What is Australia PR Visa?
It is a "Permanent Resident" visa, which is exclusively designed for people who are not citizens of Australia. The process is not only highly systematic and organized but also advanced enough to evaluate the applications based on an individual's credentials.
Once acquired, a PR visa holder can stay in Australia for an indefinite period. Along with it, a five-year travel facility is also granted. Until this travel facility reaches its expiry, the holder can leave and return Australia freely.
A permanent resident can enjoy various privileges and rights as citizens do, including access to subsidized or free health and legal services. However, a PR visa holder does not have the freedom or right to vote in state/territory or federal elections, unless he or she is registered before 1984.
A permanent resident is eligible for after a particular waiting period. When this duration is complete, the applicant must undergo a citizenship test with a few other formalities. This can take about 3 - 12 months.
Australia PR Visa Requirements:
As said above, an Australia PR visa is a highly point-based system. Therefore, the process to acquire it is a mixture of both offline and online activities. The key requirements for it are as follows:
1. Keep the Documents Handy
Besides the educational and routine travel documents, an individual requires two primary documents, which are:
2. Select an Appropriate Visa
Understand that there are different types of PR visas in Australia. Hence, it is vital that an applicant chooses the one that suits his or her requirements. The most common categories are:
3. Choose A Profession From SOL
After a particular PR visa is selected, an applicant has to choose an occupation from SOL (Skilled Occupation List).
4. Apply Through Point-Based System
After the above formalities are done, the applicant must apply directly at the Australia's point-based system. For this, he or she must submit an EOI (Expression of Interest) in the Australian Skill Select System online. Skill Select is an online system that stores and maintains an applicant's profile details like name, age, gender, work experience, language ability, qualification, etc.
Based on the profile factors, the system generates points. An applicant's collective score should be a minimum of 60 points to apply for the respective PR visa via the system. The higher the points, the better are the chances of acquiring an invitation to apply for the PR visa.
5. Character and Health Requirements
Apart from all the above, an applicant should meet his or her character and health requirements as well. An applicant's character must be morally good, and he or she should be mentally fit to work and live in Australia.
Benefits Of an Australia PR Visa:
Australia PR Visa Key Requirements for Indians:
An Indian citizen is eligible to apply for a permanent resident visa if he or she is a business professional, skilled worker, and meets all the eligibility requirements with a collective score of 60 points, then he or she qualifies to apply for any PR visa category.
PR Visa Categories for Indian Citizens:
As of now, the Australian Government offers 30+ visa categories for Indians to acquire a PR visa. These categories are exclusively designed for different aspirants. Based on the requirements, an Indian citizen can apply for any of the following categories for faster approval:
Fees for Australia PR Visa:
The breakdown of Australia PR Visa fees for the General Skilled Migration Program of Australia as of December 2022 is shown in the table below
Visa subclass | Charges for Primary applicant | Charges Secondary applicant | Charges child applicants |
491 Visa | 4,240 AUD | 2,120 AUD | 1,060 AUD |
189 Visa | 4,240 AUD | 2,120 AUD | 1,060 AUD |
190 Visa | 4,240 AUD | 2,120 AUD | 1,060 AUD |
Processing Period for Permanent Residency in Australia:
Skill Assessment | Can take 45 to 60 days (about 2 months).You must have your educational background and professional experience evaluated for skill assessment. This must be carried out with the aid of a designated skill assessment organisation. |
Skill selection | There is no set period of time for passing this stage. Your score has a complete impact on processing time. You must submit the application online at this time. |
Visa Application Submission | 60 days after receiving an invitation to apply is when visa applications must be submitted. You must send your final visa application to the DIBP after receiving the ITA. |
Visa Approval | The DIBP conducts extensive research after receiving the necessary paperwork. Once they are satisfied with your information, they will grant you a visa. This typically takes three to five months. |
If the score is below 7, then the overall result will be less and one cannot qualify for an Australian PR visa.
Even though IELTS is highly important to prove one's proficiency in English language, there might be times when one might not want to undergo this exam. In such cases, one can opt for other English language tests like TOEFL, PTE, etc. If one does not wants to prove his or her proficiency in English, then a state nomination is mandatory.
If you are a skilled worker or a business professional who holds Indian citizenship, you are eligible to apply for an Australia Permanent Resident Visa. To be eligible for the PR Visa category of your choice, you must meet all other eligibility requirements, have a minimum score of 60, and more.
There is no set age requirement to move to Australia, but there are some prerequisites that must be met. Australia uses a points-based calculator to determine an applicant's eligibility. You must also achieve points test score of at least 60 to be eligible for Australian PR.
You can stay in Australia continuously for five years with an Australian PR visa. Within this time, you may enter and exit multiple times. You can apply for citizenship in Australia after five years.
Australia's permanent residency typically takes 10 to 12 months to process. However, your overall point total also affects how quickly your visa will be processed.