Permanent Residency in Australia

Your Complete Guide to Australian PR Pathways

Whether you're on a skilled visa, employer-sponsored, or a partner visa — we'll map the clearest, fastest route to your permanent residency.

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What are the pathways to Australian permanent residency?

Australia offers four main PR pathways: skilled migration (Subclass 189, 190, 491), employer-sponsored (Subclass 482 → 186 or 191), partner visas (Subclass 820/801 onshore or 309/100 offshore), and regional migration (491/494 → 191). Each pathway has different points, sponsorship, occupation, and residence requirements. Most permanent visas are granted within 12 to 36 months from skills assessment to grant.

Last reviewed: May 2026 ✓ Reviewed by a MARA-registered migration agent (MARA 0852408)

Choose Your Pathway

Which PR Pathway Is Right for You?

Every client's situation is different. Explore the three main routes to Australian permanent residency and find which fits your profile.

Skilled Migration PR Pathway

Apply for PR based on your occupation, skills assessment, English proficiency, and points score. No employer required. Ideal for high-scoring professionals.

Subclass 189Subclass 190491 → 191

Explore Skilled Pathway →

Employer Sponsored PR Pathway

Your Australian employer nominates you for permanent residence. The most direct PR route for those already on a 482 or 494 visa.

482 → 186494 → 191DAMA

Explore Employer Pathway →

Partner Visa PR Pathway

Your Australian citizen or PR partner sponsors your visa. The two-stage process leads to PR after demonstrating a genuine relationship.

820 → 801 (Onshore)309 → 100 (Offshore)

Explore Partner Pathway →

Step-by-Step Guide to PR

New to Australian migration? Start here. A plain-English walkthrough from skills assessment all the way to your PR grant.

Skills AssessmentEOIInvitation

Read the Full Guide →

Regional Migration to PR

Living regionally opens faster pathways and lower points thresholds. The 491 and 494 visas lead to Subclass 191 PR after just 3 years.

Subclass 491Subclass 494Subclass 191

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Pathway to Australian Citizenship

PR is just the beginning. Discover what happens after — from the 4-year residency requirement through your citizenship test and ceremony.

4-Year ResidencyCitizenship TestPledge

Explore Citizenship →

How It Works

How the PR pathways actually work

Permanent residency is rarely a single application. For most people it is a sequence: confirm the right route, meet the entry criteria, then lodge — sometimes via a provisional visa first.

Choose the right route

Skilled migration suits high-scoring professionals with no sponsor; employer-sponsored suits those with an Australian job offer; partner visas suit those with an Australian citizen or permanent-resident partner; regional pathways reward people willing to live and work outside the major cities.

Confirm you meet the entry criteria

Depending on the route this means a positive skills assessment, a qualifying points score, an approved sponsor or nominator, or evidence of a genuine relationship. Age, English and health and character requirements apply across most pathways.

Lodge the right application in the right order

Skilled applicants submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and wait for an invitation; sponsored applicants need the sponsorship and nomination in place; provisional-visa holders transition to permanent residence once they meet the holding period.

Decision and grant

Once granted, permanent residency lets you live, work and study anywhere in Australia indefinitely, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives and — after meeting the residence rules — apply for citizenship.

Eligibility

Which pathway is likely to suit you

A quick orientation. None of these is a substitute for a proper assessment, but they show where most people fit.

Skilled Independent (189)

You are skilled, under 45, score strongly on the points test, and your occupation is on the relevant list. No sponsor needed — but it is competitive.

State Nominated (190)

Your occupation is wanted by a particular state or territory. Nomination adds 5 points and leads straight to permanent residence.

Regional (491 to 191)

You are willing to live and work in a designated regional area. The 491 adds 15 points and becomes permanent through the 191 after three years.

Employer Sponsored (186 / 482 to 186 / 494 to 191)

You have, or can secure, an Australian employer willing to nominate you for a genuine role.

Partner (820/801 onshore, 309/100 offshore)

You are in a genuine, ongoing relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

Not sure yet

That is the most common answer. The free eligibility check maps your strongest routes in a few minutes.

Costs & Timeline

What it costs and how long it takes

Every permanent visa carries a Department of Home Affairs Visa Application Charge, and most pathways also involve costs for a skills assessment, an English test, health examinations and police certificates. These government and third-party charges are set by the relevant authorities and change periodically, so we confirm the current figures with you rather than quote a number that may date. Visa Advisor's professional fees are quoted separately and upfront before you engage us. The fastest way to get figures specific to your situation is the free eligibility check, or a paid consultation if you want a full written plan.

Timelines vary widely by pathway and by how decision-ready your application is. Points-tested skilled visas depend on invitation rounds; employer-sponsored visas depend on the sponsorship and nomination being approved; partner visas move through a temporary then a permanent stage. A clean, well-evidenced application is consistently faster than one the Department has to query.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions we hear most often. Every case is different — book a consultation for advice on yours.

Permanent residency lets you live, work and study anywhere in Australia with no time limit. Permanent residents can enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives, and apply for citizenship once they meet the residence rules. The visa itself stays valid indefinitely, though the travel facility that lets you re-enter Australia generally needs to be kept current.

Permanent residency gives you the right to stay indefinitely. Citizenship adds the right to an Australian passport, to vote, and to certain government roles, and removes the need to maintain a travel facility. You generally become eligible to apply for citizenship after four years of lawful residence, including at least the last twelve months as a permanent resident.

The pass mark to be invited for the points-tested skilled visas (subclasses 189, 190 and 491) is 65 points. In practice the competitive scores are usually higher, because invitations are issued to the highest-ranked candidates in each round. Points come from age, English, qualifications, skilled experience, and nomination.

Not for every pathway. Skilled independent and most partner pathways do not need an employer at all. Employer-sponsored pathways do — an Australian business nominates you for a genuine position. The right answer depends on your occupation, points and circumstances.

Yes. Most permanent pathways let you include a partner and dependent children in the same application, provided they meet health and character requirements. Including the right family members at lodgement matters — adding them later can be harder.

It depends on the pathway and how complete your application is. Provisional-to-permanent routes such as 491 to 191 take at least three years by design. Direct permanent applications turn on invitation rounds, sponsorship approvals and processing queues. We give you a realistic timeline once we know your route.

For most people, yes. After four years of lawful residence in Australia — including at least the final twelve months as a permanent resident, and within the travel limits — you can generally apply for citizenship by conferral, then sit the citizenship test and make the pledge.

The permanent visa does not expire, but the travel facility that lets you re-enter Australia does. If it lapses while you are overseas you may need a Resident Return visa to come back. Serious character or fraud issues can also affect your status. Keeping your travel facility current is the simplest safeguard.

Keep exploring

Related guides in our permanent residency cluster — follow the route that fits your situation.

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Every client gets a personalised pathway strategy, not a generic checklist. Book your
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