Australia is a developed country with a thriving economy that offers numerous employment opportunities. It also has a culturally diverse society where one can find peace and harmony. That is why many people seek permanent living opportunities here. There are several visas under the Permanent Residence program of the Immigration Department. One such visa is the 189 Visa Australia, which is granted to individuals with skills in an occupation with high demands in the Australian job sector. This blog focuses on various benefits and eligibility requirements of PR visas that you must be aware of.
Benefits of an Australian Permanent Residence Visa
Holding an Australian permanent residence visa will allow you to do the following.
- You can live permanently in Australia and travel anywhere within the country.
- You can enroll; in a higher study course at an Australian institute. In addition, specific educational loans are also granted to permanent residents.
- After two years of stay on an Australian PR visa, you can access Social Security benefits.
- Once you become a permanent resident, you can sponsor your relatives willing to apply for an Australian permanent visa. But for that, they must satisfy specific prerequisites.
- Government jobs will be available.
- You can also migrate to New Zealand and obtain a visa there.
General Eligibility Requirements of a PR Visa
While different permanent visa categories have specific eligibility requirements, there are some common requirements that you must satisfy. These are as follows.
Age Requirement
- You must be under 45 while applying.
- English language proficiency
- If you want to apply for an Australian permanent visa, you must possess at least a competent level of English.
- Having skills in an occupation listed on the skilled occupation list
The skilled jobs that have high demands in the Australian job market are listed on the various skilled occupation lists set by the Australian government. Note that these occupations are on the list because they are currently accepted by Immigration. The lists go through regular updates and reflect changes occurring in the labour market of Australia.
Three categories of the skilled occupation lists are:
- Short-term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL)
- Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
- Regional Occupations List (ROL)
Points requirement
If you want to become eligible for an Australian permanent residence visa, the minimum required point is 65. These points are awarded in the points test according to the various skills and qualifications. The more you score on the points test, the brighter your chances of receiving an invitation for application. That is why most migration experts recommend scoring 80 to 85.
The points will be awarded for the following parameters.
Age
Though you can apply for an Australian permanent residency up to 44 years of age, the maximum points (30) will be possible if your age is between 25 and 32. Points for the other age groups are as follows:
- 18-24 years: 25 points
- 33-39 years: 25 points
- 40-44 years: 15 points
English Language Skills
The immigration authorities of Australia accept scores of five internationally-recognised English language tests – IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, OET, and CAE. IELTS is the most accepted test, and scoring an overall band score of 8 will help you achieve the maximum points (20). However, if you take any other test, you can check the points awarded for an equivalent score.
Employment Experience
When it comes to job experience, the authority will check whether you have worked outside or inside Australia. The total points will be calculated based on this information and the number of years you have worked for.If you have worked outside Australia, the following points will be awarded.
- Less than 3 years of work: 0 points
- 3-4 years of work: 5 points
- 5-7 years of work: 10 points
- 8-10 years of work: 15 points
On the other hand, working in Australia will give you some extra advantages.
- Less than 1 year of work: 0 points
- 1-2 years of work: 5 points
- 3-4 years of work: 10 points
- 5-7 years of work: 15 points
- 8-10 years of work: 20 points
Academic Qualification
Based on the academic qualification you hold, you will receive your points. If you are awarded a Doctorate by any Australian institute or a university of another country, you will receive 20 points, and holding a Bachelor or Masters will give you 15 points. On the other hand, receiving a Diploma, Trade qualification, or Doctorate in STEM fields from an Australian institution will give you 10 points.
Qualification Of The Spouse
Suppose you want to include your spouse in your Visa Subclass 190 application, a points-based visa. In that case, they should also meet some requirements to help you achieve extra 10 points. These requirements include:
- Age under 45 years
- Competent English
- Relevant job experience
Other Qualifications
Points are also awarded for the following qualifications.
- Studying in regional Australia: 5 points
- State sponsorship for the Visa 190: 5 points
- Knowing a community language: 5 points
- Having completed a Professional Year Program (PYP): 5 points
- Regional or relative sponsorship for the Visa 491: 15 points
Regional Australian means areas that are outside the metropolitan areas of major cities. For detailed information, you must check the Department of Home Affairs website.
Which two visas are points-based?
Two Australian permanent residence visas are points-based. It means for applying for these two visas, you have to score at least 65 on the points’ test. Details of these visas are discussed here.
Skilled Independent Visa 189
Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189 is issued to overseas applicants who hold adequate skills in occupations with high demands in the Australian market. While applying for this visa, keep these points in mind.
- You will neither need any government nomination nor any sponsor.
- You can start your application only after you receive your invitation.
- Your age must be under 45 years.
Skilled Nominated Visa 190
As the name suggests, the Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190 is issued to applicants who receive a nomination from an Australian state or territory government agency. Nominations are on the basis of their skills.
Like the Skilled Independent Visa 189, for this visa, too, you have to receive the relevant authority’s invitation. You must be skill in an occupation present on the skilled occupation list for both visas.
Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 – a pathway to permanent residency in Australia
Suppose you have earned your graduation from an Australian institute. In that case, you can think of applying for the Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 as it is a great pathway to obtaining your permanent residency in Australia. The reasons are as follows.
- You can stay for 18 months to 4 years in Australia, based on the stream you apply for and the academic qualification you hold. You can work for an Australian employer during this period and pursue further studies. This Australian work experience will help you achieve significant points.
- You can also enroll in a Professional Year Program if you graduate in IT, Accounting, or Engineering and achieve 5 valuable points.
Who Can Help You?
An immigration agent will be the best individual to ask for help. There are several migration consultancies in Perth that offer various immigration services. If you contact them, they will assign you their best Migration Agent Perth, who can guide you through the entire application process.
