Hoping To Stay In Australia For Good?
There are several visa options that result in permanent residency, or offer a dedicated pathway to PR following a provisional visa.
Families and Partners
Partner Visa (subclass 801/820 or 309/100): This visa is for individuals who are in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Eligible New Zealand citizen. After holding the temporary partner visa (subclass 820/309) for a certain period and meeting eligibility criteria, you can apply for the permanent partner visa (subclass 801/100).
Learn more about Partner visas here.
Child Visa (subclass 101/802): This visa is for dependent children of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Eligible New Zealand citizen. These are an immediate application for permanent residency.
Learn more about Child visas here.
Parent Visa (subclass 103/804): This visa is for parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Eligible New Zealand citizen. It is a permanent visa, allowing parents to live in Australia permanently.
Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143/864): Similar to the parent visa (subclass 103), this visa is for parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Eligible New Zealand citizen. However, it requires a higher visa application charge and offers faster processing times. It leads to permanent residency.
Learn more about Parent visas here.
Other Family Visas (subclass 461, 116/836, and 114/838): Visas are available for family members of New Zealand Citizens, those who require a carer for their daily living needs, and financially dependent elderly relatives.
Learn more about Other Family visas here.
Skilled & Talent Visas
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): This visa is points-tested and allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia as permanent residents without needing any sponsorship.
Learn more about the 189 visa here.
Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): Similar to the subclass 189 visa, the subclass 190 visa is a points-tested visa under the General Skilled Migration program. However, it requires nomination by a State or Territory government to apply.
Learn more about the 190 visa here.
Skilled Work Regional Provisional (Subclass 491): A temporary version of the subclass 190 visa, requiring the holder to live and work in a regional area of Australia. This visa is sponsored by an Australian State or Territory government, or an eligible relative already in regional Australia. A pathway to permanent residency is available via the subclass 191 visa.
Learn more about the 491 visa here.
Global Talent Visa (Subclass 858): The subclass 858 visa is a forward-thinking avenue tailored for exceptionally talented individuals to elevate Australia’s innovation and expertise landscape. This visa requires a nominator and an invitation to apply.
Learn more about Global Talent visas here.
Corporate Immigration
Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186): This visa allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers for permanent residency, either directly or via a transitional process after working on a subclass 482 visa for at least 2 years.
Learn more about the 186 visa here.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494): Designed for employers in regional areas of Australia to sponsor a wider range of skilled workers for up to five years. After holding this visa for a certain period and meeting other eligibility criteria, holders may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the subclass 191 visa.
Learn more about the 494 visa here.
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (Subclass 191): This is a dedicated pathway crafted for subclass 491 and 494 provisional visa holders to transition to permanent residency. It cannot be applied for directly. This visa does not require ongoing sponsorship from an employer or State/Territory government.
Learn more about the 191 visa here.
FAQs
Can I apply for a subclass 190 visa in Australia?
Yes, it is possible to lodge an EOI and receive an invitation for a subclass 190 visa while in Australia. However, it is important to note that most Australian States and Territories will only consider nominating migrants who are already living and working in their State/Territory, which may limit your options.
Is a skills assessment required for a 191 visa?
As individuals currently holding a subclass 491 or subclass 494 visa have already obtained a skills assessment for their temporary visa, a further assessment is not required for the subclass 191 visa application.
What are the processing times for a subclass 186 visa?
Processing times for the subclass 186 visa depend on the application pathway, case officer workloads, and annual quota limits.
At present, the majority of Direct Entry applications are taking up to 12 months to process, while Transitional applications are taking up to 15 months.
Employers looking to bring in skilled workers quickly may wish to opt for an initial temporary visa; please contact our team at AVIE for the best strategy to meet your business needs.
