Are you dreaming of calling Australia home? Wondering what's the easiest way to get permanent residency in Australia? We got you covered with solutions to that.
Every year, Australia welcomes 300,000 immigrants from over 100 nations. Australia has plenty to offer everyone, regardless of your interests. The country has a young, diverse population tolerant of all cultures. Foreign nationals come from around the world to share and improve their amazing living experiences.
Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia allows individuals to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. PR holders enjoy many benefits similar to Australian citizens, including access to Medicare (the public health care system), education subsidies, and social security benefits after a qualifying period. They also have the right to sponsor eligible relatives for PR. They can also apply for Australian citizenship after meeting specific residency requirements.
What is the Easiest Way to Get Permanent Residence in Australia?
You can become a resident of Australia in different ways. The fastest way to get your permanent residence in Australia is to obtain your permanent residence visa first. So, which Australian visas grant permanent residency? Here are the visas that guarantee your permanent stay there as an overseas applicant.
Family Stream Visas
The Australian Immigration Department launched the family visa program to foster family unity. This gives spouses, parents, kids, and other eligible family members the right to immigrate to this nation, subject to a few requirements. Australian nationals, permanent citizens of Australia, and qualified citizens of New Zealand sponsor these visas. These visas are for:
- Couples, kids, parents, or dependant family members of an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible citizen of New Zealand.
- Adopted children or those in the process of being adopted from outside of Australia.
- Caregivers relocating to Australia to provide an identified relative long-term care.
Work Stream Visas
As an overseas applicant, getting a work stream visa is one of the easiest ways to get permanent residency in Australia. An Australian company may sponsor you for a visa to live there permanently if you’re a skilled, independent person. Similarly, there's a chance you may apply via a skilled workers program. If you have any skills that the nation considers valuable, like carpentry, agricultural engineering, or chemistry, you will be eligible for this. Remember that you need an Australian employer's nomination or an endorsement from an Australian government agency to apply for certain work-stream visas. You can also call this an employer-sponsored visa.
Investment and Business Visas
Yes. Business innovation and investment is one of the easiest ways to get permanent residency in Australia. You can apply for a permanent resident visa if you operate or own a business in Australia or make investments there. This will grant you a permanent residency visa and employment rights in Australia. Investor visas also guarantee permanent residency. However, business owners and investors might have to meet the investment requirements.
Furthermore, individuals may apply for Australian permanent residence visas for various reasons. For instance, if you were a previous national or wanted to retire. In addition, you are eligible to apply if you are a refugee or possess a “distinguished talent,” defined as an exceptional accomplishment in a particular profession. You'll also need to confirm your eligibility for each visa.
Australia Permanent Residence Eligibility / Residency Requirements
To be eligible for Australian permanent residence, here are the eligibility requirements:
- Eligible applicants must be 45 years of age or below.
- Eligible applicants must either have a Doctoral or Masters degree.
- Eligible applicants must have health insurance.
- Eligible applicants must have a police verification certificate.
- Eligible applicants must have 65 points in the Australian points grid.
- Eligible applicants must have an English language proficiency test certificate.
What are the Requirements for an Australia Permanent Visa?
After knowing the easiest way to get permanent residency in Australia, the next step is to know the requirements for the visa. If you want to apply for any kind of Australia permanent visa, you'll need the following documents:
- National ID
- Police Clearance
- Proof of Financial Stability
- A Written Invite (If required)
- Health Insurance
- Proof of Paid Base Fees
- Authorized Recipient Form
- Civil Documents
- Valid Passport
- Recent Identity Photographs
- Permanent Visa Application Form
- Sign the Values Declaration
- Requirement for Good Conduct
Australia Permanent Visa Fees & Processing Times
Since the easiest way to get permanent residency in Australia is by getting a visa, let’s talk about the visa fees. The price of permanent visas depends on the kind of visa you are first applying for:
- Family stream visas cost between AUD1870-4990.
- Workstream visas cost between AUD4045-4770.
- Business visas and investor visas cost between AUD2935 – 4115.
You can pay the fees using your American Express, Mastercard, Visa, or international debit/credit card. However, Discover card payments are not allowed. There are no refunds for Australian visa fees. If the candidate's visa application is denied, they will not be refunded their Australian Permanent Residence Fees.
In addition, processing times vary. Certain permanent resident visas can take several months to be issued and over two years for others. This emphasizes how important it is to plan and conduct thorough research.
Steps to Take While Applying for an Australia Permanent Visa
The easiest way to get permanent residency in Australia is by getting your visa first. So, how do you apply for your Australia permanent visa? Here you go!
1. Pick Your Visa Type
You must choose the visa type that results in permanent resident status before submitting an application for an Australian permanent visa online. This is because there are different visa categories. If you are applying on paper, you can select the appropriate form for your visa application process or pick the visa type in your ImmiAccount.
2. Check the Requirements
You will need to fulfill different requirements based on your visa application, such as the English proficiency test. All applications for permanent visas must, however, meet the character requirements. This is for all visa options. Don’t forget the health requirements too. You can check the complete Australia visa application requirements here.Â
3. Assemble Your Documents
Gather every essential document you will need to attach to your visa application. All visa application forms will have a list of them; however, ensure that you adhere to the Immigration Office's standards about the papers (certification, translation, etc.).
4. Apply For the Visa
Now, your immigration goals are set to start. You can submit your application for your desired visa. Applications can be submitted online or on paper; however, online applications are handled more quickly than paper applications. After going through the visa application process, you’re now a visa holder.
For an online application, the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official website allows you to register an individual online account (ImmiAccount). All you need to do to create an account is enter your details, choose a password, and receive an email to validate your account. You can track the visa review process, organize your application, and attach documents with the aid of the online service.
However, for paper applications, you need to take the following steps:
- Go to the nearest Australian embassy
- Schedule an appointment at an Australian office
- Verify the documents
- Fill out the application form
- Pay the Application fee
- Submit the visa application fee
Do You Need a Renewal of Your Australia Permanent Residence Visa?
You do not need to renew your visa. However, you must renew your travel facility linked to your permanent visa. Your options for renewing your travel policy vary based on the length of time you have lived in Australia as a resident. You can do the renewal via the visa subclasses 157 and 155.
Benefits of Australia Permanent Residence Visa
Australia is a relatively new nation with fast-growing opportunities, a growing population, and an expanding economy. After knowing the easiest way to get permanent residency in Australia, let’s talk about the advantages. Here are some of the benefits of obtaining permanent residency in the country.
1. Live and Work Anywhere in the Country
As a permanent resident, you can legally work, live, and study anywhere in New Zealand. This independence offers great flexibility in deciding where to live in light of family needs, career prospects, and personal preferences. Moreover, the average salary for skilled migrants doing eligible occupations is quite reasonable. Skilled independent permanent residents are not restricted to working for a certain company or region.
2. Access to Student Subsidy
The government will cover some of the educational expenses in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for international students. You are not required to repay this portion; it is a subsidy rather than a loan. The majority of CSPs are for undergraduate education in an Australian university. Graduate-level CSPs are only provided by a select few providers. Check with your provider to find out if they offer CSPs for your course if you're a postgraduate foreign student. It is not a guarantee that you will receive a CSP just because you qualify for one. This is because individual situations may vary. To enroll in the course, you must fulfill the academic entry standards specified by your provider.
3. Access to Great Healthcare
Australia boasts one of the world's top healthcare systems. Australia's Medicare program is available to permanent residents. Medicare covers the cost of certain medical services, prescription drugs, and free public hospital care. When your permanent visa application is submitted—not approved—you may be eligible to apply for Medicare.
4. Buy Existing Residential Property
The only people who can buy used residential real estate in many towns are permanent residents visa holder. This plan was implemented to defend the economy from an infusion of foreign cash that would buy up entire neighborhoods and drive locals out into the suburbs.
5. Australian Children
Suppose one or both parents were citizens or permanent residents of Australia at the time of the baby's birth. In that case, the child instantly becomes an Australian citizen, giving them direct access to all of the benefits above and many more. In addition, the child may have dual citizenship with their parents. However, individual situation may vary.
6. Becoming an Australian Citizen
Permanent residents are eligible to seek citizenship in Australia. Australian citizenship provides several important benefits, including voting in government elections. However, you must have spent at least four years in Australia. This includes one year as a permanent resident.
7. Work in New Zealand
As an Australian permanent resident, you can work in New Zealand. This means you can also live and visit there. You must possess a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) to travel. While working in New Zealand, you can also purchase a home using Australia PR. Also, the average salary for skilled migrants in New Zealand is high. Generally speaking, Australian nationals do not require a visa to enter unless they have a criminal history or have been deported from another nation.
8. Eligibility to Get a First Home Owners Grant
The First Home Owners Grant is available to Australian citizens and permanent residents (FHOG). You can use the $10,000 First Home Owners Grant to buy your first house, apartment, townhouse, or other property if its value is less than $750,000.
9. Assistance from Centrelink
Australia offers Centerlink to its permanent residents. In addition to providing social welfare, Centrelink might be able to help you with financial assistance for education, health, and unemployment.
Conclusion
The easiest way to get permanent residency in Australia is within reach. By following the pathways and tips outlined in this article, you'll be well on your way to making Australia your forever home. Good luck on your journey!
