On 3 August 2026, Gerome received the email that he and his wife Patricia had spent years working towards: his Permanent Residency Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) had been granted. He was now an Australian Permanent Resident
The approval marked the culmination of a long journey involving his study, his electrical work experience, a skills assessment, the English testing and skilled migration planning.
For Gerome and Patricia, it was a moment that took years to achieve and several hours to fully sink in.
“From the time we got the golden email at about 12 noon, it took me three or four hours to reply, because I couldn't absorb the fact that we're now permanent residents.”
— Patricia
Here is their journey from studying electrotechnology in Australia to becoming Australian permanent residents.
Quick Facts About Gerome and Patricia’s PR Journey
- Gerome began studying Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician: Around February 2021
- Completed his qualification: June 2023
- Post-study visa: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
- Occupation: Electrician
- Skills assessment pathway: Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
- Skilled migration pathway: State nomination and Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Subclass 190 visa granted: 3 August 2026
- Outcome: Australian permanent residency
*Every migration journey is different. Gerome and Patricia’s experience reflects their individual circumstances and DOES NOT mean the same pathway or outcome will apply to every applicant.
Gerome’s Pathway From Electrotechnology Student to Permanent Residency
Gerome’s journey developed over several years and involved multiple stages:
Student visa → Electrotechnology studies → Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) → Relevant electrical work experience → Skills assessment → Expression of Interest → State nomination → Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) → Permanent residency
While the pathway looks simple when summarised in one line, each stage required Gerome to meet the requirements that applied to his circumstances at the time.
Studying Electrotechnology in Australia
In February 2021, he began studying Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician at Superior Training Center. Pathway to Aus assisted with the enrollment and student visa. He completed his qualification in June 2023.
His electrotechnology studies helped him develop the technical skills and training needed to continue building his career in the electrical industry.
Completing the course, however, was only one part of his journey. The next important step was gaining relevant work experience.
Moving Onto a Temporary Graduate Visa
After completing his studies, Gerome moved on to a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).
At this period in time, this gave him the opportunity to continue developing his career and build relevant electrical work experience in Australia.
That experience would later become important when Gerome began progressing towards his skills assessment and skilled migration pathway.
Building Relevant Electrical Work Experience
Gerome continued working in the electrical industry and building documented work experience.
For his individual circumstances, being able to demonstrate three years of relevant work experience became an important part of progressing his skills assessment.
Patricia remembers the encouragement they received from our Registered Migration Agent Nick Yock during this stage:
“It's just really good how Nick is always emailing us, telling us — hey, if we can prove you have three years' work experience, we could get you to skills assessment. That gave us hope to actually get this application started.”
— Patricia
For Gerome and Patricia, finding out that his accumulated work experience could help them move forward gave them renewed hope that permanent residency might be achievable.
It is important to note that the work experience and skills assessment requirements that applied to Gerome were specific to his circumstances. Applicants should not assume that three years of work experience will automatically satisfy the requirements for every electrical skills assessment.
Completing the Electrician Skills Assessment
Another major milestone in Gerome’s journey was progressing through the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) with Trades Recognition Australia (TRA).
TRA is responsible for skills assessments for a range of trade occupations for migration purposes, including relevant electrician and other trade occupations.
The skills assessment stage can involve evidence of qualifications, employment and trade skills depending on the applicant’s occupation and circumstances. After this, he then needed to sit both a theoretical and practical test.
For Gerome, successfully progressing through this stage was an important step towards pursuing his skilled migration pathway.
We at Pathway to Aus assisted Gerome specifically with his skills assessment, helping him navigate this part of the process.
Expression of Interest and State Nomination
After progressing through his skills assessment and other requirements, Gerome moved to the skilled migration stage of his journey.
This included submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) and pursuing the state nomination for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190).
The subclass 190 is a points-tested permanent visa. It requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government.
Gerome received state nomination from New South Wales (NSW), allowing his migration journey to progress towards the subclass 190 visa.
State and territory nomination requirements can vary and can change over time. An eligible occupation, Australian qualification or positive skills assessment DOES NOT by itself guarantee nomination or a visa grant.
For Gerome and Patricia, receiving nomination brought them closer to the permanent residency outcome they had been working towards for years.
The Hardest Part: Racing Against the Visa Deadline
Even after everything they had already accomplished, one of the most stressful periods came at the end of their journey.
Their Temporary Graduate visa was already due to expire on 15 January while Gerome was still working hard to achieve the PTE English score required for his circumstances.
The clock was ticking.
“Our grad visa was expiring on the 15th of January this year, and that time Gerome was still working hard to achieve the required PTE score — for him it was very stressful, because we were racing against the visa deadline while trying to meet all the requirements for the PR.”
— Patricia
After years of study and work, there were still important requirements that needed to come together at the right time.
Gerome continued working towards his English result while the other parts of their migration pathway progressed.
It was one of the most uncertain periods of their journey — but they kept going. Eventually he obtained the required English scores and scored enough points to be invited by NSW Migration.
3 August 2026: Their Subclass 190 Visa Was Granted
Then came the email they had been waiting for.
On 3 August 2026, the Australian Department of Home Affairs confirmed that Gerome’s Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) had been granted.
They had achieved their goal.
Gerome and Patricia were now Australian permanent residents.
“The Golden Email”
Patricia remembers receiving the news at around midday.
Instead of immediately celebrating and replying, she found herself struggling to process what had just happened.
“From the time we got the golden email at about 12 noon, it took me three or four hours to reply, because I couldn't absorb the fact that we're now permanent residents. I still can't believe it. This is you guys — you're forever in my heart.”
— Patricia
After years of study, work experience, skills assessment, English testing and migration planning, the uncertainty surrounding their permanent residency journey had finally come to an end.
Their subclass 190 visa had been granted!
Life After Australian Permanent Residency
Receiving permanent residency was a major milestone for Gerome and Patricia, but their story didn’t end with the visa grant.
Both have continued building their careers in Australia while also starting a business together.
Gerome’s Career as an Electrician in Sydney
Gerome now works as an electrician across major hotels in Sydney’s CBD.
The electrotechnology training and electrical industry experience he developed throughout his journey are now being put into practice in his professional career.
What began with studying a trade has developed into an ongoing career in Australia’s electrical industry.
Patricia’s Career as a Tax Accountant
Patricia has also continued developing her professional career.
She works as a tax accountant at an accounting firm in the city and now has greater flexibility to work from home.
After years of navigating temporary visas and migration requirements, becoming permanent residents has given Gerome and Patricia greater certainty when planning their future in Australia.
Starting Their Own Electrical Business
Gerome and Patricia have also started their own electrical business under Gerome’s ABN.
They currently work on the business during weekends and some weekdays while continuing with their full-time careers.
Their focus now is on gradually growing the business and building the next chapter of their life together in Australia.
The Pathway to Aus Team Who Helped Along the Way
Gerome and Patricia’s relationship with Pathway to Aus stretched across different stages of their Australian journey.
Brad initially assisted with student visa guidance and enrollment.
Registered Migration Agent Nick Yock and his team, Bart and Angel, helped Gerome and Patricia understand and navigate the broader permanent residency pathway, including encouraging them to explore the skills assessment option once Gerome had built sufficient relevant work experience for his circumstances.
For Patricia, their experience with the team became something she was happy to share with friends looking for migration assistance.
“Whenever a friend asks who my agent is, I just show them your socials.”
— Patricia
Frequently Asked Questions
Can studying electrotechnology lead to permanent residency in Australia?
Studying electrotechnology may form part of a longer skilled migration pathway for some applicants, but completing an Australian course does not automatically lead to permanent residency.
Potential pathways depend on factors such as the applicant’s occupation, skills assessment, age, English ability, relevant work experience, points, state or territory nomination requirements and the migration rules that apply at the time.
Gerome’s story is an example of an individual migration journey rather than a guaranteed pathway for other students.
Can an electrician apply for a subclass 190 visa?
Electricians may be able to pursue skilled migration pathways such as the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) when their occupation is eligible and they meet the applicable visa and state or territory nomination requirements.
Eligibility and nomination criteria can change. So applicants should check the current requirements that apply to their circumstances.
What skills assessment may be required for electricians?
Electricians pursuing Australian skilled migration may need to complete a skills assessment through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) under the relevant assessment program.
The assessment process and evidence required depend on factors including the occupation, qualifications and work experience of the applicant.
Gerome progressed through the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) as part of his individual migration journey.
Do electricians need three years of work experience for a skills assessment?
Not necessarily.
Being able to demonstrate three years of relevant work experience was important in Gerome’s particular circumstances, but this should not be interpreted as a universal requirement for every electrician.
Skills assessment requirements can vary according to an applicant’s qualifications, work history and applicable assessment pathway.
Does completing an electrotechnology course guarantee permanent residency?
No.
Completing an electrotechnology or electrician course in Australia does not guarantee a Temporary Graduate visa, successful skills assessment, state nomination, invitation to apply or permanent residency.
Applicants must meet the relevant requirements at each stage, and Australian migration rules and state nomination criteria can change.
What English test did Gerome take?
Gerome took the Pearson Test of English (PTE) as part of meeting the English requirements relevant to his migration pathway.
Achieving the required result became one of the most stressful stages for Gerome and Patricia because their Temporary Graduate visa was approaching its expiry date.
How long did Gerome’s journey to Australian permanent residency take?
Gerome began his electrotechnology studies around February 2021 and completed his qualification in June 2023. He then continued building relevant work experience and progressing through the skills assessment and skilled migration process.
His Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) was granted on 3 August 2026.
Gerome’s timeline reflects his individual circumstances and should not be used as an estimate of how long another applicant’s pathway to permanent residency may take.
Considering Studying Electrotechnology in Australia?
Gerome and Patricia’s story shows how study, relevant work experience, skills assessment, English testing and migration planning came together over several years in their individual journey.
But there is no single study-to-PR pathway that applies to everyone.
If you’re considering studying electrotechnology or another trade in Australia, Pathway to Aus can help you explore suitable study options and understand the migration pathways that may be available based on your individual circumstances.
Talk to Pathway to Aus about your study and migration options.
Australian migration requirements, occupation eligibility, skills assessment requirements and state or territory nomination criteria can change. The information above is general in nature. Gerome and Patricia’s story reflects their individual circumstances and does not guarantee the same pathway, timeline or migration outcome for another applicant.
