AUSTRALIA · PERMANENT RESIDENCY
Your guide to becoming an Australian permanent resident.
Independent, weekly-updated analysis of six PR streams — skilled, employer, partner, parent, business, and talent. Each pathway page links you to primary legislation, current fees, and processing timelines.
Skilled migration
Points-tested visas for independent and state-nominated applicants. No employer or family sponsor needed.
Partner visas
For spouses, de facto partners, and prospective marriage. Onshore, offshore, and review pathways.
Parent visas
Contributory and non-contributory options. Balance-of-family test, AoS bonds, Medicare obligations.
Business & Investment
BIIP closure, existing applications, and permanent residence pathways.
Global Talent & Distinguished Talent
National Innovation visa invitations, nomination, and legacy talent pathways.
At a glance
Which skilled pathway fits your situation?
A compressed view of the five subclasses against the dimensions that matter most when choosing. Full analysis on each pathway page.
Sponsor required
Geographic constraint
Points-tested
Permanent on grant
Typical processing
Occupation list
Processing times are 75th-percentile current published figures from Home Affairs. CSOL = Core Skills Occupation List (replaced MLTSSL/STSOL Dec 2024).
Editorial principles
The sources behind your next step.
Every claim links to a primary source.
Points thresholds, occupation entries, invitation cut-offs — every figure on this site cites Home Affairs, the Federal Register of Legislation, or a state nomination announcement.
Your next step
If you want someone to look at your case, the site chat may ask for one contact method — once you do, a licensed migration agent or lawyer we work with will contact you.
Updates reflect what actually changed.
Pathway pages carry a Last reviewed date. When legislation, instruments, or state lists shift, we update the explainer.
Recently updated
- Subclass 188 refunds after the BIIP closed: eligible streams and how to request one
- National Innovation Visa EOI Priorities: Four Levels, Two Tiers and the July–September 2026 Figures
- Working Holiday and Skills in Demand Visa Holders Can No Longer Apply for a Student Visa in Australia
- Migration Agent Registration Check: How to Verify an Agent Is Registered in Australia
- Skills Assessment Processing Times: How Long Each Assessment Takes and How to Plan Around It
- Subclass 189 Visa Cost: What the Government Charges and What Applicants Often Miss
Common questions
Eight questions every PR applicant asks.
+How many points do I really need to get an invitation?
For subclass 189 in 2026, invitation cut-offs sit between 70–90 points depending on occupation and round size. High-volume occupations (accountants, software engineers, civil engineers) clear around 85–95. Less-competitive occupations may be invited at 70.
+Can I apply for PR without using a registered migration agent?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs allows applicants to lodge and manage their own visa applications via ImmiAccount. A registered migration agent (MARN) is recommended where evidence is complex or the case has a refusal history.
+What English level is required?
Competent English (IELTS 6 each band) is the minimum for points-tested visas. Proficient (IELTS 7) earns +10; Superior (IELTS 8) earns +20. Some employer-sponsored pathways have exemptions for UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, NZ passport holders.
+Does Australian study automatically give me PR?
No. The Australian Study Requirement earns 5 points, and the 485 graduate visa gives post-study work rights — but neither is a guarantee of PR. You still need to meet occupation, English, and points thresholds.
+Is 491 actually a path to PR?
Subclass 191 is a permanent residence pathway for eligible regional provisional visa holders. Check the current official eligibility and evidence requirements before planning a transition.
+Can my partner be added to the same application?
Yes for all five pathways. Spouse/de facto partners are added as secondary applicants. They must meet health, character, and English requirements (or pay the second VAC).
+What happens if my occupation is removed from the list mid-EOI?
If you already hold a valid skills assessment and were invited before the list change, you remain eligible. If not yet invited, the EOI is suspended until your occupation returns or you switch to a different subclass.
+How long do points-tested invitations stay valid?
60 days from receipt in ImmiAccount. Late lodgement requires a new EOI and fresh invitation.
Methodology
How this site is researched.
Every pathway explainer is built from four sources: (1) the visa subclass page on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, (2) the relevant section of the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994, (3) the most recent SkillSelect invitation round results, and (4) state and territory nomination program announcements.