How to Obtain Australian Permanent Residency

Australia has long been a sought-after destination for people who want to immigrate abroad. The nation benefits from a strong economy, which means more job prospects for immigrants. Australia promises a higher standard of living and a peaceful, harmonious multicultural community. If you’re contemplating migrating to Australia, this article is for you. We will be explaining how to obtain an Australian permanent residency.

Australian permanent residency usually has a 5-year validity. Interestingly, immigrants can obtain a permanent residency visa from Australia, which enables one to relocate to Australia with their family. After four years of residing in Australia on a PR visa, you may petition for citizenship.

Overview of the Australian Permanent Residency Program

The Australian government increases migration planning levels yearly and extends invitations to a set number of applicants for each migration program. The following streams and categories will have better possibilities in 2022–2023. There are many job openings in the country, thus there are many opportunities for individuals in the skill streams.

The table below shows required number of applicants for each visa stream.

Visa Stream	Visa Category	2022-23
Skill	Employer Sponsored	30,000
	Skilled Independent	16,652
	Regional	25000
	State/Territory Nominated	55,000
	Business Innovation & Investment	9,500
	Global Talent (Independent)	8,448
	Distinguished Talent	300
Skill Total		144,000
Family	Partner*	40,500
	Parent	15,100
	Child*	12,000
	Other Family	9,600
Family Total		50,000
Special Eligibility***		100
Total Migration Program		195,000

ADVANTAGES OF AN AUSTRALIAN PR VISA

• Opportunity to live and travel anywhere in Australia.
• In Australia, you are able to pursue higher education and apply for specific student loans.
• Automatic qualification for social benefits after two years with an Australia PR visa.
• Ability to sponsor your relatives for Australian PR given the satisfaction of specific requirements.
• With a PR visa, you can apply for government positions.
• It is possible to visit New Zealand and even apply for a visa there.

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POINTS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR AUSTRALIAN PR

Category	Maximum Points
Age (25-32 years)	30 points
English proficiency (8 bands)	20 points
Work Experience outside Australia (8-10 years)	15 points
Professional year in a skilled program in Australia	5 points
State sponsorship (190 visa)	5 points
Skilled spouse or de facto partner (Age, Skills & English language requirements to be met)	10 points
Spouse or de facto partner with ‘competent English’ (No need to meet Skills requirement or age factor)	5 points
Applicants without a spouse or de facto partner or where a spouse is an Australia citizen or PR holder	10 points
Relative or regional sponsorship (491 visa)	15 points
Work Experience in Australia (8-10 years)	20 points
Education (outside Australia) – Doctorate degree	20 points
Niche skills such as Doctorate or master’s degree by research in Australia	10 points
Study in a regional area	5 points
Accredited in community language	5 points

Age: To be eligible to apply for a PR visa, you must be under 45 years old.

Language Competency: You should be able to provide evidence of your skill in the English language.

The applicant must select a profession that is included in one of the following skilled occupation lists (SOLs). The list includes the professions now approved for immigration to Australia. The lists’ occupations are periodically updated to reflect shifts in the Australian labor market. The SOL is divided into three categories:

Long-Term and Medium-Term Strategic Skills, Regional Occupations List and Short-term Skilled Occupations List, and Points.

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Requirement and Categories of Australian PR Visa

The minimum number of points needed to qualify for a PR visa is 65; the higher your score on the eligibility calculation, the better your chances are of receiving an invitation to apply for Australian permanent residency. You may be eligible for a quicker invitation to apply for PR if you receive 80 to 85 points.
For eligibility for a PR visa, the following Australian visas require 65 points:

Independent Skilled Visa (subclass 189)

This visa is only available to invited foreign employees who meet the qualifications set forth by the Australian government. This class of visa allows the holder to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.

• No sponsor or nominee is required.
• Only after receiving an official invitation can, you submit an application for this visa.
• To apply, you must be younger than 45 years old.

Visa for Skilled Workers (subclass 190)

This category of visa enables nominated skilled workers to live, work, and study as permanent residents in any state or territory in Australia. Similar to the subclass 189, you must have received an invitation to apply in order to apply for the subclass 190. You must:

• With regard to subcategories 189 and 190, on the points calculator, get a 65.
• Obtain a request to apply.
• Possess a profession listed on the Skilled Occupation List.
• English test results will also be required, along with a relevant skills evaluation for the job.

Points Determination for the Australian PR

At least 65 points is required and is determined using the following factors:

Age: If you are between the ages of 25 and 32, you can earn up to 30 points.

Age	Points
18-24 years	25
25-32 years	30
33-39 years	25
40-44 years	15

English proficiency: You can receive a maximum of 20 points on the IELTS exam with a band score of 8. The Australian immigration authorities do, however, let applicants to take any of the English proficiency exams, including the TOEFL, PTE, and IELTS. In any of these exams, you can attempt to achieve the necessary score.

Work experience: You will receive 15 points if you have held skilled employment outside of Australia for more than 8 years in the last 10 years; less years of experience result in fewer points.

Skilled Employment Outside Australia	Points
Less than 3 years	0
3-4 years	5
5-7 years	10
8-10 years	15

You can earn up to 20 points for skilled employment in Australia with 8 to 10 years of experience as of the application date.

Skilled Employment in Australia	Points
Less than 1 year	0
1-2 years	5
3-4 years	10
5-7 years	15
8-10 years	20

Education: The level of education determines how many points are awarded for the education criterion. A PhD from an Australian university or one from a university outside of Australia that has been approved by the Australian government will earn the most points.

Qualifications	Points
A Doctorate degree from an Australian university or institute outside Australia.	20
A Bachelor (or Masters) degree from an Australian university or institute outside Australia.	15
Diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia	10
Any qualification or award recognized by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation.	10
Masters by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution in the STEM fields	10

Application by a Spouse:
If your spouse also applies for a PR visa, you are eligible to receive extra points for your Expression of Interest in Skill Select. Your spouse must fulfill the following criteria in order to receive these extra 10 points:

• Age should be no more than 45.
• Should possess the minimal requirements for competence in English
• The same occupation list as the list of primary applicants should have the job occupation code.
• As of November 2019, applicants can earn points based on the following criteria for spouse applications under revisions to Australia’s points-based system.

The table provides more information:

Spouse qualification	Points
Spouse has a PR visa or is an Australian citizen	10
Spouse has competent English and has a Positive Skill Assessment	10
Spouse has only competent English	5

Additional requirements: If you fulfill any of the following requirements, you will receive points.

Study in a regional area	5 points
Accredited in community language	5 points
Professional year in a skilled program in Australia	5 points
State sponsorship (190 visa)	5 points
Relative or regional sponsorship (491 visa)	15 Points

Although 65 is the minimal requirement for eligibility, obtaining an invitation to apply for Australian permanent residency in 2022 is substantially simpler with a score of 80.

CATEGORIES OF AUSTRALIAN PR VISA AN APPLICANT MAY CHOOSE

There are numerous ways to apply for a PR visa in Australia. You can select the best solution based on your qualifications and needs. The following are the preferred choices for your Australian PR:

Visas for permanent residence under the family-stream category are available to the spouse, partner, kids, or parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents.

If a member of your immediate family is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you may immigrate to Australia under the family stream. The family stream prioritizes the partner or spouse, dependent children, and parents of citizens and PR holders.

It also gives other family members the chance to relocate to Australia to be with their families, such as elderly and dependent relatives, caregivers, etc.

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Limitations on Occupations for Invitation Rounds

There is a chance that there will be a practical upper limit on the number of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) (requests for skilled migration) that can be made from a group belonging to an occupation for invitations distributed under the skilled regional (provisional) and independent visas.

This possibility is known as an “occupation ceiling.” This ensures that the skilled migration program maintains its balance and continues to welcome prospective migrants from a variety of specialized occupations.

Standards for occupation ceilings are based on a proportion of total stock employment for each occupation. The Australian Bureau of Statistics Employment offers data and lists the number of people employed in each profession in Australia.

Occupation ceilings do not apply to State or Territory Nominated, Investment, or Business Innovation subcategories.

As we conclude, kindly note that the typical duration of an Australian permanent residency is five years. It’s interesting that Australia offers permanent residency visas to immigrants, allowing them to move there with their families. You can apply for citizenship in Australia after four years of PR-related residence.

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