International applicants who meet the eligibility criteria set by the Australian government may apply for a Permanent Residency (PR) visa. Holders of an Australian PR visa are permitted to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. After residing in Australia for four years on a PR visa, individuals may become eligible to apply for Australian citizenship. Australian citizens benefit from one of the world’s most powerful passports, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a wide range of international destinations.

Australia is recognized for its competitive pay rates, ranking among the highest globally. Permanent residents enjoy similar privileges to citizens when it comes to property ownership; they may purchase residential property without needing approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board. PR visa holders are also entitled to access Australia's universal healthcare system, Medicare, which provides a broad range of medical services at little or no cost. Furthermore, they benefit from government-funded education, including free early childhood programs such as nursery and access to domestic tuition rates at public universities.

Pathways to Australian Permanent Residency

The Australian government provides several pathways for international individuals to apply for Permanent Residency (PR). To be eligible, applicants must score a minimum of 65 points under the points-based immigration system. A higher score significantly increases the likelihood of receiving an invitation to apply for PR. In recent years, the application process has been streamlined, making it more efficient and accessible for skilled professionals, students, and other eligible migrants to submit their expressions of interest through the SkillSelect system.

VISA CATEGORIES

Invited Pathways

• Subclass 189 – General Skilled Migration PR

• Subclass 190 – State Nominated PR

• Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa

Eligibility

• Should be between 18–45 years of age

• Obtain 65 points in the Australian points system

• Obtain a valid Australian skills assessment

• Should have required English language score (IELTS or PTE)

• Have all the education and experience documents

Skilled Worker Pathway

• Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme PR
• Subclass 482 – Skills in Demand Visa

Both are employer-sponsored skilled worker programs, and Subclass 482  is a temporary visa which valid up to 4 years, later leading to PR. For both categories, employer nomination is a mandatory requirement

Family Unification Pathway

• Subclass 309 /100 Partner Visa (Provisional and Migrant)
• Subclass 101 – Australian Child Visa

Partner or spouse Visa of an Australian citizen or permanent resident to live in Australia permanently. It is granted in two stages—first, he temporary Subclass 309, followed by the permanent Subclass 100. A dependent child of an Australian citizen or permanent resident to live in Australia permanently. It is designed for children who are outside Australia when they apply.

Key Factors

The Australian Permanent Residency (PR) points system evaluates applicants based on key criteria such as age, educational qualification, skilled work experience, English language proficiency, partner skills, and Australian study or professional experience. While a minimum of 65 points is required to be eligible to apply, those in high-demand occupations typically secure invitations with scores of 65 to 90 points or higher. Achieving a competitive score can significantly enhance your chances of success in Australia’s skilled migration program.