Last Updated: 13 July 2026

Australia Permanent Residency (PR): Eligibility, Points & How to Apply

Australian Permanent Residency (PR) gives you the right to live, work, and settle in Australia permanently with no visa conditions or employer restrictions. The Australian government is actively welcoming skilled professionals and families through a structured points-based migration program. Under the 2026-27 Permanent Migration Program, 185,000 PR places have been confirmed with over 70% reserved for skilled migrants across healthcare, engineering, IT, construction and trades.
 

Why Apply for Australian PR?

Australian PR is the most secure way to settle in Australia permanently. It gives you and your family the stability and freedom to plan and build a long-term future in Australia.

• Work for any employer across Australia
• Earn an average annual salary of AUD 106,000
• Full Medicare access from day one
• Free state schooling for your children
• Sponsor your family members to join you
• Pathway to Australian citizenship after four years

*Want to Migrate to Australia? Get a Free Eligibility Assessment from Y-Axis today.

 

What is Australian Permanent Residency?

Australian Permanent Residency (PR) is a permanent visa status granted to foreign nationals who meet Australia's skilled migration eligibility criteria. Unlike temporary visas, PR has no expiry date and is not tied to a specific employer, occupation, or location. Applications are assessed through a points-based system that rewards age, English proficiency, work experience, and qualifications.

Also Read…

1 Million Jobs in Australia over the Next Decade

Australia Immigration Levels Plan 2026-27

The Australia Permanent Migration Program 2026-27 has confirmed 185,000 PR places, with the skilled stream receiving the largest allocation at 132,240 places. Employer-sponsored visas hold the highest single allocation at 58,040 places, followed by state and territory nominated at 35,500 places. The Australian government has confirmed plans to reform the points test from 2026-27 to better reward Australian work experience and qualifications.

 

Types of Australian PR Visa

Australia offers several permanent residency pathways for skilled professionals, families, sponsored workers, and investors. The right pathway depends on your occupation, points score, work experience, employer sponsorship, and whether you are applying from within Australia or overseas.

• Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): Points-based permanent visa for skilled workers that does not require employer sponsorship or state nomination.
• Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): Points-based permanent visa requiring nomination by an Australian state or territory government.
• Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491): Temporary regional visa leading to permanent residency through Subclass 191 after three years of living and working in a designated regional area.
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186): Permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian employer.
• Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482): Temporary employer-sponsored visa providing a pathway to permanent residency after two years of employment with an approved Australian sponsor.
• Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801): Permanent visa for spouses or de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
• National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858): Permanent visa for exceptionally talented individuals with an internationally recognised record of achievement in research, sport, arts, academia, or investment.

 

Australia PR Visa Comparison: Subclass 189 vs 190 vs 491

Australia has three main points-based PR pathways: Subclass 189, 190 and 491, each suited to a different applicant profile. Subclass 189 offers full independence with no sponsorship required, Subclass 190 adds 5 points through state nomination, and Subclass 491 adds 15 points for applicants willing to live and work in regional Australia.

*Planning to settle in Australia permanently? Book a Free Consultation with Y-Axis today.
 

Australia PR Eligibility

To be eligible for Australian PR, you must score a minimum of 65 points on the points test, hold a valid skills assessment, and meet age, English proficiency, health, and character requirements.

• Applicants must be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation
• Your occupation must be listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
• Meet English language proficiency requirements
• Applicants must meet health and character requirements
• Hold a valid passport or travel document

*Want to check your eligibility for Australia PR? Book a Free Consultation with Y-Axis today.
 

Australia PR Points System

Australia's PR points system assigns points based on age, English proficiency, work experience, qualifications, and other factors, with a minimum score of 65 points required to lodge an Expression of Interest. Most competitive applicants score 80 or above to receive an invitation in current rounds.

*Want to check your eligibility for Australian PR? Use the free Y-Axis Australia PR Points Calculator to find out in minutes.
 

How to Increase Your Australia PR Points?

The fastest way to increase your Australia PR points is to improve your English score to Superior level, which adds 20 points. Other effective strategies include gaining more Australian work experience, securing state nomination, and completing a Professional Year Program.

• Improve your English test score to Superior level
• Gain more work experience in Australia in your nominated occupation
• Apply for state or regional nomination through Subclass 190 or 491
• Complete a Professional Year Program in IT, accounting or engineering
• Study or work in a designated regional area of Australia
• Include your partner's skills and English proficiency in your application
• Obtain NAATI community language accreditation

 

Australia Skilled Occupation List

To apply for Australia PR through skilled migration, your occupation must be on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) for Subclass 189, or on the MLTSSL, Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), or Regional Occupation List (ROL) for Subclass 190 and 491, depending on which state or territory nominates you.

Some of the most in-demand occupations include:

 

Skills Assessment for Australia PR

A positive skills assessment is required for most Australia PR visa pathways. It verifies that your qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards for your nominated occupation before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect.

Documents Required for Australia PR

To apply for Australia PR, you must submit documents related to your identity, skills assessment, education, work experience, English proficiency, and health and character checks.

Identity Documents

• Valid passport
• Birth certificate
• National identity card (if applicable)

Skills and Qualifications

• Positive skills assessment
• Educational certificates and transcripts
• Professional registration (if applicable)

Work Experience

• Employment reference letters
• Pay slips or tax records
• Statutory declaration (if reference letters are unavailable)

English Proficiency

• IELTS, PTE Academic, OET, or TOEFL iBT results

Health and Character

• Medical examination results
• Police clearance certificates

Additional Documents

• SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) confirmation
• State nomination letter (Subclass 190 or 491, if applicable)
• Partner documents (if applicable)

How to Apply for Australia PR?

Applying for Australia PR is a structured process that starts with a skills assessment and submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. Once invited, you can lodge your visa application through ImmiAccount with the required documents, health checks, and character clearances.

Step 1: Choose the Right Visa Subclass

Select the PR pathway that best matches your occupation, points score, work experience, and personal circumstances.

Step 2: Get a Skills Assessment

Submit your qualifications and work experience to the relevant assessing authority for your occupation. A positive skills assessment is required before submitting your EOI.

Step 3: Complete an English Proficiency Test

Take an approved English language test such as IELTS, PTE Academic, OET, or TOEFL iBT and achieve the required score for your chosen visa subclass.

Step 4: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect

Lodge your EOI through the SkillSelect portal. Your profile remains valid for up to two years and is ranked against other applicants during invitation rounds.

Step 5: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

If your EOI meets the required criteria and places are available, you may receive an Invitation to Apply for your selected visa subclass.

Step 6: Lodge Your Visa Application

Submit your complete visa application through ImmiAccount within 60 days of receiving your invitation, along with supporting documents, health examinations, and character clearances.

Step 7: Receive Your PR Visa

Once approved, your Australia PR visa is granted, allowing you to live, work, and settle permanently in Australia.

*Want to apply for Australia PR? Book a Free Consultation with Y-Axis today.
 

Australia PR Processing Time

Australia PR processing times currently range from 5 to 14 months depending on the visa subclass and occupation. Submitting a decision-ready application with all documents, health checks and police clearances complete at the time of lodgement gives your application the best chance of being processed within the faster end of the timeframe.

Note: Processing times are updated regularly. Check the latest on the official website before applying.

Australian PR Fee

The government application charge for Australian PR sits at AUD 6,135 for the main applicant across the Subclass 189, 190, 491 and 186 pathways, a figure that rose 25% from the previous AUD 4,910 charge as part of the Department's broader fee increase this year. 

Additional Costs include:

Note: Processing costs are updated regularly. Check the latest on the official website before applying.

How to Maintain Your Australian PR Status?

Australian PR itself does not expire, once granted, you remain a permanent resident for life. What does have an expiry date is the travel facility attached to your visa, which is valid for five years from the date of grant. Once it lapses, you can still live in Australia as normal, but you'll need a Resident Return Visa (RRV) before you can travel overseas and re-enter as a permanent resident.

• Your PR travel facility is valid for five years from the date of grant
• Apply for an RRV before your travel facility expires if you're planning to travel abroad
• To qualify for an RRV, you generally need to have lived in Australia as a permanent resident for at least two years in the last five years
• The RRV application fee is AUD 1,475 for an online application (effective 1 July 2026), a 201% increase from the previous fee of approximately AUD 490
• If you don't meet the two-year residence test, you may still qualify for an RRV if you can demonstrate strong, ongoing ties to Australia — such as close family, business, or employment connections

Thinking about citizenship instead? You don't need four full years as a permanent resident to apply the actual rule is four years of lawful residence in Australia on any valid visa (student, work, bridging, or PR), with only the final 12 months required as a permanent resident.

You'll also need to have spent no more than 12 months outside Australia across that four-year period, and no more than 90 days in the final 12 months before you apply. Once granted, citizenship gives you an unrestricted, permanent right to enter and remain in Australia — no travel facility, and no RRV, ever again.

Highest-Paying Jobs in Australia

Australia's skill shortages across healthcare, engineering, IT, construction and education create strong PR opportunities for qualified professionals, with average annual salaries exceeding AUD 100,000 across many in-demand sectors.

Also Read…

Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Australia for Skilled Professionals
 

Australia PR Pathways for Temporary Visa Holders

If you are already in Australia on a temporary visa, your pathway to PR depends on the visa you currently hold. Most temporary visa holders are well positioned to apply for PR from within Australia.

• Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand Visa): 482 visa holders can apply for PR through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme after two years of employment with an approved sponsor in the same occupation.
• Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate Visa): 485 visa holders can submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect and apply for Subclass 189, 190, or 491. Australian study and work experience on your 485 visa counts toward your points score.
• Subclass 500 (Student Visa): The standard pathway for student visa holders is to complete your degree, transition to a Subclass 485 graduate visa, gain work experience, complete a skills assessment, and apply for PR through SkillSelect.
• Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Visa): 491 visa holders can apply for permanent residency through Subclass 191 after three years of living and working in a designated regional area of Australia, with a minimum annual income of AUD 53,900.

 

How Can Y-Axis Help You?

Y-Axis Australia is a MARA-registered migration consultancy with offices in Melbourne and Sydney. Our Registered Migration Agents are authorised to provide immigration advice and support you throughout your Australia PR application process.

When you work with Y-Axis, you get:

• Free eligibility assessment using the official Australia PR Points Calculator
• Honest advice on which visa subclass you qualify for
• End-to-end case management from your first consultation to your PR grant
• Skills assessment support across ACS, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS, AHPRA, CPA Australia and CAANZ
• PTE and IELTS coaching through our Australia-based team
• Document review and EOI preparation through SkillSelect
• Family visa lodgement for your spouse and children
• Post-arrival support with Medicare, Centrelink and your first Australian job

Book a free consultation with our Melbourne office on +61 3 9939 4818 or our Sydney office on +61 2 9146 0950.

 

Apply Now