Permanent Residency Pathways
A clear plan from temporary to permanent, regional pathways, employer transitions, second-stage partner applications and Resident Return visas.
Very few people move straight to permanent residence. Most arrive on a temporary visa and reach PR through a sequence of steps, and the decisions you make early on can quietly open or close doors years later.
A PR pathway session is a structured look at your whole position: your visa history, your occupation, your work location, your relationship, your age and your timeline. You leave with a written plan of what to do, in what order, and what each step depends on.
How we help with permanent residency pathways
- Review your visa history and current conditions in full
- Identify which permanent pathways are realistically open to you and when
- Plan the sequence and timing of each step, including regional requirements
- Advise on residence, work and income requirements for regional PR
- Prepare subclass 191, 186 (Transition) and 887 applications
- Manage second-stage permanent partner applications
- Prepare Resident Return visas for existing permanent residents
Visas in this category
Expand any option below for who it suits and what it involves. These summaries are general. Your own eligibility depends on your circumstances.
The permanent residence step for holders of a subclass 491 or 494 provisional regional visa.
Who it may suit
- Subclass 491 and 494 holders who have met their regional obligations
- Applicants who have held the provisional visa for at least three years
- People who have met the minimum taxable income requirement
Key points
- Grants permanent residence
- You must have held a 491 or 494 for at least three years
- You must have met the minimum taxable income requirement for three income years
- You must have complied with the conditions of your provisional visa
- No further points test or skills assessment is required
The permanent pathway for sponsored workers who have worked for their employer on a 482 or 457 visa.
Who it may suit
- Sponsored employees who have completed the required period with their employer
- Employers wanting to retain a sponsored worker permanently
- Workers whose occupation may not be eligible for the Direct Entry stream
Key points
- Grants permanent residence
- Requires your employer to lodge an approved nomination
- Requires a qualifying period of full-time work with that sponsor
- Generally no skills assessment required under this stream
- Generally requires you to be under 45, with exemptions
- Requires at least Competent English
A permanent visa for holders of certain older provisional regional visas who have met the residence and work requirements.
Who it may suit
- Holders of subclass 489, 495, 496, 475 or 487 provisional visas
- Applicants who have lived in a specified regional area for at least two years
- Applicants who have worked full time in that area for at least one year
Key points
- Grants permanent residence
- At least two years living in a specified regional area
- At least one year of full-time work in that area
- You must be in Australia when the application is decided
- Family members can be included
For permanent residents whose travel facility has expired or is about to expire, allowing them to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.
Who it may suit
- Permanent residents planning to travel with an expired travel facility
- Former permanent residents seeking to return
- Permanent residents who cannot yet meet the two-year residence requirement
Key points
- Restores or extends your permanent resident travel facility
- Subclass 155 generally grants five years where residence requirements are met
- Shorter validity may be granted where you have substantial ties to Australia
- Subclass 157 is a three-month option in limited circumstances
- You can apply from inside or outside Australia
Not sure where you stand?
Book a consultation and get an honest assessment of your options, including the ones that are not open to you yet, and why.
Initial consultations are by appointment, in person in Punchbowl or by video anywhere in Australia and overseas.
- Registered migration agency. MARN 2619475
- Honest assessment, including when a pathway isn't open
- Written quote before any work begins
- In person in Punchbowl, or by video Australia-wide