Points tested
189 independent
No state or employer nomination, but the applicant needs an eligible occupation, skills assessment, EOI and invitation. Competitive points can be well above the threshold.
Read subclass 189 guide485 Visa to Permanent Residence Pathways
Use your Temporary Graduate period deliberately: compare skilled, state-nominated, regional and employer-sponsored routes, then set evidence milestones well before visa expiry.
MARN 2519006 No automatic PR pathway Reviewed 22 July 2026
A 485 visa creates time, not a PR entitlement
Subclass 485 is temporary. Its practical value is the opportunity to build the skills, experience, employer support or nomination evidence needed for a separate later application.
Do not wait for the last months of the visa. Skills assessment, English improvement, relevant work experience, state nomination and employer sponsorship each have their own lead times and may not align with the 485 expiry date.
Compare before committing
Common routes from 485 toward permanent residence
More than one pathway can be tested at the same time, but each application and every points or experience claim must be supported by the correct evidence.
| Route | Main permanent visa | Core preparation | Key uncertainty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent | 189 | Eligible occupation, skills assessment, English, competitive points and SkillSelect EOI | Meeting 65 points does not guarantee an invitation |
| State nominated | 190 | Skills assessment, English, points, EOI and current state or territory nomination criteria | State priorities and invitation settings can change |
| Regional skilled | 491 then 191 | State nomination or eligible family sponsorship, invitation and compliance with regional provisional settings | 491 is provisional; 191 is a later separate application |
| Employer nominated | 186 Direct Entry or 482 then 186 TRT | Genuine position, approved nomination, occupation, salary, experience, skills and English requirements | A job offer or 482 visa does not guarantee 186 |
| Regional employer | 494 then 191 | Regional employer nomination, occupation, salary, experience and compliance with provisional visa requirements | 494 is provisional; later 191 criteria must still be met |
| Partner or family | Relevant permanent or staged family visa | Genuine relationship, eligible sponsor and subclass-specific evidence | Holding a 485 does not create family-visa eligibility |
Test skilled and employer pathways side by side
The strongest plan may change as work experience, points and employer circumstances develop.
State nominated
190 nominated
A state or territory nominates an applicant who meets its current criteria and the visa requirements. Study or residence in a state does not guarantee nomination.
Read subclass 190 guideEmployer nominated
186 permanent
Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition have different histories and evidence. The employer nomination and the applicant's visa criteria both require review.
Read subclass 186 guideRegional
491 or 494 to 191
Regional provisional pathways may lead to a later subclass 191 application when the holder meets the relevant requirements.
Read regional pathway guidePoints-tested planning while on a 485
A graduate can use the 485 period to strengthen genuine points claims and prepare the EOI evidence before an invitation arrives.
- Skills assessment: confirm the correct authority, occupation, qualification and employment-evidence standard.
- English: identify the score needed for eligibility and the score that would improve points.
- Employment: distinguish work that is relevant and assessable from work that merely provides income.
- Partner claims: verify relationship, age, English, occupation and skills-assessment evidence before claiming points.
- EOI maintenance: keep SkillSelect accurate when English, employment, qualifications or family circumstances change.
Employer sponsorship from a 485 visa
Relevant graduate employment can help establish experience and an employer relationship, but sponsorship requires much more than staying in the same job.
- Check whether the business can meet sponsorship and nomination requirements for the intended visa.
- Review the annual market salary rate and the income threshold that applies when the nomination is lodged.
- Match the genuine position and actual duties to the nominated occupation and selected stream.
- Calculate relevant work experience from reliable evidence, including dates, hours, leave, duties and employment status.
- Compare 186 Direct Entry, 482 then 186 Temporary Residence Transition, and regional 494 to 191 rather than assuming one route.
Regional options can add a route, not a shortcut
A graduate prepared to live and work regionally may compare state-nominated 491 and employer-sponsored 494 pathways. Both are provisional, with a later subclass 191 stage.
- Check the current definition and evidence for the relevant designated regional area.
- For 491 state nomination, review the jurisdiction's current occupation, residence, employment and invitation settings.
- For 494, examine the regional employer, position, occupation, salary and nomination requirements.
- Keep address, work, tax, travel and visa-condition records that may be important to the later pathway.
Set milestones from day one
A written plan should state what must be achieved, the evidence required and the latest safe review date.
First 30 days
Confirm 485 grant details, expiry, work rights, occupation options, likely skills authority and the strongest two pathway tracks.
Next 3 to 6 months
Start the skills assessment, improve English, organise employment evidence and research current state or employer criteria.
Mid-visa review
Recalculate points, audit work experience, update the EOI, assess employer viability and decide whether regional options are realistic.
Well before expiry
Check whether a valid later application is genuinely ready. If not, assess other lawful options or plans to depart before the visa expires.
Records that make later applications stronger
Graduate work is most useful when it is relevant, genuine and documented to the standard required by the visa and assessing authority.
- Signed contract, position description, organisational context and evidence of actual duties.
- Payslips, bank credits, tax records, superannuation and timesheets where available.
- Accurate start and end dates, weekly hours, unpaid leave and changes in position.
- Detailed employer references that meet the relevant authority or visa evidence requirements.
- Professional registration, licensing, continuing development and skills-assessment correspondence.
- Current passport, visa records, police checks, health evidence and family documents as required.
Official sources for 485 and PR planning
Visa settings can change. Check the current Home Affairs pages and the exact stream before acting.
485 visa to PR questions
These answers explain the pathway structure. They do not decide an individual application.
Does 485 automatically lead to PR?
No. Subclass 485 is temporary. A holder must meet and apply under the requirements of a separate later visa.
What are common 485 to PR routes?
Depending on the facts: 189, 190, 491 to 191, 186, or 494 to 191. Partner and family pathways have separate criteria.
Is 65 points enough?
It is the general SkillSelect threshold for 189, 190 and 491, but it does not guarantee an invitation or state nomination.
Can a 485 holder apply for 186?
Potentially, if the employer nomination and applicant meet a relevant 186 stream. Direct Entry and 482-to-TRT routes must be assessed separately.
When should planning start?
As early as possible, ideally before or at the 485 stage, because skills, English, experience, nomination and employer evidence can take time.
Build your 485-to-PR milestone plan
Send your 485 stream and expiry, age, qualification, occupation, skills assessment, English, work history, employer and preferred location.