
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