This visa is for overseas students who have completed their course studies in Australia and holders of temporary visas who would like to apply for permanent residency. In order to be eligible to apply for this visa, individuals must already be in Australia and hold a valid visa. In addition, applicants must also be in Australia when the visa is granted.
This visa uses a points based test to select visa applicants with skills needed in the Australian labour market. Applicants need 120 points in order to pass and there is no reserve pool for this visa.
Applicants who are granted this visa are allowed to live as permanent residents in Australia. Permanent residents are entitled to sponsor others for permanent residence.
Australian permanent residents can also study in Australia, at either a school, college, or university, and work without restriction in Australia permanently.
Australian permanent residents are eligible for Medicare, and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). They also have recourse to social security benefits.
Australian permanent residents can then go on to apply for Australian citizenship.
Eligibility
There are a number of requirements that must be satisfied in order to be granted an Onshore Independent (subclass 885) visa.
Applicants must be one of the following:
- An overseas student or a former overseas student
- A holder of a Skilled - Recognised Graduate Visa (subclass 476)
- A holder of a Skilled - Graduate visa (subclass 485)
- A holder of a Trade Skills Training visa (subclass 471)
In addition, applicants must:
- Be under 45 years of age
- Have good English language skills
- Have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and your nominated occupation must be classified as either:
- A 60 point occupation or
- A 50 point occupation
Other requirements are as follows:
- The applicant must have met the two year requirement in the last 6 months with Australian qualifications that are directly connected to their chosen occupation; or
- If the applicant holds a Skilled - Graduate (subclass 284) visa or a Skilled - Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa, the selected occupation must be directly linked to the study used to obtain that visa; or
- If the applicant holds a Trade Skills Training (subclass 471) visa, the apprenticeship for which the visa was granted must be completed and directly related to the nominated occupation.
Applicants must have an appropriate skills assessment in the nominated occupation and meet the points test threshold. In addition, applicants must also meet all health and character checks.
