Are you an international student over the age of 35 and worried about Australia’s new immigration rules? If yes, you have landed at the right spot! The Australian government has recently reduced the maximum age limit for the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa from 50 to 35 years old. Such a sudden policy change has caused a lot of turmoil amongst international students. And if you are a mature-age student, you may be asking yourself: Has my dream of Australian permanent residency (PR) come to an end? How do I handle these sudden roadblocks? Working with a professional like a Best Student Visa Consultant becomes very important if you want to plan out your next steps.
Here is a detailed explanation of how this age restriction affects your long-term PR pathways and what other strategies you can use to remain in Australia.
The Instant Effect on the Subclass 485 Visa:
- The Subclass 485 visa has long been the perfect launching pad for graduates.
- It allowed students to stay, work, and gain the local experience needed to become eligible for PR.
- Not Being Able to Get the “Experience Bridge”: By not having this visa, you give up the 2 to 4 years of totally unrestricted work rights during which professional points are built.
- Exemptions: Master’s by Research and PhD graduates have a higher age limit of 50, but taught master’s and bachelor’s students are stuck with the strict 35-year cap.
How Does the Cap Disrupt Long-Term PR Pathways?
- The Australian PR system is largely dependent on a points-based system or employer sponsorship.
- The age 35 cap initiates a chain reaction that makes getting a PR invite very difficult.
- Points Test Disadvantage: The General Skilled Migration (GSM) points system is designed to reward youth. A maximum of 30 points is given to applicants aged 25-32. Points fall sharply from 33 years onwards and are zero at 45 years. When the 485 visa is lost, you cannot earn points for Australian work experience or Professional Year programs.
What alternative PR strategies can students over 35 adopt?
- Firstly, you may want to consider skilling and earning a job directly through an employer who will then sponsor your visa. Having a good professional background from your home country is one of the ways to effectively skip the graduate visa and directly move to the work stream. The Temporary Skill Shortage visa, or TSS visa (Subclass 482), is for people who have two years of relevant work experience. This means that your work outside Australia can be considered as well. Besides, the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186) is a direct entry permanent visa. The requirements include having three years of post-license experience and being under 45 years of age.
- Secondly, you may consider state-nominated migration streams as a good opportunity. Australian states and territories have diverse sets of rules. Mature applicants who have a high level of specialised skills are the ones most targeted by some states. The main provisions of Subclass 190 and 491 visas are that you can choose a regional area that focuses on certain sectors like health, education, or engineering. One of the benefits of regional areas is that they provide a lower point threshold to attract experienced professionals.
- Thirdly, higher-tier academic pathways may also help you achieve permanent residency while working on your studies. A higher education level has always been a consideration when implementing the age requirement. By doing research for a master’s or doctoral degree, you come under the 485 age limit of 50, and you are legally entitled to remain and work after graduation.
Conclusion
The Subclass 485 visa issue of turning down applicants over 35 years old. Yes, it contributes to making it more difficult for older students to get Australian permanent residency. Even so, age is only one factor in a very intricate immigration formula. If you change your main emphasis to regional state nomination, use your previous international experience, or help in research-based education, you can still reach your residency objectives. Policy changes should not stop you from working hard. Get help from a top student visa consultant now to formulate a one-of-a-kind and solid strategy for your future.