Our expert team of consultants will walk you through the entire process, from preparing the necessary documentation to assisting you in making the necessary arrangements to meet the minimum criteria, and then following up throughout the application process until you receive your visa, as well as arranging your travel plans.
Permanent residency in Australia
Australian permanent residents are residents of Australia who hold a permanent residency visa but are not citizens of Australia. A holder of a permanent residency visa may remain in Australia indefinitely.
How to stay indefinitely in Australia
A five-year initial visa, which corresponds to the underlying migration program, is granted alongside the permanent residency. Until the initial visa expires, the visa holder may leave and re-enter Australia freely. A notable feature of the permanent residency visa is that, even after the initial visa expires, the holder is entitled to stay in Australia indefinitely without breaching immigration regulations
Permanent residency may be revoked at the discretion of the responsible Minister, for example in cases of criminal misconduct.
The benefits of permanent residency
Permanent residents enjoy many of the rights and privileges of citizens, including access to free or subsidized legal and health services.
They do not have the right to vote in federal or state/territory elections, unless they were registered to vote prior to 1984, but may vote in some local government elections.
The Skilled Nominated visa is a permanent resident visa, only granted to applicants who are nominated by a state or territory government.
The state governments have assessed their own labor market needs and formed lists of occupations in demand. In addition to receiving state nomination, the successful applicant must be under 45 years of age, score at least 65 points and have an occupation on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). State nomination adds an additional five points to an applicant’s score, which could make the difference in meeting the 65-point threshold.
Skilled Recognized Graduate visa (subclass 476 visa)
This visa is specifically aimed at engineering graduates, under the age of 31, who wish to gain up to 18 months of skilled work experience in Australia.
Permanent residents are not entitled to an Australian passport.
Most permanent residents are eligible to become citizens after a waiting period. When the waiting period is complete, the process of taking the citizenship test and attending the ceremony will add an additional three to twelve months.
Skilled Visa
There are a variety of visas for skilled migrants available for those wanting to make a permanent move to Australia. These visas are points-based and depend a range of factors that vary depending on what kind of job you apply for, where in Australia you intend to move to and your own personal skills and circumstances.
How the points-based system works
The Australian government operates a general skilled migration program. It is essentially a points-based system where points are awarded to applicants based on age, qualification, experience, and English language skills.
Your occupation is the basis for your eligibility, so those holding occupations in demand will have the greatest visa options. Australian immigration officials frequently update both the national and regional skills list which determine which occupations are most needed.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189 visa)
The Skilled Independent visa is a permanent resident visa. It is the most desirable visa as it gives the holder the freedom and flexibility to live and work anywhere in Australia.
Successful applicants must be under 45 years of age, score at least 65 points on the immigration points test and have an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190 visa)
The Skilled Nominated visa is a permanent resident visa, only granted to applicants who are nominated by a state or territory government.
The state governments have assessed their own labor market needs and formed lists of occupations in demand. In addition to receiving state nomination, the successful applicant must be under 45 years of age, score at least 65 points and have an occupation on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). State nomination adds an additional five points to an applicant’s score, which could make the difference in meeting the 65-point threshold.
Skilled Recognized Graduate visa (subclass 476 visa)
This visa is specifically aimed at engineering graduates, under the age of 31, who wish to gain up to 18 months of skilled work experience in Australia.
You will need to have completed an engineering degree at a recognized institution within the last two years. This can be either a university or a Technikon. You will also need to have had a major sequence of study, or a specialization in:
Civil engineeringStructural engineeringChemical engineeringEnvironmental engineeringElectrical and electronics engineeringMechanical, production and plant engineeringMining and material engineering
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491 visa)
The Skilled Work Regional visa will allow you to live and work in specified regional areas in Australia for up to five years. To qualify, you’ll need to either be sponsored by an eligible relative or be nominated to apply by a state or territory government agency.
You must score 65 points or more and be under the age of 45 when you apply, and your occupation must be on the list of eligible occupations. After three years of living in Australia on the Skilled Work Regional visa, you’ll be able to apply for a permanent residence visa.
The designated regional areas are:
South Australia
Tasmania
Western Australia
Australian Capital Territory
Victoria (except the Melbourne metropolitan)
Queensland (except the greater Brisbane area)
Northern Territory
New South Wales (except Sydney)