Australia Permanent Residency (PR)
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How to get Australian Permanent Residency in 2025?
A Permanent Residency (PR) visa in Australia allows you to live, work and stay in Australia permanently. All PR visa holders enjoy equal rights as Australian citizens barring a few. In 2025, three common ways of becoming a permanent resident in Australia include:
- Family stream permanent residency
- Work stream permanent residency
- Business or investor stream permanent residency
All three PR pathways in Australia work on a point-based system, and these points are calculated based on applicants ' age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. Let’s explore all the details on how to get Australian permanent residency in 2025 here:
Eligibility Criteria for Australia Permanent Residency Visa 2025
The Australian PR application process requires one to fulfil five pre-requisites. Starting from education from Australian universities to point-based systems and in-demand occupation lists.
Let us give you the eligibility criteria for the Australian Permanent Residency Visa 2025 here:
- A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field.
- All applicants must have studied in Australia on a valid student visa. The specific Australian educational requirements include: Completion of at least two years of study (CRICOS-registered course) in Australia.
- Minimum required points: 65 (higher scores improve PR chances).
Points are awarded based on:
- Age: 25–32 years = highest points.
- English Proficiency: Higher IELTS/PTE scores = more points.
- Work Experience: More years of skilled work = higher points.
- Australian Study & Work Experience: Additional points for local study/work.
- State/Territory Nomination: Extra points for Subclass 190 & 491 visas
- Be a part of the in-demand Skilled Occupation List for 2025
- Meet the health requirements through a standardised health examination set by the Australian immigration authority.
Pathway for Australian Permanent Residency for International Students in 2025
International students in Australia aiming for an Australian PR have three pathways in 2025: Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485), Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189), and State Sponsored Visa (subclass 190).
Post-graduate study visa or Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485): This visa is the next step for international students in Australia who want to gain work experience after finishing their studies.
To be eligible, you must have completed a CRICOS-registered course. Depending on your qualification, you can apply through one of these two streams:
- Post-Vocational Education Work Stream – for diploma or trade qualification holders.
- Post-Higher Education Work Stream – for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
| Stream | Eligibility | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Vocational Education | Diploma or trade qualification in an MLTSSL field | Up to 18 months |
| Post-Higher Education | Bachelor's degree or higher | Up to 2 to 3 years |
Skilled Migration – Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): This visa is for skilled workers from overseas — including eligible New Zealand citizens and holders of eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passports — who have the skills Australia needs and wish to live and work permanently anywhere in the country.
Highlights of subclass 189 for Australian PR:
- No sponsor or nominator needed — you're applying based on your skills and experience.
- An invitation is a must — Applicants need to get points tests through skill select.
- Age matters — you must be under 45 at the time you receive the invitation.
State Sponsored – Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): Skilled migrant professionals can apply for Australian permanent residency through a state-nominated visa — also known as the Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190).
To be eligible:
- You must be under 45 years old at the time of invitation.
- Your occupation must be listed on either the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
- You need to score at least 65 points on the points test set by the Australian government.
- You can also include eligible family members in your application.
How to apply for Australian Permanent Residency after studies in 2025?
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for an Australian permanent residency visa after finishing education in 2025:
Complete an eligible 2-year or more duration course in Australia registered under the CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students).
Apply for Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485): There are two streams: 'Post-Vocational Education Work stream’ that allows you to live, work and study temporarily in Australia for up to 18 months and the ‘Post-Higher Education Work stream’ that allows you to stay back for 2 and 3 years depending on your qualification. Pro Tip: Gain work experience during your stay in Australia on this visa to boost your chance of a PR in Australia.
Choose a PR pathway: Permanent Residency application in Australia comes with different eligible visas; they are called PR pathways. Here is a table of the various PR pathways available in 2025:
| Pathway | Visa Type | PR Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| General Skilled Migration (GSM) | Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) | Direct pathway to PR |
| General Skilled Migration (GSM) | Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) | Direct pathway to PR |
| General Skilled Migration (GSM) | Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) | Pathway to PR after 3 years |
| Employer-Sponsored Visas | Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) | Direct pathway to PR |
| Employer-Sponsored Visas | Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) | Pathway to PR after work period with employer |
| State and Territory Nominated Visas | Varies by state/territory | Improves likelihood of receiving PR invitation |
4. Get Skill Assessment: A skill assessment is carried out to evaluate an individual's qualifications and skills to determine if they meet Australian standards for working in a specific occupation.
5. Apply for an Expression of Interest (EOI): The EOI utilises a points system, on which applicants are expected to score at least 65 points in order to make them eligible to apply for the skilled migration visa. You can learn everything about writing a perfect EOI - Expression of Interest in our previous blog.
6. Get a Registration of Interest (ROI): A Registration of Interest is a demonstration of willingness to the state government that the applicant intends to live and work in a particular state. Pro Tip: ROI is only mandatory for Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Southern Australia and Tasmania.
7. Wait for the invitation: Once an Invitation to Apply (ITA) is received through SkillSelect, the applicant can submit a visa application for themselves and any eligible family members included in their application. Family members may include a spouse, de facto partner, or dependent children. Pro Tip: Applications should be submitted within 60 days of getting the invitation.
Benefits of Australian Permanent Residency Visa in 2025
An Australian PR card holder lets you live, work and stay in Australia permanently. Additionally there are a slew of benefits listed down below.
- Remain in Australia indefinitely
- Work and Study in Australia
- All PR citizens have access to the Australia’s national health scheme and Medicare
- Apply for bank loans to buy property
- Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
- PR citizens in Australia can sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residency.
- Travel to and from Australia for as long as your travel facility permits.
- Attend free English language classes
- Work in New Zealand
What you are NOT eligible for:
- Apply for an Australian passport
- Participate in Australian Government elections
- Access student loans
- Work in the Australian Government
- Return to Australia from overseas without a valid travel facility
Challenges in getting Australian Permanent Visa 2025
With the focus of Australian migration policy shifting towards filling the skilled workforce shortage, it has affected the permanent residency visa as well.
Let’s understand the challenges of getting permanent residency in Australia in 2025:
- Limited occupations are allowed to come and work on a ‘Skilled Migration Visa’.
- PR application processing can take months to years, depending on the visa subclass.
- Strict English & skill assessment points make it challenging for a lot of applicants to meet the mark.
- The State & Employer Sponsorship PR pathway still hasn’t shown any clarity on the list of new CSOL, and therefore there are fewer PR applications coming in for 2025.
Australian Permanent Residency processing time in 2025
As of February 2025, the processing times for Australian Permanent Residency (PR) visas vary depending on the specific visa subclass and individual circumstances. Below is a summary of the current processing times for key PR visa categories:
| Visa Subclass | Description | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 189 | Skilled Independent Visa | Approximately 6 to 12 months |
| Subclass 190 | Skilled Nominated Visa | Approximately 6 to 12 months |
| Subclass 191 | Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa | Approximately 6 to 12 months |
| Subclass 186 | Employer Nomination Scheme Visa | Approximately 5 to 10 months |
| Subclass 187 | Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa | Approximately 5 to 10 months |
Australian permanent residency is a great chance to live, work and study in Australia permanently. If you have studied in the country then you have already taken a step in your PR journey in Australia. You can get in touch with AECC experts and get more answers.
How to get Australian Permanent Residency in 2025 FAQs
Yes, you can include your immediate family, like a partner, children, parents or dependent relatives, in a PR application. This comes under the ‘Family stream PR application.
