Australian Permanent Residency: Its Benefits and How to Obtain One

Are you eligible to become a Permanent Resident (PR) in Australia?

Obtaining permanent residency in Australia includes three common ways, including fewer other options. Australia is a sought-after destination for migrants due to the country’s economic opportunities, high quality of life, and cultural diversity.

In this blog, we will explore the benefits of being granted permanent residency in Australia.

Privileges of Obtaining Permanent Residency in Australia

Being a permanent resident in Australia has a certain set of associated perks. Here is a list of the benefits you can enjoy after becoming a permanent resident.

• You can remain in Australia for as long as you want.
• You can work and study in Australia.
• You can apply for Australia’s national health scheme, Medicare.
• You can apply for bank loans to buy a property.
• You can sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residency.
• You can later apply for Australian citizenship based on your eligibility.
• You can travel to and from Australia based on what your travel facility permits.  
• You can join free English language classes endorsed by the Adult Migrant English Program.
• As a permanent resident, you can also work in New Zealand if you wish to.
• You may also be entitled to other government services and benefits. However, if you hold a permanent visa while you currently reside outside of Australia, your eligibility to confirm rights and obligations may be impacted. You could reach out to the relevant government departments or authorities to know more.

Your visa options to apply for Permanent Residency in Australia

Becoming a permanent resident in Australia includes three common ways:

1. Family-Stream Permanent Visa
2. Work-Stream Permanent Visa
3. Business or Investor-Stream Permanent Visa

Family-Stream Permanent Visa

This visa is granted for:

• Partners, parents, children, or dependent relatives of a permanent resident of Australia, an Australian citizen, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
• An adopted child or a child who is in the process of being adopted outside of Australia.
• Carers who are required to move to Australia to work as a long-term carer for an approved relative.

Work-stream permanent residence visas

This work-stream visa is for workers with skills required in Australia or those who are sponsored by an Australian employer to work in Australia. 

Business or Investment-Stream Permanent Residence Visas

You can identify a suitable permanent residency visa option for this type of visa in the business or investment stream. It includes a three-step process for visa selection:

• What kind of work will you do?

1. 1. 1. air or sea crew 
      2. attend or work at a special event/activity 

• Business Or Investment 

1. 1. Represent a foreign Government, teach a foreign language or do domestic work (diplomat or consular) 
   2. participate in a research project 
   3. post-study work training and internship
   4. skilled/highly specialised 
   5. working holiday or seasonal  
   6. youth, school or staff exchange 
   7. work in a Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme specified industry

• What type of business activity do you intend to do?

Once you click on the Business or Investment option, your next step is to choose the type of business activity you will be conducting. Your options will be:

• attend a conference, seminar or trade show
• Business Investment Activities
• entrepreneurial activities (venture capital, investment)
• general business/employment enquiries or negotiations
• own or manage a business

• Explore your visa options for working in Australia as a Permanent Resident

The following visa will offer you the eligibility to conduct business investment activities in Australia.

• Subclass 188: Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa

Temporary Stay (visa application cost: AUD 4,115)

• Subclass 888: Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa

Permanent Stay (visa application cost: AUD 2,935)

• Subclass 893: State or Territory-Sponsored Investor

Permanent Stay (visa application cost: AUD 2,890)

• Subclass 891: Investor visa

Permanent Stay (visa application cost: AUD 2,800)

To name a few more, there are other pathways to apply for permanent residency in Australia.

➣ Retirement Visa Pathway

This pathway applies to Retirement Visa (Subclass 410) or Investment Retirement (Subclass 405) holders. Having one of these visas offers options to long-term residents for eligible retirees who have contributed to and are reputed in the community. The government has developed this pathway by allotting designated places from the permanent migration scheme for parents. Eligible retirees can access this pathway by applying either for a Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) or a Parent visa (subclass 103).

➣ Former Resident Visa (Subclass 151)

This visa applies to specific permanent Former Residents. The cost for this visa is AUD 4,665.

➣ Global Talent Visa (Subclass 858)

This visa applies to people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional achievement. The cost for this visa is AUD 4,840.

➣ Refugee and Humanitarian Visas

These visas apply to people who have to leave their home country due to persecution. There are different streams based on the type of visa chosen, and they include:

• Refugee Visa: Subclass 200, 201, 203 and 204 (You can stay permanently in Australia. No visa application charge.)
• Global Special Humanitarian visa: Subclass 202 (You can stay permanently in Australia. No visa application charge unless you are granted this visa under the Community Support Program by an Approved Proposing Organisation.)

Proving your status as a permanent resident in Australia

Once you are granted permanent residency, it is important to ensure that you have the necessary documentation to prove it. This is because there may be certain instances where you have to provide proof of your PR status in Australia. 

When do you need to prove your PR status?

• When you have to interact with Australian government agencies regarding benefits and entitlements such as Medicare or Centrelink.  
• When you need to obtain a foreign travel document to travel outside of Australia.
• When you need to obtain employment. 

You can use VEVO (​Visa Entitlement Verification Online) if your visa is linked to your passport or ImmiCard to prove your permanent residency status. 

• Email or print out your status or
• Permit an organisation or a government agency to perform a VEVO check

Becoming a permanent resident in Australia can offer several benefits that those on temporary visas cannot enjoy. If you want to know which PR visa is the most suitable option for you, connect with our immigration experts at Expert Education.

FAQs

• Is permanent residency in Australia the same as becoming a citizen of Australia?

No, a permanent resident is different from an Australian citizen. A permanent resident cannot obtain an Australian Passport, cannot vote in the Australian Government elections, access student loans, obtain ongoing work in the government, join the Australian Defence Force, or return to Australia from overseas without a valid travel facility.

• As a permanent resident in Australia, am I allowed to bring my family to Australia?

As a permanent resident, you could sponsor your family members to enter Australia. However, this permission is based on specific types of visas or for an acquisition of permanent residence. You first have to meet certain prescribed residence and income requirements to ensure your eligibility to sponsor your family members.

• Can I travel in and out of Australia as a permanent resident?

Yes, you can travel in and out of Australia when you are granted your first permanent resident visa. With this visa, you will be permitted a 5-year travel facility. This permits you to leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want within these five years.

• What do I do if I want to travel outside Australia after the 5-year travel facility on my permanent residency visa expires?

You can apply for a Resident Return Visa if you wish to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident. The other option is to apply for Australian citizenship if you wish to travel as an Australian citizen. If you are not eligible to apply for either of these options, you could apply for a Former Resident visa, a family visa or a skilled visa.

• I arrived in Australia before 1990. I do not have a VEVO record. How do I get one?

To request VEVO, you must provide your identity documents showing evidence of your arrival in Australia. You must also provide details of your valid passport. You may be eligible for an ImmiCard if you do not have or cannot obtain a passport.

• What is required to access VEVO?

You need to link your passport or ImmiCard to your visa to access VEVO.

• A PR is valid for how many years in Australia?

Once a PR is granted, you are permitted to live in Australia indefinitely.