Student Visa to PR in Australia: The Complete Roadmap (500 → 485 → PR)

The realistic path from a subclass 500 student visa to permanent residence — study points, the 485 graduate visa and its regional extension, and the four roads (189, 190, 491, 482) to a permanent visa. Figures as at September 2026.

Read the full guide, with official sources →

Watch

Chapters

  1. 0:00 Student visa to PR:
  2. 0:11 The stages
  3. 0:23 5 to 9 years,
  4. 0:43 Points from study
  5. 0:56 Australian study requirement:
  6. 1:18 Subclass 485:
  7. 1:30 Regional graduates:
  8. 2:02 Citizenship: 4 years,
  9. 2:12 The mistake: using the 485
  10. 2:30 Where to read more

Transcript

You've got a subclass 500 student visa. How do you actually end up with permanent residence?

The route generally runs in stages: a subclass 500 student visa, then a subclass 485 graduate visa, then a skilled or an employer-sponsored visa, then permanent residence.

Door to door, the realistic timeline runs 5 to 9 years, depending on your age, occupation, English, and course choices.

While you're studying on the subclass 500, you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight when your course is in session, and unlimited hours during a scheduled break.

Studying in Australia earns points toward a skilled visa. A bachelor's degree or a master's by coursework both score 15 points, a doctorate scores 20, and meeting the Australian study requirement adds another 5.

That Australian study requirement means 92 weeks of CRICOS-registered study — 2 academic years.

English matters too. Proficient English needs IELTS 7.0 in every component, or PTE Academic 58 listening, 59 reading, 69 writing, and 76 speaking.

Finish your course, and you can apply for the subclass 485 Post-Higher Education Work stream within 6 months. It typically grants 2 to 3 years of full-time work rights.

Studied and worked in a regional area? The Second Post-Higher Education Work stream adds another 1 to 2 years on top.

From there, several roads lead to permanent residence. A subclass 189 needs no nomination. A 190 state nomination adds 5 points. A 491 regional visa adds 15 points, with 3 years' regional residence before the 191 grant. Or an employer sponsors a 482, moving later to a 186.

Once you're a permanent resident, citizenship needs 4 years of lawful residence in total, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident.

The most common mistake is treating the 485 as just a working visa, instead of building toward a specific pathway from day one. Many graduates run 189, 190, and 491 expressions of interest in parallel, and take whichever comes first.

The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.

Short versions

Talk it through with a registered agent

Every agent on Migratio is on the official OMARA register. Compare agents and their consultation fees.

Related Migratio resources