Australian Permanent Residency (PR)

Australia Permanent Residency

What is an Australian PR?

An Australian PR is a Permanent Residency Visa that allows you to settle, work and study in Australia indefinitely, using a point-based immigration system.

Having an Australian PR has multiple benefits and also allows you to apply for the Australian citizenship after 3 years of being a PR holder!

Now, that you know what an Australian PR Visa is, let’s dive into the array of benefits you receive if you become a PR holder in Australia.

Benefits of an Australian PR Visa

Live and travel anywhere within Australia
Pursue higher studies in Australia
Enjoy social security benefits after two years
Sponsor your family for a PR
Apply for government jobs
Travel to New Zealand without visa
Road to Australian citizenship
Free medical insurance
Dependents get subsidized education loans
First Home Owner Grant worth $10,000

Before you read more about Australian Permanent Residency, let us give you brief information about all types of Visas that Australia offers.

Australian Visas are categorized into following 6 main categories:

In the context of permanent residency of Australia, the Visas included in ‘Working and Skilled Visas’ heading are important. The following are the subclasses of visas in this category. However the last three (Subclass 189, 190, 491) are directly related to you as an offshore PR applicant.

You can skip reading this box if you do not want to know about all visa subclasses.

Skilled-Recognized Graduate visa (subclass 476): This visa allows recent engineering graduates to live, work or study in Australia for up to 18 months. You must have completed a degree or higher qualification from a specified institution within the past 2 years, and be under 31 years of age. Specified institutions are those that are under Washington Accord. Please note that in India, all NBA (National Board of Accreditation) approved Tier-1, Engineering Colleges come under Washington Accord. Applicant who previously has 485 and 476 visas is not eligible to apply.

Click this link to check the list of NBA approved Tier-1 Engineering colleges in India National Board of Accreditation (nbaind.org)

Skilled Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 489) (closed in 2019 and was replaced by subclass 491)
Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887) : This visa is for people who hold an eligible visa or have held an eligible visa (subclass 489, 495, 496, 475 or 487) that expired outside Australia during the concession period and they have lived for at least 2 years and worked full time for at least 1 year in a specified regional area in Australia. This visa allows a permanent stay.
Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) (This visa allows you to come to Australia to participate in events which are endorsed by the Australian Government.)
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) A temporary visa that allows international students to live, study and work after you have finished your studies. If a student completes 2 years diploma, they get 2 years stay on 485 visa; if student does 2 years masters from non regional areas, they get 3 years stay; and if a student does masters from regional areas, they get 4 years stay on 485. During this time, if a person works in Skills Shortage Occupations, this will help them to file for PR.
Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403): This is a temporary visa to work in specific circumstances that improve Australia’s international relations under the terms and conditions of a bilateral agreement between the Australian Government and a government of another country.
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400): This visa lets an applicant do short-term, highly specialized work in Australia for which the worker can’t reasonably be found in Australia. It is usually granted for up to 6 months.
Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482): This temporary visa lets an employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker to fill a position they can’t find a suitably skilled Australian to fill. 508 occupations are eligible in this program available on Short-term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL) and Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and Regional Occupation List (ROL) for regional employers.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186): This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer, live and work in Australia permanently.
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191): This visa allows people to apply for Permanent Residency who hold an eligible visa, lived and worked in that region for at least 3 years and who meet an income requirement. There is no need of sponsor in this visa type. To apply for this visa, you must either have a subclass 491 or a subclass 482 visa.
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) (closed in 2019 and was replaced by subclass 494)
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494): This visa enables regional employers to address identified labor shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can’t source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.
Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) visa (subclass 188): This visa allows you to own and manage a business in Australia, conduct business and investment activity in Australia or undertake an entrepreneurial activity in Australia. It allows you to stay in Australia for up to 5 years. It is a points based eligibility program where you need to submit expression of interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and get nominated by a State or Territory. You should have at least 65 points to be able to apply. A the time of application, you should be able to provide proof of your business success (annual turnover, ownership interest) you and your partner together must have total net business and personal assets of at least AUD1.25 million, show turnover of AUD750,000 in your businesses in each of the past two years. Your ownership in the business should be 51% if the business turnover is less than AUD400,000 and 30% if turnover is more than AUD400,000. The age limit is 55 years and have Functional English ability (Secondary school certificate or 4.5 in IELTS or 30 in PTE or 32 in TOEFL)
Business Innovation and Investment (permanent) visa (subclass 888): This visa lets holders of a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188), or the holders of a subclass 444 (Special Category) visa, or the holders of a subclass 457 (Business (Long Stay) visa; to stay permanently in Australia and continue their business and investment activity.
Business Owner (subclass 890): While applying this Visa, for the past 12 months, you should have maintained the net business assets in the main businesses of at least AUD100,000 and a one year turnover of AUD300,000, and you should have employer 2 Australian Citizens or PRs. There is no age limit for this program.
Investor visa (subclass 891) : To qualify for this visa, you must be the holder of a Subclass 162 – Investor (Provisional) visa, have held a designated investment of AUD1.5 million for 4 years, and have lived in Australia for 2 of the past 4 years.
State or Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (subclass 892): This visa is for people who own and manage a business in Australia. It allows you to stay in Australia indefinitely. To apply for 892 Visa, you must be on other eligible visa in Australia, must have lived for 12 months and have owned and operated a business in Australia for at least 2 years immediately before the application is made.
State or Territory Sponsored Investor visa (subclass 893): This is a permanent resident visa for subclass State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) visa (subclass 165) holders and who have held a designated investment of AUD750,000 for 4 years.
Global Talent visa (subclass 858): This is a permanent visa for people who have an internationally recognized record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in an eligible field. The eligibility criteria is

You must have an internationally recognized record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in one of the following areas: A profession, a sport, the arts, or an academicia and research.
You must have a nominator with a national reputation in your area of talent who is: an Australian citizen or PR, an Australian organization, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

Main programs for Skilled Migration to Australia as Permanent Resident:

The Australian Skilled Worker program lets you apply for a Permanent Residence visa through the online tool called SkillSelect. Australian immigration authority selects suitable professionals across the world through the points-based program that has a 65-points minimum requirement out of 150 points to be able to apply in SkillSelect. There are three main pathways that are important for you to know because these are the ones with which an Indian offshore applicant like you applies. These are:

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) : The subclass 189 also known as the Skilled Independent Visa is the most popular PR Visa that allows you to move to Australia without a regional nomination, without a sponsorship from relative and without a job offer or employer-sponsorship. The best thing about this visa is that it gives you complete work rights and employee benefits similar to an Australian citizen. To be eligible for this visa you need a minimum 65 points in the Points Grid System, your occupation must be from Skilled Occupations List and you should have done the suitable skills assessment of your occupation. Maximum age limit is 45 years, skilled workers from outside Australia are eligible to receive invitation to apply for this Visa, resulting you to become Permanent Resident. (212 occupations are eligible for this program and those are listed on Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) in ANZSCO. EOI creation in SkillSelect portal of Australia is free and there is a fee of AUD420/- after you get invitation. The processing time could be as less as 3 months to as much as 36 months.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) : This visa is also based on points test eligibility similar to sub class 189 and 491, but the main difference is that in this type of PR application, you must have been nominated for this visa by an Australian state or territory government agency. State and territory government agencies can see your completed EOI and might nominate you for the visa. EOI creation in SkillSelect portal of Australia is free and there is a fee of AUD4240/- after you get invitation. This visa lets nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as permanent residents. 427 occupations are eligible for this program and those are listed on Short-term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL) and Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) in ANZSCO. You must do the skill assessment of your occupation through suitable skill assessment authorities whose report is usually valid for 3 years. All the six regional states and two territories of Australia have their own criteria to offer sub class 190 nomination.

Click the link below to read more about criteria of each state and territory:

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491): This visa also requires nomination from state or territory or a sponsorship from an eligible relative. This visa is also based on points test eligibility similar to sub class 189 and 190 where you should get at least 65 points on Points Grid and get the skills assessment done. The main difference is of this visa compared to 189 and 190 is that this visa comes with a validity of 5 years and out of which you must stay for at least 3 years and each certain specified income every year. Later you can transition from 491 visa to 190 visa. The eligible relative is someone who is an Australian Citizen or PR, who is older than 18 years, resides in a designated area of Australia and has any of the following relation with main applicant or accompanying spouse of main applicant:

a parent
a child or step-child
a brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister
an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle
a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece
a grandparent, or
a first cousin.

Steps of the Australian PR Process from India:

Step 1: Check a) if you are meeting 65 points eligibility criteria, b) Is your age under 45 years? And c) Check whether your occupation is under Skilled Occupations List or not.

Step 2: Start the skills assessment with the appropriate assessing authorities whose process takes about 8-10 weeks and costs around AUD500 to 1000 depending on each assessing authority.

Step 3: Get your language proficiency test results.

Step 4: Give NAATI CCL- test.

Step 5: Register your Expression of Interest (EOI) on SkillSelect.

You can file an Expression of Interest (EOI) only after having the skills assessment and English test report, and NAATI-CCL if you want to add 5 points. Based on the points you obtained in your EOI and the skill you assessed, you will be invited to apply for a visa either in subclass 189, or 190 or 491.

Step 6: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and submit the complete file.

Applicants with the highest EOI ranking would receive an ITA. Receiving an ITA means you are just one step away from getting your PR Visa. After receiving your ITA, the final step is to submit your Australian PR visa application within 60 days and paying the required fees.

Step 7: Submit Health and Character certificates.

Before you submit the complete application after ITA, you will also have to obtain police clearance certificates and get your upfront medical done at Australia’s approved medical examination centers across India.

Showing proof of funds is not mandatory in Australian PR process; unlike Canada. However, to make your subclass 190 and 491 applications stronger, it is advised that you should show evidence of your assets and financials that proves that you have enough money to sustain in Australia until you get a job.

Points Calculation Table – (for subclass 189, 190, 491):

You must get 65 points to be eligible.

English Language test scores	Maximum 20 points	Competent: 0 pts. Proficient: 10 pts. Superior: 20 pts. Check the table below about accepted tests.
Age	Maximum 30 points	For age between 18 – 25 years: 25 pts. For age between 25 – 33 years: 30 pts. For age between 33 – 40 years: 25 pts. For age between 40 – 45 years: 15 pts. If age is above 45 yrs, zero points and candidate becomes ineligible.
Education	Maximum 20 points	Post secondary diplomas: 10 pts. Bachelor degree: 15 pts. Doctorate degree (PhD only): 20 pts. No points for Master degree and Honorary Doctor title. Points are awarded only for highest education.
Additional Education points for having Australian qualification	Maximum 15 points	If you had studied at least 1 year Australian Recognized Diploma or Degree from an Australian Educational Institution: 5 pts. If you had studied a CRICOS recognized Masters or PhD in a special education (Science, Technology, Engineering, & ICT) from an Australian Institution: 10 pts.
Total Skilled Work Experience	Maximum 20 points	Outside Australia: Less than 3 years: 0 pts. 3 years to less than 5 years: 5 pts. 5 years to less than 8 years: 10 pts. 8 years or more: 15 pts. Inside Australia: Less than 1 year: 0 pts. 1 year to less than 3 years: 5 pts. 3 years to less than 5 years: 10 pts. 5 years t less than 8 years: 15 pts. 8 years or above: 20 pts. Work experience within the past 10 years from the date you get invitation to apply, will only be accepted. The work experience which had remuneration for at least 20 hours/week will only be considered. In case if you are gaining more than 20 points for work experience by counting both outside and inside Australia experience, you will be capped at 20 points.
Regional Australian Studies	Maximum 5 points	Studied at least one year Diploma or Degree in Regional Australia: 5 pts.
Professional Year in Australia (Internship)	Maximum 5 points	One professional year in Australia in Accounting, Engineering or ICT in the past 4 years from the date you get invitation: 5 pts The professional year must be provided by one of the five organizations which are: Australian Computer Society, APA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, The institute of Public Accounts, and Engineers Australia.
Credentialled Community Language (NAATI-CCL)	Maximum 5 pts	Pass NAATI Credentialled Community Language Test : 5 pts Read below to know about NAATI CCL.
Marital status & Spouse Points	Maximum 10 points	If accompanying spouse is aged under 45 years, has Competent English, had done skill assessment of occupation, and had the occupation in same skills list as you: 10 pts. If spouse has Competent English only: 5 pts If you are single or your spouse is an Australian PR or Citizen: 10 pts
For 190 Nomination	Maximum 5 points	If you were invited to apply for sub class 190 visa by any state or territory and the nomination remains in effect at the time you get invitation: 5 pts.
For 491 Nomination	Maximum 15 points	If you got sponsorship from a relative or If you were invited to apply for sub class 190 visa by any state or territory and the nomination remains in effect at the time you get invitation: 15 pts.

English Language Tests levels:

Type of English Test	Competent	Proficient	Superior
IELTS General or Academic	At least 6 for each of the 4 components	At least 7 for each of the 4 components	At least 8 for each of the 4 components
TOEFL iBT	At least 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing and 18 for speaking	At least 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking	At least 28 for listening, 29 for reading, 30 for writing and 26 for speaking
PTE academic	At least 50 for each of the 4 components	At least 65 for each of the 4 components	At least 79 for each of the 4 components
Cambridge C1 Advanced Test	At least 169 for each of the 4 components	At least 185 for each of the 4 components	At least 200 for each of the 4 components
Occupational English Test (OET)	At least B for each of the 4 components	At least B for each of the 4 components	At least A for each of the 4 components
Points awarded:	0	10	20

NAATI-CCL Test:

NAATI-CCL is an online test that you give from your home using Proctor software. It assesses your communication level between English and other listed language. There are 12 Indian languages listed for this test. These are Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Odia, Malayalam, Marathi & Sanskrit. Arabic is also listed.

The fee for NAATI test is AUD800. The test consists of two dialogues and the total pass marks are 63 with not less than 29 in each dialogue. It’s a 35 minutes test of two recordings. The NAATI test report is valid for 5 years. It adds 5 points in your Australian Immigration points criteria.

List of Skilled Occupations and Skill Assessment procedure:

Both, education and work experience will be assesses by same authority. It is not mandatory to have work experience only after bachelor degree; having work experience performed before bachelor degree will also be accepted. Having relevancy of education and work experience is most important criteria.

Click here to check the complete list of skilled occupations: Skilled occupation list (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Click here to check the list of all 42 skills assessing authorities Assessing authorities (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Choosing the right occupation code (ANZSCO code) and then choosing the right Skills Assessing Authority is most important and basic part of your journey of Australian Immigration. You can rely upon Enaaya Consulting to do this tedious task for you from end to end. Reach out to us to learn more about skills assessment process for your education and occupation.

Cost of an Australian PR application (off shore):

Processing cost of Australian Permanent Residency application is given in the table below:

No fee to file an EOI in SkillSelect

S.No.	Particulars	AUD$
1	*Skills assessment for each person	500 to 1000
2	*English Language test for each person	300
3	*NAATI-CCL test	800
4	*Primary Applicant fee after invitation	4,240
5	Dependent Applicant fee (Over 18 Years)	2,120
6	Dependent Applicant fee (Under 18 Years)	1,060
	*Total fee for single applicant	5,840

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