From Working Holiday to Permanent Residency: 5 Pathways After Your 417 Visa

For a more comprehensive guide with detailed checklists and timelines, see our Complete Working Holiday to PR Roadmap.

Understanding Your Starting Point

The Subclass 417 Working Holiday visa allows passport holders from eligible countries to live and work in Australia for up to 12 months (extendable to 3 years with regional work). While it's designed as a temporary visa, many WHV holders discover career opportunities, partnerships, or lifestyle reasons to stay permanently.

Key insight: There is no direct pathway from 417 to permanent residency. You must transition through another visa category first.

Pathway 1: Employer Sponsorship (482 → 186)

Best for: WHV holders who have found an employer willing to sponsor them.

If you've been working for an Australian employer who values your skills, employer sponsorship is often the most direct route to PR. The typical pathway is:

1. Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) - Your employer sponsors you for 2-4 years
2. Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) - After 2-3 years, transition to PR

Requirements

Timeline: 2-4 years from 482 to 186 PR

⚠️ Important: Your employer must be willing to cover sponsorship costs and navigate the nomination process. Not all employers are familiar with this, so early conversations are essential.

Pathway 2: Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

Best for: Highly skilled workers who can score 65+ points without state nomination.

The 189 visa is the "gold standard" of skilled migration-no employer or state sponsor required. However, it's highly competitive and requires:

• Occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
• Positive skills assessment from the relevant authority
• Minimum 65 points on the points test (realistically 80-90+ for most occupations)
• Competent English (higher scores boost points significantly)

Points Breakdown Example

Timeline: 6-18 months processing after EOI invitation

💡 Tip: Many WHV holders don't have enough points initially. Consider options that add points: improving English scores, completing Australian study, or gaining more skilled work experience. Use our GSM Points Calculator to estimate your current score.

Pathway 3: State/Regional Nomination (190 or 491)

Best for: WHV holders with regional work experience or occupations in demand by specific states.

State-nominated pathways offer an alternative when 189 points are out of reach:

Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated)

• Adds 5 points to your total
• Requires commitment to live in the nominating state for 2 years
• Direct PR (no provisional period)

Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional)

• Adds 15 points to your total
• Must live and work in a designated regional area for 3 years
• Transitions to Subclass 191 PR after meeting income and residency requirements

Regional areas include: All of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. This means Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Hobart, Canberra, and many regional towns qualify.

⚠️ Note: State nomination requirements and occupation lists are subject to change. Please confirm current availability before applying.

Pathway 4: Student Pathway (Study → 485 → Skilled Visa)

Best for: WHV holders who want to gain Australian qualifications and extend their stay.

If you don't yet qualify for skilled migration, studying in Australia can:

• Provide a pathway to the Subclass 485 Graduate visa (2-4 years post-study work rights)
• Add 5-10 points for Australian study requirement
• Lead to skills assessment eligibility for certain occupations

Typical Timeline

1. Student visa (Subclass 500) - 2-4 years depending on course
2. Graduate visa (Subclass 485) - 2-4 years work rights
3. Skilled visa (189/190/491) - Apply with improved points and experience

Total timeline to PR: 4-8 years

Considerations

• Tuition fees for international students are significant (AUD $20,000-$45,000/year)
• Choose courses aligned with skilled occupation lists
• Regional study can provide additional points and longer graduate visas

For the latest on graduate visa changes, see our Graduate Visa 485 Guide.

⚠️ Trade occupations: If you're studying a trade (Chef, Carpenter, Motor Mechanic, etc.), be aware that the Job Ready Program (JRP) is required for most trade assessments. This is a 12+ month process involving workplace assessment after your studies. Do not assume you can simply "study and get PR."

Pathway 5: Partner Visa (820/801 or 309/100)

Best for: WHV holders who have entered a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

If you've met your partner during your working holiday, the partner visa pathway may be available:

Onshore (Subclass 820 → 801)

• Apply while in Australia
• Receive bridging visa while waiting
• Temporary (820) → Permanent (801) after approximately 2 years

Offshore (Subclass 309 → 100)

• Apply from outside Australia
• Provisional (309) → Permanent (100) after approximately 2 years

Evidence Requirements

The Department of Home Affairs requires substantial evidence of a genuine relationship:

Processing time: 20-30+ months (varies significantly)

Cost: AUD $8,850+ (one of the most expensive visa categories)

Comparing the Five Pathways

What You Should Do Now

1. Assess your skills - Check if your occupation is on a skilled occupation list
2. Calculate your points - Use our GSM Points Calculator
3. Review your timeline - How much time remains on your current 417?
4. Talk to your employer - If sponsorship is possible, start the conversation early
5. Get professional advice - Each pathway has complexities that can affect your eligibility

How First Migration Can Help

Transitioning from a working holiday to permanent residency involves navigating complex eligibility criteria, skills assessments, and ever-changing occupation lists. At First Migration Service Centre, our registered migration agents specialise in helping working holiday makers find the right pathway.

We can help you:

• Determine which pathway suits your situation
• Prepare skills assessment applications
• Navigate the EOI and invitation process
• Coordinate employer sponsorship applications
• Compile partner visa evidence

Ready to take the next step? We invite you to submit a free visa assessment so we can understand your situation and provide tailored advice.