How to get PR in Australia: the main pathways and requirements
Settledin Team7 min readHow to get PR in Australia comes down to being granted a permanent visa. The main routes are skilled independent (189), state nominated (190), regional (491 then 191), employer sponsored (186, or 494 then 191) and partner visas. Each has its own gate: an invitation, a nomination or a sponsor.
Facts as at 15 October 2026; key facts re-checked against Home Affairs on 7 November 2026.
What is permanent residency (PR) in Australia?
Home Affairs says you become a permanent resident by "applying for and being granted a permanent visa that allows you to remain in Australia indefinitely" (Permanent resident). Home Affairs says the most common permanent visas include some skilled work and family visas. PR is a visa status, not a separate document.
The permanent visa has a travel component. On the 189, for example, it "expires 5 years after the date of visa grant" (Skilled Independent visa, Points-tested stream). The PR status stays, but the right to re-enter Australia depends on a valid travel facility.
On 15 September 2026, Home Affairs published a warning: "A permanent visa does not allow you to enter Australia without a valid travel facility" (Don't get stranded overseas). Once the facility expires, re-entry as a permanent resident is through a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157), as set out on Overseas travel as a permanent resident.
PR is also different from citizenship. Citizenship is a separate application with its own residence rules, covered in our Australian citizenship guide.
What are the main pathways to PR in Australia?
Some visas are permanent from the day of grant. Others are provisional or temporary, with a later permanent visa. This table shows how Home Affairs describes each one.
| Pathway | Visas | Permanent or provisional | Key gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled independent | 189 | Permanent | Invitation through SkillSelect |
| State or territory nominated | 190 | Permanent | State or territory nomination, then invitation |
| Skilled regional | 491, then 191 | 491 provisional (5 years), 191 permanent | Nomination or family sponsorship, then invitation |
| Employer sponsored | 186 | Permanent | Employer nomination |
| Temporary work to permanent | 482, then 186 | 482 temporary, 186 permanent | Approved sponsor, then employer nomination |
| Regional employer sponsored | 494, then 191 | 494 provisional (5 years), 191 permanent | Approved work sponsor |
| Graduates | 485 | Temporary | Recent Australian qualification |
| Partner | 820/801 onshore, 309/100 offshore | Temporary stage, then permanent | Relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or "eligible New Zealand citizen" (Home Affairs wording) |
Sources: Home Affairs pages for the 189, 190, 491, 191, 186, 482, 494, 485, partner onshore and partner offshore.
A few notes on each:
- 189. Home Affairs describes it as a visa for invited workers "to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia". No sponsor or nomination is involved.
- 190. Home Affairs says it will "only invite you to apply for this visa if you are nominated" by a state or territory government agency.
- 491 and 191. The 491 is a 5 year visa for living and working in a designated regional area. The 191 is the permanent visa that follows it.
- 186. It has a Direct Entry stream and a Temporary Residence Transition stream for 482 holders, plus a Labour Agreement stream.
- 485. Home Affairs calls it "a temporary visa". It is not a permanent visa.
- Partner. Home Affairs says "You apply for the temporary and the permanent partner visas together."
Two smaller groups also lead to PR. Family visas include the Parent visa (subclass 103) and the Child visas (subclass 101 and 802), all permanent. Home Affairs says Parent visa applications "are subject to capping and queueing" (Parent visa). For talent, the National Innovation visa (subclass 858) is permanent and by invitation. Home Affairs lists the Global Talent, Distinguished Talent and Business Innovation and Investment visas as "closed to new applications" (planning levels).
All of these are listed on our Australian visas page.
Australia PR requirements: what most skilled pathways ask for
Home Affairs lists the same core gates for the 189, 190 and 491. The applicant must "have an occupation on the relevant skilled list", "have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation", "be invited to apply" and "satisfy the points test" (Skilled Nominated visa).
| Gate | What Home Affairs says (189 points-tested stream) | More on Settledin |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation | Must be on the relevant list of skilled occupations for the visa | Occupations, MLTSSL, CSOL |
| Skills assessment | A suitable skills assessment for the occupation | Skills assessment guide, assessing authorities |
| Age | "You must be aged under 45 when we invite you to apply" | |
| English | "At the time of invitation, you must have at least competent English" | English test requirements |
| Points | "If you cannot obtain 65 points we will not invite you to apply" | The PR points test |
| Health and character | The applicant and family members who apply must meet the health requirement; those aged 16 and over must meet the character requirement |
Source: Skilled Independent visa, Points-tested stream.
Employer sponsored visas use different gates. For the 186 Direct Entry stream, Home Affairs lists a nomination for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, being under 45 when applying unless exempt, at least 3 years of relevant work experience, a positive skills assessment unless exempt, and English (Direct Entry stream).
How the skilled PR process works, step by step
For the points-tested visas (189, 190 and 491), Home Affairs sets out this order:
- Occupation and skills assessment. The occupation must be on the relevant list, and the assessing authority for it issues the skills assessment.
- English. The test result must show at least competent English at the time of invitation.
- Expression of interest (EOI). Home Affairs says an invitation is required to apply for a skilled visa, and the EOI in SkillSelect is how applicants register interest. No documents are uploaded at this stage.
- Nomination, for the 190 and state nominated 491. Home Affairs says state and territory agencies can see a completed EOI and might nominate.
- Invitation. The invitation states the points score that must be proven at the visa stage.
- Visa application. Lodged online in ImmiAccount from SkillSelect, with evidence for the claims made in the EOI.
- Grant. For the 189, Home Affairs says "You become a permanent resident on the day we grant the visa."
What happens after an invitation is covered in Invited in SkillSelect: what happens next. For the wait before one, see EOI submitted but not invited yet.
How to get PR in Australia from India (and other countries offshore)
The steps are the same from India or any other country. Home Affairs says the 189 can be lodged "in or outside Australia". Applicants cannot be in immigration clearance when they apply or when the visa is decided (Skilled Independent visa).
The difference is usually where the steps start:
- Applicants outside Australia complete the English test and the skills assessment first, then lodge an EOI from overseas.
- Many onshore applicants came as students. A Student visa (subclass 500) can lead to a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after study.
Every application, from anywhere, goes through ImmiAccount. Our guide covers how to create an ImmiAccount.
How long does it take to get PR in Australia?
It depends on the pathway and the number of stages. Home Affairs does not publish one total time for PR.
- Direct permanent visas (189, 190, 186 Direct Entry). One visa application after the invitation or nomination.
- Regional provisional routes (491 or 494, then 191). Home Affairs says a 191 applicant must "hold an eligible visa for at least three years" (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa). The 191 also asks for ATO notices of assessment for 3 income years.
- Temporary work to permanent (482, then 186). The Temporary Residence Transition stream usually asks for at least 2 years of full time sponsored work on a 457 or 482 in the 3 years before applying (Temporary Residence Transition stream).
- Partner visas. The temporary visa lasts until the permanent stage is decided.
For current decision times on each visa, Home Affairs publishes global visa processing times. It describes them as a guide only.
Which PR pathway fits which situation?
This table shows the pathways often used in common situations. It describes the visas, not any one person's options.
| Situation | Pathways often used | Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation on a skilled list, no employer sponsor | 189, 190, 491 then 191 | Invitation (plus nomination for the 190 and 491) |
| Employer willing to sponsor | 186 Direct Entry, 482 then 186, 494 then 191 | Employer nomination |
| Partner of an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 820/801 or 309/100 | Genuine relationship and sponsorship |
| Studying in Australia | 500, then 485, then a skilled or employer visa | Recent Australian qualification for the 485 |
Our locations pages cover each state's nomination programs.
What's changed for PR in 2026–27?
On 12 May 2026, the Government set the 2026–27 Permanent Migration Program at 185,000 places, with "an approximate 70:30 split" between skilled and family (planning levels). Home Affairs says the overall level and split are unchanged from 2025–26. States and territories set their own 2026–27 nomination dates; our state nomination tracker follows each one.
Every change by date is in our hub, Australian visa changes 2026–27.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get PR without a job offer?
Yes, through some visas. The 189 and 190 do not need an employer. The 189 needs an invitation, and the 190 needs a state or territory nomination and an invitation.
Is the 491 a PR visa?
No. Home Affairs says "This is a temporary visa" lasting 5 years. It notes 491 holders can apply for permanent residence after 3 years, through the 191.
Is the 485 PR?
No. Home Affairs calls the 485 "a temporary visa". Its length depends on the qualification, usually between 2 and 3 years.
What is the difference between PR and citizenship?
PR lets a person stay indefinitely, but re-entry depends on the travel facility. Citizenship is a separate application. Home Affairs notes that citizens "will be able to travel freely using an Australian passport". See the Australian citizenship guide.
Can I include family in a PR application?
For the 189, Home Affairs says "You can include members of the family unit in your application", either when lodging or before a decision. Family members who apply must meet the health and character requirements.
Work out your indicative points
Most skilled routes start with the points test. Settledin adds up an indicative points total from the official points table.
Work out your indicative points
This article describes published Department of Home Affairs rules and information. It is general information, not migration advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. Check the register.