International students: learn about visa options to stay in Australia after graduation
Are you an international student in your last trimester of study, or are you starting to think about next steps after graduation? If you’d like to stay in Australia, it’s never too soon to investigate your options, as the process can sometimes be lengthy or complicated.
One pathway to stay in Australia is the subclass 491 visa program, which allows skilled migrants to live, study and work in designated regional areas such as Geelong for a period of five years.
Under the subclass 491 visa, your employer will sponsor you to work in Australia. After holding this visa for at least three years, you can then apply for permanent residency through the Permanent Residence Skilled Regional (subclass 191) visa.
For 2022–23, the Victorian Government has been allocated 2,400 places in this program and is currently accepting Registrations of Interest (ROI) from onshore and offshore applicants.
So, if you’re interested in living and working in regional Victoria after uni – or you may even already have a job you’d like to continue in once you graduate – we encourage you to attend an information session run by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, where you can learn how the visa process works.
Regional employers and business representatives will also be at the session, so it’s a great opportunity to meet and network with potential employers and learn what they’re looking for.
When: Wednesday 26 October, 4–6pm
Where: Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct, 137–149 Mercer Street, Geelong
Register by Monday 24 October.