Are you wondering ‘how to become an Australian permanent resident (PR)?’ The answer to this depends on a number of factors. In this article, we will explore the question of ‘how to become an Australian permanent resident’?
Getting Australian permanent residency is a significant step towards establishing a long-term life in Australia. It offers various benefits, including access to government services, healthcare, and the opportunity to eventually apply to become an Australian citizen and get Australian passport.
The most popular way through which parties obtain PR is through Australia’s general skilled migration program. This is largely based on skilled occupations, and to be eligible you must be able to nominate an occupation from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). Read more about SOLs here. Australia also offers family stream permanent visa such as Partner Visas.
Skilled Visas that Help With Becoming an Australian Permanent Residents
Australian migration offers a number of skilled visa pathways for eligible applicants. Many of them lead you to obtain permanent residency in Australia.
We provide a list of some of the common skilled visas that offer Australian PR:
- Skilled Independent Visa – Subclass 189
- Skilled Nominated Visa – Subclass 190
- Employer Nominated Scheme – Subclass 186
While the above-mentioned visas are itself permanent visas, there are many transitional or temporary pathways that can eventually lead to PR as well. This is important to note when you are reading up on how to become an Australian permanent resident.
For example, the temporary skilled and regional visas below eventually offer a pathway to permanent residency:
- Temporary Skill Shortage Visa – Subclass 482
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa – Subclass 491
Moreover, the most common pathway for students to enter Australia is the Subclass 500 – Student visa pathway. This enables the student to obtain an educational qualification in Australia. Following this, they may become eligible for the Work visa – subclass 485. This allows them to obtain work experience in Australia.
Note that while you can enter Australia through other visas (depending on your individual circumstances), the student and work visas in Australia help an applicant gain additional points towards their PR if they are considering either the Skilled Nominate or Independent visas.
What is the points system for permanent visa? Read more about that here.
Expression of Interest (EOI) for Subclasses 189, 190 & 491
How to obtain Australia permanent residency? One important step before you are able to procure a skilled visa for PR is submitting an expression of interest. You can submit your EOI by creating an account on this Portal: SkillSelect.
It is through the SkillSelect portal that the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and relevant state governments send out invitations to apply (ITA) for visas. The applicant who receives an invitation can proceed with lodging their visa application. They must submit all documents and complete character and health checks.
How does SkillSelect work? When submitting an EOI, you are essentially nominating an occasion and claiming certain points. Generally, applicants with points in the range of 85-110 are able to secure invites.
Note that it also depends on your occupation. Is yours a priority occupation falling under Nursing, Doctor, Early Childhood Educated or Social Work? For priority occupations, applicants can receive invites faster as it means that those occupations are high in demand.
Whereas parties working in non-priority occupations must also secure as many points as possible in order to receive an ITA.
How to Become an Australian Permanent Resident: Example Scenario
Let’s consider the case of Heather. Heather travelled from South Africa to Australia to obtain a Master’s in Management Consultancy. Upon finishing her education, she obtains the 485 visa to get work experience as a Management Consultant.
After working for 2 years, Heather applies for a skill assessment. She receives a positive skill assessment and creates an account on SkillSelect. Moreover, Heather has also attempted the Pearson Test of English (PTE). She is 26 years old.
She nominates the occupation of Management Consultant (ANZSCO: 224711) in SkillSelect. Her profile and points look like this:
- Age: 30 Points
- Single: 10 Points
- Educational Qualification: 15 Points
- Australian Education: 5 Points
- Work Experience: 5 Points
- Superior English language: 20 Points
- Total: 85 Points
A few months after she submits her EOI, she receives an invitation to apply for the Skilled Independent visa – subclass 189. Heather now has to submit all her documents to prove her point claims and lodge for the visa application through the DHA’s platform.
Note: To understand how the above-mentioned points system works, click here.
How to Become an Australian Permanent Resident? Steps Included
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to become an Australian Permanent Resident:
1) Determine Eligibility
When reading about ‘how to become an Australian permanent resident’, you should first check your eligibility. Before applying for PR visas, check for common pathways such as skilled migration, family reunion, humanitarian programs, or employer sponsorship. Each has specific criteria and requirements for eligibility.
2) Choose the Right Visa Category
Based on your eligibility, select the most appropriate visa category. As we have explored above. some popular options include Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), Partner visa (subclass 820/801), and more.
3) Skill Assessment (If applicable)
If you’re applying through a skilled migration pathway (visa subclass 190, 189 etc), you’ll likely need a positive skills assessment from a relevant Australian authority. Find the list of relevant skill assessment authorities here.
4) English Language Proficiency
Depending on your visa category, you may need to demonstrate your English language skills by taking an English language test like IELTS or PTE.
5) Expression of Interest (EOI)
As we have discussed above, for some visa categories, you need to submit an Expression of Interest through the online system SkillSelect. This helps you to be invited to apply for a visa.
6) Invitation to Apply (ITA)
If you receive an ITA, you can proceed with your visa application. Ensure all necessary documents are ready, including proof of identity, health, character, and relationship (if applicable).
7) Health and Character Checks
All applicants must undergo health and character checks. You may need to provide medical records and obtain police clearances from relevant authorities.
8) Lodge Your Visa Application
Submit your visa application online through the Department of Home Affairs website. Pay the required fees and provide all requested documents.
9) Wait for a Decision
Processing times vary depending on the visa category and individual circumstances. You can check the progress of your application online.
10) Visa Grant
Once your application is approved, you will receive a PR visa grant. This allows you to live and work in Australia indefinitely.
11) Initial Entry and PR Travel Facility
Make your initial entry to Australia before the specified date on your visa grant. Your PR visa usually comes with a 5-year travel facility, allowing you to travel in and out of Australia. After this period, you can apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) if needed.
12) Maintain Residency
To keep your PR status, you must meet the residency requirements. This usually involves spending at least 2 out of the last 5 years in Australia.
13) Apply for Citizenship (Optional)
After holding PR for a certain period, you can apply for Australian citizenship, which offers additional rights and privileges.
Importance of Seeking Advice from Immigration Lawyers
We have answered the question of ‘how to become an Australian permanent resident’ in this article. Note that each individual’s circumstances can vary, therefore seeking professional advice is important. Whether it is for a temporary visa or for permanent residency visa, seek our advice today.
If you have more questions about the Australian government and their migration team, reach out to our firm today. To gain permanent residency or to become Australian citizens, our team can help you with your Australia permanent residence visa. To explore all your permanent visa options, contact us today.
