The PR duration in Australia for immigrants is five years. The Australian government has launched three types of PR Visas for immigrants to gain Australian citizenship. However, holding a PR visa does not equal Australian citizenship. Only immigrants satisfying the 5-year duration can apply for citizenship.
Did You Know?
In May 2024, for the planning of the year 2024-2025, the Australian government announced the number of vacancies available for Permanent Residency is 185,000 places. This means around 200,000 PR applications are considered by the country’s government.
The PR program is primarily launched to fill the skill shortage gaps in important sectors and prioritise visa processing for regional Australia.
Overview of Australian PR Duration
Permanent residency (PR) in Australia allows you to live, work, and study indefinitely. As a PR holder, you enjoy most of the rights and privileges of citizens, including access to healthcare and education. Holding a PR visa entitles immigrants are entitled to many benefits and pros. Apart from gaining citizenship, there are several other perks:
- Remain in Australia indefinitely
- Work and study in Australia
- Enrol in Australia's national health scheme, Medicare
- Apply for bank loans to buy property
- Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
- Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
- Travel to and from Australia as long as your travel facility permits
- Attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program
- Work in New Zealand
Importance in the Migration Landscape:
Family Stream: Approximately 52,500 places are available for the family stream visa. The family stream is primarily designed to reunite Australian citizens with family members staying overseas. This helps the families stay together.
Work Stream: Around 132,000 places are available. The work stream visa aims to improve the skill gap and boost the Australian economy, particularly focusing on regional Australia.
Special Eligibility Stream - 300 places are allocated for this stream. This stream covers those in Special circumstances.
Overall, immigrants of various categories are given importance to make diversity in Australia more vibrant and purposeful.
Types of PR Visas and Their Processing Times
As of 2024, the Australian immigration website lists three legal ways to become an Australian permanent resident. Moreover, the Permanent Residency Application Time Australia is listed clearly in the table format below.
- Family Stream Permanent Visa: This visa category is designed for individuals who are partners, children, parents, or dependent relatives of an Australian citizen, permanent resident of Australia, or eligible New Zealand citizen. It also applies if an Australian citizen is adopting a child or is in the process of adopting a child from outside Australia. Additionally, this visa caters to caretakers moving to Australia to provide long-term care for an approved relative. The Family Visa Australia Processing Duration is more than a year.
- Work Stream Permanent Residence Visas: This visa category is designed for workers sponsored by Australian companies. To explore permanent visa options for workers, they should answer a few questions on the cited web page and choose their designation for Australian immigration to approve their PR. Consequently, they will also be notified of their Visa duration. The Skilled Visa Australia Processing Time is between 6 to 12 months, so employees can plan to apply for this visa accordingly.
- Business or Investor Stream Permanent Visas: This visa category is issued to individuals who want to invest or establish a business in Australia. It is designed for entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners who can contribute to the Australian economy. The visa aims to attract individuals with a proven history of business success or substantial investment experience, enabling them to settle in Australia and participate in economic growth.
PR visas hold significant importance in the Australian country. PR visas grant legal residents temporary residency but temporarily for a short duration. To convert this to permanent duration, immigrants have to abide by the duration time of their stay so that they can enjoy citizenship as other Australians.
PR Visas and their PR Visa duration:
|
PR Visas in Australia |
Processing Time |
|
Family Stream |
|
|
16 months |
|
|
Parent Visa (subclass 103) |
Several months to a year or more |
|
Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143) |
Several months to a year or more |
|
4 - 10 months |
|
|
Work Stream |
|
|
6-12 months |
|
|
6-12 months |
|
|
6-12 months |
|
|
6-12 months |
|
|
1 - 77 days |
|
|
Business or Investor Stream |
|
|
Business Innovation and Investment Visa (subclass 188) - Business Innovation stream |
14 - 37 months |
|
Business Innovation and Investment Visa (subclass 188) - Investor stream |
25 - 40 months |
|
Business Innovation and Investment Visa (subclass 188) - Significant Investor stream |
8 - 23 months |
|
Business Innovation and Investment Visa (subclass 188) - Business Innovation Extension stream |
7 - 14 months |
Key Points:
- Family-stream visas are for those with family in Australia.
- Work-stream visas are for skilled workers needed in the Australian job market.
- Business or investor-stream visas are for entrepreneurs and investors.
Related Blog:
1. PR point system in Australia 2023 - 2024
2. Australia Permanent Residency (PR) Requirements for 2024
3. Top 10 Benefits of Becoming a PR in Australia
4. How to apply for PR in Australia?
Conclusion
Understanding the duration of PR processing in Australia is crucial for prospective applicants. Applicants should stay informed about processing times, which vary based on the visa type and individual circumstances. This awareness helps in better planning and managing the PR application process, ensuring a smoother transition to permanent residency.
In summary, Australia offers various PR visas, each with its own processing time. Whether you're applying through family, work, or business streams, knowing the expected duration helps in managing your expectations and planning your future in Australia.
For more detailed information on specific visa processing times, contact AECC Today!