Work and Permanent residency in Australia

More than 80% of Duc Anh EduConnect students secure employment in Australia, and over 50% choose to stay permanently.

Part-time work during studies

While studying in Australia, international students are allowed to work 48 hours per fortnight. This allows you to either work up to 48 hours per week if shifts are available, or distribute the hours across two weeks depending on your schedule.

Typical part-time jobs for international students include hospitality, restaurants, supermarkets, retail stores, farm work and other sectors. Some students find jobs related to their academic field, while others work as teaching assistants or tutors.

As of 1 July 2026, Australia’s minimum wage increased to AUD 26.44 per hour, which is higher than many other developed countries.

Finding Jobs

You can search for jobs through:

• University career and employment centres
• Local employment support services
• Official government job platforms such as: workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/jobs/ or jobsearch.com.au

To enhance your job prospects, students should participate in university-run workshops on CV writing, interview preparation and job application skills.

Important Notes for Students

• Work only within the allowed number of hours.
• Obtain your Tax File Number (TFN) before starting any job.
• Declare and pay income tax properly and lodge your tax return at the end of the financial year.
• Avoid overworking, which can negatively impact health and studies.
• Never engage in illegal work, tax evasion or activities that violate Australian law.

Work after graduation  

To stay and work in Australia after graduation, you will need to switch from the Student Visa (Subclass 500) to the Temporary Graduate Visa – Post Study Work Stream (Subclass 485). This visa is very straightforward to apply for and is rarely refused.

Post-study work rights (effective from 1 July 2024):

• Graduates with an associate degree, diploma, or vocational certificate in an occupation on Australia’s priority skill list: eligible to stay for 18 months.
• Graduates with a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s by coursework: eligible to stay for 2 years.
• Graduates with a Master’s by research or PhD: eligible to stay for 3 years.

City categories and extended post-study work duration.

Students graduating from major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) do not receive regional extensions. Students who study in regional areas may receive an additional 1–2 years of stay and an extra 5 migration points.

According to regulations effective from 16 November 2019 with updates in 2023, there are three regional categories:

A. Category 1: Major Cities: Includes Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane → These areas are not regional, therefore no extension applies.

• Bachelor’s / Master’s by coursework: 2 years
• Master’s by research / PhD: 3 years

B. Category 2: Major Regional Centers: Includes Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong, Hobart è Students receive an additional 1-year extension after completing a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

• Bachelor’s / Master’s by coursework: 3 years
• Master’s by research / PhD: 4 years

C. Category 3: All Other Regional Areas: Students receive an additional 2-year extension after completing a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

• Bachelor’s / Master’s by coursework: 4 years
• Master’s by research / PhD: 5 years

Additional updates for Tasmania (effective 12 September 2025): International students who study and live in Tasmania are eligible for a second 485 visa (2 years), increasing the total post-study stay as follows:

• Bachelor’s / Master’s by coursework: 4 years total
• Master’s by research / PhD: 5 years total

Your course must be at least 2 years long (92 weeks) to qualify.

Pathways Beyond the 485 Visa

While working in Australia, graduates who meet eligibility requirements may:

• Secure a long-term job and transition to a working visa, or
• Strengthen their profile to apply for permanent residency (PR) through the skilled migration pathway.

Apply for permanent residency

International students who complete a diploma, bachelor’s, master’s or PhD program in Australia may be eligible to apply for permanent residency once they meet all requirements. Please review the key information below, including:

• Conditions for applying for Australian permanent residency;
• How the skilled migration points test (Visa Subclass 189) works;
• The occupation lists, quotas and eligible skilled migration pathways.

Eligibility Requirements for Australian Permanent Residency

Applicants for Permanent Residency (PR) must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Be under 45 years old;
• Nominate an occupation that appears on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List;
• Successfully pass a skills assessment conducted by the relevant assessing authority;
• Meet requirements for English proficiency, police clearance, and health check.
• Achieve at least 65 points under the Department of Home Affairs skilled migration points system;

(Some competitive occupations such as Accounting or IT may require a higher points score.)

Skilled Migration Points Test

Since 1 July 2017, the Australian Department of Home Affairs has updated the Skilled Migration Points Test. Please refer to the detailed information here.

According to the latest regulations, applicants must achieve a minimum of 65 points to be eligible to apply for skilled migration visas under subclasses 189, 190, 489, and 491.

The points-based system ensures a transparent and objective selection process, rewarding skills and contributions considered highly valuable to Australia.

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) Points Test – Reference Guide

A. Age

• 18–24 years: 25 points
• 25–32 years: 30 points
• 33–39 years: 25 points
• 40–44 years: 15 points

B. English Language Proficiency

• IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6) or PTE Academic 50 or TOEFL iBT (minimum 12 listening, 13 reading, 21 writing, 18 speaking): 0 points
• IELTS 7.0 (no band below 7) or PTE Academic 65 or TOEFL iBT (minimum 24 listening, 24 reading, 27 writing, 23 speaking): 10 points
• IELTS 8.0 (no band below 8) or PTE Academic 79 or TOEFL iBT (minimum 28 listening, 29 reading, 30 writing, 26 speaking): 20 points

C. Skilled Employment Experience

• Employment Outside Australia
  • Less than 3 years: 0 points
  • 3 to 4.9 years: 5 points
  • 5 to 7.9 years: 10 points
  • 8 years or more: 15 points
• Employment Within Australia
  • Less than 1 year: 0 points
  • 1 to 2.9 years: 5 points
  • 3 to 4.9 years: 10 points
  • 5 to 7.9 years: 15 points
  • 8 years or more: 20 points

D. Qualifications (Australian or Recognised Overseas Qualifications)

• Award, qualification or certificate recognised by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority: 10 points
• Australian trade certificate, diploma or qualification: 10 points
• Bachelor’s degree or master’s degree: 15 points
• Doctoral degree: 20 points

E. Specialist Education Qualification

• Master’s by Research or PhD completed in Australia with at least 2 academic years in a related field: 10 points

F. Australian Study Requirement

• At least one degree, diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia in a course of at least 2 academic years: 5 points

G. Completion of a Professional Year

• Completion of a Professional Year Program in Australia in Accounting, ICT or Engineering: 5 points

H. NAATI Accreditation

• Holding accreditation from NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters): 5 points

I. Study in a Regional Area

• Completion of a course while living and studying in a designated regional area: 5 points

J. Partner Skills Points

• If the applicant is married or in a de facto relationship, additional points may be awarded depending on the partner’s skills:
  • Partner meets age, English and skills requirements
    • Under 45, IELTS 6.0 or equivalent, nominated occupation on the same list, passed skills assessment: 10 points
    • Partner meets English requirement only (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent): 5 points
    • Applicant is single or partner is an Australian citizen or PR: 10 points

Additional Points for Other Visa Subclasses

Using the same points system, applicants may earn additional points when applying for other skilled migration subclasses:

K. State Nomination – Subclass 190

• Nomination by an Australian state or territory government: 5 points

L. Regional Sponsorship – Subclass 489

• Nomination by a state/territory or sponsorship by an eligible family member: 15 points

M. Regional Provisional Visa – Subclass 491

• Nomination by a state/territory or sponsorship by an eligible family member: 15 points

Skilled Occupations Eligible for Permanent Residency in Australia

You can refer to the official resources below for the list of skilled occupations, visa types and requirements related to skilled migration in Australia:

• Skilled occupation list: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list#
• All Skilled Migration Visa Categories: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia
• Points Test for Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189/points-table
• Skills Assessment Guidelines: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skills-assessment

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