Student Visa to PR Australia 2026 — Complete Guide

🌏 Offshore pre-arrival checklist

Before you spend a dollar, five decisions that determine your PR timeline:
1. Choose a regional institution if possible — adds 5 study points + qualifies for 491 (+15pts) = 20 point advantage
2. Choose your occupation based on current MLTSSL status, not just job prospects — check demand here
3. Get IELTS 7.0+ before arriving — proficient English adds 10 DHA points
4. Student visa fee: AUD $1,600 non-refundable — budget accordingly
5. Work rights cap is 48 hours per fortnight — plan your income accordingly

Section 1

Your PR Readiness Score

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/100

Occupation demand —

Projected points at graduation —

Most accessible pathway —

Est. time to PR from graduation —

Your highest-impact action right now

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Section 2

Your PR journey stages

Scroll right to see all stages. Each stage shows real timeframes and what to do.

Section 3

Degree to PR checker

Source: DHA Skilled Occupation Lists (MLTSSL/STSOL). Last confirmed: Nov 2025 SkillSelect round.

Projected points at graduation

Age assumed 27 at graduation. English assumed Proficient (IELTS 7+). Overseas work experience 0 (pre-graduation). Australian work experience builds during 485 visa period.

State accessibility at your projected score

Based on Nov 13 2025 DHA round and state nomination patterns. Cutoffs vary — check state portals for current requirements.

Section 5

Regional study advantage calculator

Two separate DHA bonuses — both may apply to you:
Australian study bonus (+5 pts) — requires 2 academic years in Australia in a CRICOS-registered course for your occupation. Available to metro and regional students.
Regional study (+5 pts) — requires 2 academic years at a regional campus. Cannot be claimed alongside the Australian study bonus for the same degree — claim whichever applies (usually regional gives the same 5 pts but unlocks the 491 pathway).
491 regional nomination (+15 pts) — separate and stackable. Requires living and working in regional Australia for 3 years after nomination. Does not require regional study — but regional study significantly improves 491 nomination access.

THREE SCENARIOS — YOUR PROFILE

Main regional universities for the regional study bonus

Source: DHA regional postcodes list and CRICOS register. Always verify your specific campus is classified as regional at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au

Section 6

Real student outcomes

Live student outcomes

View all outcomes → Submit yours →

Section 7

State guide for post-graduation

Personalised to your occupation and projected points. Where you live after graduation is one of the most important PR decisions you make.

State nomination cutoffs are estimates based on recent invitation patterns. Always verify at each state's migration portal before applying.

Section 8

Work rights and 485 intelligence

Work rights — 500 Student Visa (DHA Condition 8105)

While your course is IN SESSION
Maximum 48 hours per fortnight. Applies during all teaching periods, exam periods, and any period you are enrolled in subjects counting toward your degree. Applies across all employers combined — including unpaid work that would normally attract payment.

During official course breaks and holidays
Unlimited work hours. No cap applies when your course is not in session — semester breaks, summer holidays, mid-semester breaks. The 48-hour limit resumes the moment your next teaching period begins.

Masters by Research and PhD students
No work hour restriction at any time once your course has commenced. Applies to research-stream degrees only — not coursework Masters. Confirm your stream via VEVO or your visa grant notice.

The July 2023 change increased the cap from 40 to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods. It did not remove the course break exemption — unlimited hours during official breaks has always applied and continues to apply in 2026.

One fortnight = 14 consecutive days starting on a Monday. Calculate rolling 14-day periods — not just week by week. You can breach the cap across a fortnight even if each individual week looks fine.

Mandatory CRICOS-registered work placements are exempt from the 48-hour cap. Check if your course has a work component listed on CRICOS.

Source: DHA Condition 8105 — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · Verify your specific conditions via VEVO.

Work hours tracker — this fortnight

This tracker uses your browser's memory. Clear your browser data to reset. Not stored on any server.

485 post-study work visa — duration by qualification

Qualification	Location	Duration	Work rights
Bachelor degree	Major city	2 years	Unlimited
Bachelor degree	Regional Australia	3 years	Unlimited
Masters degree	Any location	3 years	Unlimited
PhD	Any location	4 years	Unlimited
Diploma / Cert IV	Any location	18 months	Unlimited

Source: DHA 485 Temporary Graduate Visa. Verify at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Regional locations determined by DHA postcode lists.

485 to PR strategy — by year

⚠️ Common mistakes that delay PR

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Already enrolled? Is it worth changing?

Honest comparison of your current degree versus the highest-PR-demand alternative at the same level. Based on current DHA tier data.

Years remaining in degree

Change feed

Updates for your occupation

Policy and demand changes relevant to your specific degree and occupation. Updated when anything shifts. This is why you check back.

Changes sourced from DHA policy updates, state nomination changes, and community reports. Updated within 48 hours of any shift.

Student Visa to Australian PR 2026 — 500 to 485 to PR Complete Guide