Pathways to Permanent Residency

Australian Permanent Residency (PR) grants you the right to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely, offering many of the same privileges as citizens. Depending on your individual circumstances, there are different pathways to becoming an Australian permanent resident, making it possible for skilled workers, family members, and investors to find the right route to residency.

Skilled Migration

If your skills and experience align with Australia’s workforce needs, you may qualify for a skilled visa that allows you to work in a designated occupation.

  • Type of Permanent Visas:

    • subclass 189 visa

    • subclass 190 visa

Family Migration

Suppose you have family members who are Australian citizens or permanent residents. In that case, they may be able to sponsor you for a family visa—one of the most direct pathways to PR.

  • Type of Permanent Visas

    • Parent Visa

    • Partner Visa

    • Child Visa

Business Migration

Entrepreneurs and business owners can obtain Australian permanent residency through a business migration visa.

  • Type of Permanent Visas

    • subclass 888 visa

How to become an Australian Permanent Resident

If you don’t fit into the above categories, you can begin with a temporary visa and gradually transition to permanent residency.

Skills in Demand Visa to Permanent Residency

The new ‘Skills in Demand Visa’ is designed to meet labor market needs and brings key changes for temporary skilled migrant workers, including extended time to secure a new sponsor if their job ends and a more defined pathway to permanent residency.

485 Graduate Visa to Australian Permanent Residency

Australia’s Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) offers international students a valuable opportunity to gain practical work experience after completing their studies. While this visa does not provide a direct pathway to permanent residency, it can serve as a stepping stone toward PR through various

Regional visas to Australian Permanent Residency

The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa and Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored visa offer a clear pathway to Australian permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.

Student visa to Permanent Residency

You can express your interest in Australian permanent residency through the SkillSelect system. If you meet the required points threshold, you may receive an invitation to apply for a Skilled visa, paving the way toward permanent residency in Australia.

Benefits of being an Australian permanent resident

An Australian permanent resident (PR) is a non-citizen holding a permanent visa, granting them the right to live, work, and study in Australia without restrictions. As a permanent resident of Australia, you generally can:

  • remain in Australia indefinitely

  • work and study in Australia

  • enrol in Australia’s national health scheme, Medicare*

  • apply for bank loans to buy property

  • sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence

  • apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

  • travel to and from Australia for as long as your travel facility permits.

  • attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program

  • work in New Zealand