gain hands-on experience through

placements.

D. Other Trades courses, Pathway to PR

  • Here are some of the trade courses in high demand that you can do:

  • Electrical Engineering Technician

  • Engineering Fabrication

  • Automotive Mechanic

  • Boat Building

  • Automotive Car Repair

  • Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

  • Joinery

  • Painting and Decorating

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