There are a number of ways in which 485 visa holders can obtain PR, and the following section details some of the common ways in which 485 visa holders can apply for permanent residence in Australia, including applying for a Permanent Skilled Work Visa or a Family Visa. Currently 485 visa holders can usually stay in Australia for between 2 and 4 years. Hong Kong passport holders can stay for up to 5 years. After obtaining a 485 visa it is very important to gain work experience, which will directly impact on the skills scoring test when applying for PR.

First Option: Employer Sponsored TSS 482 Visa

The 485 visa can be used to get permanent residency through the TSS 482 visa and ENS 186, and it is very easy to get Australian PR as long as you can find an employer who is willing to sponsor you.

The TSS 482 visa requires the applicant to have worked in the nominated occupation or related field for at least two years, which means that two years of work experience needs to be accumulated while holding a 485 visa. Before commencing employer sponsorship, one should refer to the Immigration Department's list of occupations and have accumulated suitable work experience.

• Pros: This option allows applicants to stay in big cities like Melbourne and Sydney without travelling to remote areas to work.
• Disadvantages: must find employer sponsorship and work for one employer for a long period of time; it takes about 3 years to obtain PR by choosing the employer sponsorship route.

Second Option: Direct PR through 186 Employer Sponsored Visa

Applicants must have an employer who agrees to sponsor them to remain in Australia to obtain PR under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS), which allows skilled foreign workers nominated by Australian employers to receive a 186 permanent residence visa. Applicants can apply for this visa from within or outside Australia. Applicants must have a valid visa or bridging visa A, B or C to apply for this visa in Australia. In addition, applicants are required to pass a skills assessment and have at least three years of experience in a skilled occupation list job.

• Benefits: Direct access to a permanent residence visa with no waiting period. A great option for experienced and skilled candidates.
• Cons: To qualify for the 186 visa, you must have your sponsoring employer and your previous work experience.

Third Option: 485 to Permanent Residence Skills Independence Visa
485 visa holders can apply for an Independent Skilled visa. The Independent Skilled Visa does not require employer sponsorship, but does require a skills assessment and successful passing of the points test (with a minimum of 65 points).The 189 visa is the most common Independent Skilled Permanent Residence Visa, and subclass 189 Independent Skilled Visa holders can permanently relocate to Australia, requiring the applicant:

• Occupations on the 189 Occupational List (MLTSSL)
• Adoption of skills assessment
• Submit EOI and get invited
• Achieved 65 points (as of 1 July 2018)
• Between the ages of 18 and 44 (inclusive)

Fourth Option: Permanent Residency through a State Sponsored 491 Visa.

If you are willing to move to a remote city in Australia, such as Canberra or the Gold Coast, you can consider the State Nomination Visa. If you choose a suitable occupation, apply for a 491 visa and obtain permanent resident status in Australia in 3 years.

Fifth Option: State Sponsored 190 Visa

Each state and territory government has its own list of in-demand occupations within its region. Visas have specific requirements for work experience, English language proficiency or skills assessment.

Applicants can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect detailing the nominated occupation, skills and qualifications.SkillSelect will estimate the applicant's score. For each state, applicants need to apply for a separate state nomination and meet different criteria for each state.

Sixth option::Conversion from 485 to Permanent Resident through Training Visa 407

The Training Visa 407 is an excellent way to find a job and has lower requirements for sponsors and applicants than the Employer Sponsored TSS Visa 482. As long as the applicant has studied for 12 months or has equivalent work experience in the occupational field, they are eligible to apply for a 407 training visa. Best of all, unlike the TSS visa 482, employers are not required to pay an experience nomination fee.

Under the training programme, training visas can be held for up to 18 to 24 months. In other words, through your 485 visa and 407 visa, applicants can accumulate approximately 3 to 4 years of work experience to fulfil the requirements for PR.

If you are currently on a 485 visa and intend to stay in Australia, it's important to plan ahead if you want to be eligible for permanent residency in 3-5 years - every wrong choice is a waste of time and could cause you to miss out on the best time to migrate. Everyone's situation is different and our specialistsImmigration LawyerWe can help you choose and plan the most suitable migration plan for you based on your personal situation, we have helped thousands of clients to migrate to Australia, you can call us at(03) 9602 3988 Book an immigration consultation and let the immigration experts show you the best way to emigrate.