Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)

This visa is designed for overseas students who have studied in Australia and completed their degree. This is a permanent residency visa and is also open to applicants who have studied in Australia in the past (application must be made within 6 months of completion of your course of study). In order to be eligible for this visa, you must:

• be under 45 years of age;
• have good English language skills;
• be able to nominate either a 60 or 50 point occupation from the Australian Skilled Occupation List (SOL);
• pass the points test;
• have completed your degree or course of study in Australia, which was not less than two acedemic years of full-time study and not less than 16 calendar months in duration;
• have completed a degree, diploma or a trade qualification; and
• have been physically present in Australia while studying.

If you have a partner or a spouse, they may apply for the same visa as secondary applicants. Applying for this visa, you are not required to have an approved sponsorship. 

Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) visa (subclass 886)

Similar to Subclass 885 visa above, this visa is designed for overseas students who are currently in Australia. This is also a permanent residency visa. In order to be eligible for the grant of this visa, you must:

• be under 45 years of age;
• have good English language skills;
• be able to nominate either a 60 or 50 point occupation from the Australian Skilled Occupation List (SOL);
• pass the points test;
• have completed your degree or course of study in Australia, which was not less than two acedemic years of full-time study and not less than 16 calendar months in duration;
• have completed a degree, diploma or a trade qualification;
• have been physically present in Australia while studying; and
• have sponsorship from either an eligible relative in Australia or a nomination from a State or Territory in Australia offering nominations for this type of visa.

If you have a partner or a spouse, they may apply for the same visa as secondary applicants.

Skilled – Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887)

This visa is a permanent visa and is designed for people who have held one of the visas listed below for two or more years. The holders of the following visas can be considered:

• Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)
• Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496)
• Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475)
• Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)

In addition to being able to show that you are the holder of one of the visas below, you must also:

• show that you have lived for a minimum of two years in a Specified Regional Area of Australia;
• show that you have worked for at least 12 months full-time in that Regional Area; and
• have sponsorship from either an eligible relative in Australia or a nomination from a State or Territory in Australia offering nominations for this type of visa.

What is considered to be a “Specified Regional Area” for the purposes of this visa application will depend on whether you applied for the Provisional Visa on the basis of a sponsorship from an eligible relative or the nomination from a State or Territory in Australia.

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)

This is a temporary visa, which once granted entitles you to remain in Australia for three years. This visa has been designed for people who are unable to pass the points test to be granted a permanent visa. By having this visa, you can remain in Australia for three years in order to take steps to satisfy the criteria needed for the grant of an Australian permanent visa. This visa is exclusively for people who are:

• an overseas student or former overseas student
• a holder of a Skilled – Graduate visa (subclass 485) or a Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476)
• a holder of a Trade Skills Training visa (subclass 471)
• a holder of a Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417)
• a holder of an Occupational Trainee visa (subclass 442)

 
In order to be eligible for the grant of this visa, you must:

• be under 45 years of age;
• have good English language skills;
• be able to nominate either a 60 or 50 point occupation from the Australian Skilled Occupation List (SOL);
• pass the points test (100 points only);
• obtain a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation;
• have completed your degree or course of study in Australia, which was not less than two acedemic years of full-time study and not less than 16 calendar months in duration;
• have completed a degree, diploma or a trade qualification;
• have been physically present in Australia while studying; and
• have sponsorship from either an eligible relative in Australia or a nomination from a State or Territory in Australia offering nominations for this type of visa.

Once you have been granted this visa, you will have the opportunity to apply for a permanent visa and may be granted a permanet visa either after two years or when this visa expires provided that you can show that:

• you have lived for a minimum of two years in a Specified Regional Area of Australia while holding this visa; and
• you have worked for at least 12 months full-time in that Regional Area.

What is considered to be a “Specified Regional Area” for the purposes of the permanent visa application will depend on whether you applied for this Provisional Visa on the basis of a sponsorship from an eligible relative or the nomination from a State or Territory in Australia.

Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 485)

This visa is designed for overseas students who have recently graduated from their course of study in Australia but are unable to apply for a permanent visa because they cannot satisfy the requirements for the grant of a permanent visa. This visa once granted is valid for 18 months and is aimed to assist you to take steps towards satisfying the criteria for the grant of a permanent visa. People wishing to apply for a permanent visa but do not satisfy the criteria for the grant of a permanent visa may use the 18 months to improve their language skills or to gain some work experience. This visa allows you to undertake further study or work in Australia.

In order to be eligible for the grant of this visa, you must:

• be under 45 years of age;
• have good English language skills;
• be able to nominate either a 60 or 50 point occupation from the Australian Skilled Occupation List (SOL);
• obtain a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation;
• be unable to meet the pass mark for the for the Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa;
• have completed your degree or course of study in Australia, which was not less than two acedemic years of full-time study and not less than 16 calendar months in duration;
• have completed a degree, diploma or a trade qualification;
• have been physically present in Australia while studying; and
• be the holder of an eligible student visa.

You do not require sponsorship in order to apply for this visa.