Pathways to Permanent Residency for International Students Studying Tech / Finance in Australia

1. Post-Study Work Visa (Subclass 485):
   This is the most common route for graduates. It allows you to live and work in Australia temporarily after graduation. Graduates in tech and finance are often eligible for up to 4 years of work rights depending on their qualification level and institution.


2. Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189):
   A points-based visa for highly skilled professionals without requiring employer sponsorship. Students with tech-related occupations such as Software Engineer, Data Analyst, or Cybersecurity Specialist have strong prospects under this stream.


3. Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190):
   Requires nomination by an Australian state or territory. States often prioritize tech and finance graduates who meet local skill shortages and have studied in that region.


4. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491):
   For those studying or working in regional Australia. After 3 years of full-time work and living in a regional area, applicants can transition to permanent residency under Subclass 191.


5. Employer-Sponsored Pathways:
   Many graduates secure PR through employer sponsorship under visas such as the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482). After several years of full-time work, this can lead to permanent residency.


6. Graduate Work Stream (Subclass 485):
   Designed for students with qualifications linked to occupations on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Tech graduates, particularly in data science, AI, and software engineering, are often eligible.