Tips to Apply for Engineers’ Permanent Residency in Australia
If you are an engineer, and wish to be a part of Australian skilled workforce, you have to apply for permanent residency. Having your name enlisted in Skilled Occupation List (SOL) gives you a competitive advantage because you will not require showing any work experience when applying for skilled migration visa to Australia.
For engineers applying for permanent residency in Australia via skilled migration visa, discussed here are some valuable tips to improve your chances of being enlisted in SOL and getting instant visa approval.
Improve Your English Language Test Score
One of the most effective ways to improve your chances of qualifying for skilled migration in Australia is to achieve an English language testing score that is higher than competent English.
If you are able to get PTE Academic score of 65 band in each or equivalent in Proficient Level or 79 band in each of equivalent in Superior Level, you will be awarded with 10 and 20 points respectively.
A higher score would mean better points. These points count when it comes to getting visa approval for skilled migration in Australia.
However, it is important to note here that Engineers Australia does not accept PTE academic test score as a part of skill assessment criteria currently.
State/Territory Sponsorship
Professions in the field of engineering are considered as one of the most in-demand and well paid occupations in Australia. Needless to say, having a degree in engineering will automatically improve your chances of getting permanent residency in the country.
Every Australian state has its own list of engineering professions, which are high in demand. If you are able to get a sponsorship or being nominated by a state or territory government, it can be very effective. This is especially true when it comes to priority visa processing, skill select, or getting skilled migration visa approved in Australia.
Take a Professional Year Program in Australia
Taking into consideration the huge demand for skilled workforce in Australia, the government has initiated a special Professional Year Program that equips international students with the experience and skills required to start a career in the country.
In Australia, merely having an engineering degree won’t suffice. It is important to have appropriate work experience as well, which most international students coming to Australia for higher education don’t have.
The Engineering Professional Year program is developed by Engineering Education Australia to help international students, with a degree in engineering, gain the required experience and skills to pursue a profession as a skilled Australian workforce.
Duration of the program is 44–52 months, which also involves 12 weeks training internship in a hosting company. In addition to this, engineering students will also receive 5 points on successfully completing professional year program in Australia before being invited to apply for Permanent Residency.
Skilled Recognized Graduate Visa (Subclass 476)
All students who have successfully completed an engineering course and awarded a degree within the last 2 years period from visa application date would be eligible to apply for Skilled Recognized Graduate Visa (Subclass 476).
On approval of this visa, the candidate will get up to 18 months of skilled work experience in Australia.
To be eligible for this visa, the student must have a bachelor degree or higher in engineering, and from a recognized institution that offers courses as specified by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
476 visa holders would be eligible to work and take any course of study including Engineering Professional Year program.
Despite streamlined visa application process for engineers, getting permanent residency in Australia can still be extremely complex and time-consuming process. The above-mentioned tips would help improve your chances of getting prompt and hassle-free visa approval.
