Get Permanent Residence in Australia

You apply for permanent residence through the Department of Home Affairs. Most skilled visas require an invitation before you can lodge a full application.

Your pathway may include the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190), Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), or Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491). Each is managed online.

Step‑by‑Step Process

Confirm Eligibility

You must be under 45 years of age when you receive your invitation to apply. If you apply for the Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190), you must also hold a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation.

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

Lodge your Expression of Interest through SkillSelect. This doesn’t count as a visa application; it just puts you in the pool.

Receive an Invitation to Apply

You can’t apply without a valid invitation. Once invited, you need to act fast.

Lodge Your Visa Application

Submit your application through your SkillSelect account within 60 calendar days of receiving the invitation. Late applications won’t be accepted.

Upload Supporting Documents

You must provide:

A valid passport or travel document. Evidence of your relationship status, such as a marriage certificate or divorce documents. Any required skills assessment (for subclass 190 applicants)

Missing documentation can slow things down.

Pay the Required Fees (if applicable)

If you apply under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), charges include:

Confirm current charges with Home Affairs before payment.

Processing and Timing

processing times depend on your situation and how complete your application is. Home Affairs provides a visa processing times guide with estimates for recent applications.

Delays are common when documents are missing or unclear. Uploading accurate, complete records at the outset helps.

Home Affairs reviews your eligibility and makes the final decision. The Australian Border Force manages border entry, not visa approvals.

Prepare complete and accurate documents before lodging your application with the Department of Home Affairs. Missing or outdated evidence can cause delays or refusals.

The documents you need depend on whether you apply for the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190), Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), or Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491). Several requirements apply across these visa types.

Identity and Personal Documents

You must prove your identity and provide consistent personal details.

Provide:

• A valid passport
• A national identity card (if available)
• Birth certificates or official identity records
• Evidence of name changes, if applicable

If family members apply with you, include:

• Their identity documents
• Evidence of your relationship, such as marriage or birth records

All information must match the details in your Expression of Interest (EOI).

Skills and Occupation Evidence

Your occupation must appear on the relevant skilled occupation list. You must obtain a skills assessment for your nominated occupation.

The assessment must:

• Be suitable for your occupation
• Be valid at the time of invitation
• Not be more than 3 years old when you receive your invitation

Attach all supporting documents used for the assessment. If you claim points in your EOI, you need to provide evidence for each claim.

Failing to submit a valid or timely skills assessment is a common reason for refusal.

English, Health, and Character Requirements

You must show evidence of competent English language ability. Include official test results if required.

You and any accompanying family members must also meet:

• The health requirement (medical examinations if requested)
• The character requirement

Provide a police certificate for any country where you lived for 12 months or more after turning 16.

Submission Through SkillSelect and ImmiAccount

Follow this sequence:

1. Submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect.

2. Receive an invitation to apply (required for subclass 189, subclass 190, and subclass 491).

3. Lodge your visa application within 60 days of receiving the invitation.

4. Upload all supporting documents to your ImmiAccount and ensure they are complete.

Incomplete uploads, inconsistent information, or unsupported points claims can lead to refusal.

Before submitting, review every document for accuracy. You’re responsible for proving you meet all requirements.

Before you apply for permanent residence, you must confirm that you meet the core eligibility rules set by the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs). Each skilled pathway has specific criteria, but several requirements apply across the main visa options.

These include the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190), Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491).

Points Test Requirement

For points‑tested visas such as the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190), you must score at least 65 points.

You claim points in your Expression of Interest (EOI). Your score must reach 65 or more based strictly on what you declare.

Home Affairs will check if your claimed points are accurate. If your evidence doesn’t support your claims, your application can fail even if your EOI showed 65 points or more.

Nomination Eligibility

Some visas require nomination.

You may qualify for the Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) or the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) if an Australian state or territory government agency nominates you. You must still meet the required points threshold.

For the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), eligibility depends on nomination by an approved employer. Home Affairs assesses whether you meet the visa criteria after nomination.

Supporting Documents

You must gather documents that prove:

• The claims made in your EOI
• Your eligibility under the relevant visa criteria
• Any nomination approval, if required

Home Affairs expects clear, consistent evidence. Prepare your documents before you apply to avoid delays or refusal.

If Home Affairs requests additional information, respond within the given timeframe and provide complete records.

Processing Considerations

Some applicants must complete additional forms, such as Form

1. processing times vary depending on the visa category and where your application is processed.

You should verify current processing times directly with Home Affairs before applying. Timelines can change, and you must rely on the official source for up‑to‑date information.

If you can’t meet the 65‑point threshold or secure the required nomination, you do not qualify under these skilled permanent pathways.

Permanent residence gives you a settled immigration status granted by the Department of Home Affairs through an approved permanent visa.

You receive this status after you meet the requirements for a visa such as the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190), or Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). If you hold a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491), you must first hold an eligible visa for at least three years and comply with its conditions before moving forward.

A Permanent Skilled Status

Permanent residence confirms that Home Affairs has assessed and accepted your:

• Age requirement (under 45 at the time of invitation)
• English ability (at least competent English at invitation)
• Occupation and work experience details
• Identity and biographical information
• Immigration history and current status

You no longer rely on a provisional pathway once permanent residence is granted under the relevant subclass.

Inclusion of Family Members

Your permanent application can include eligible family members.

Each included family member must meet the character requirement, even if they do not migrate with you. Some family members may also need to meet health requirements.

Home Affairs assesses every person listed in your application individually before granting permanent status.

Certainty After Visa Compliance

If your pathway required you to hold an eligible visa for at least three years, you must show that you complied with all visa conditions during that time.

Permanent residence confirms that you satisfied those compliance requirements. This matters particularly for applicants transitioning from regional or provisional visas.

Processing and Government Oversight

Home Affairs manages permanent visa applications and releases processing priorities along with quarterly reports.

Processing for Form 80 under “Skilled (Permanent)” sits at about 13 months as of February 2026.

processing times shift from time to time. Check updates from the Department of Home Affairs before applying.

Permanent residence gives you formal, approved status within Australia’s skilled migration system. This is based on a full assessment of your eligibility, background, and compliance history.

Applicants sometimes focus on eligibility but miss small procedural rules that delay or end their application.

The Department of Home Affairs applies these rules strictly.

Several successful applicants shared a common approach: they followed each instruction exactly and met every deadline.

Scenario: Missing the Invitation Window

You receive an invitation and feel relieved.

One applicant for the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) delayed preparing documents and missed the 60‑day deadline to lodge his application after receiving the invitation.

Home Affairs didn’t extend the deadline.

When he reapplied, he prepared everything in advance. He made sure his skills assessment was suitable and his nominated occupation appeared on the relevant skilled list before seeking another invitation.

Scenario: Incorrect Information in the Application

A nurse applying under the Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) submitted details that didn’t match her supporting documents.

Home Affairs treated the inconsistency as misleading information.

Her application didn’t progress.

On her second attempt, she reviewed every statement before submission and cross‑checked her documents. Accuracy mattered more than speed.

Any false or misleading information—even if unintentional—can affect your outcome.

Scenario: Adding Family After Lodgement

An engineer applied under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) and later needed to add a dependent child.

He did not withdraw the application.

He submitted Form 1436 to request the addition of a family member after the initial lodgement. Home Affairs processed the request as part of the existing application.

If your circumstances change, use the correct form rather than starting over.

What Applicants Say Helped Them

• Confirming their occupation appears on the relevant skilled list
• Obtaining a suitable skills assessment before applying
• Monitoring processing time updates through Home Affairs
• Budgeting for the A$4,910 primary applicant fee for the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)

Applicants for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) also stressed preparation. They gathered assessments early and avoided last‑minute submissions.

processing times shift, and Home Affairs publishes current estimates.

Those who approached the process methodically made fewer mistakes. Careful preparation, accurate information, and strict attention to deadlines shaped their outcomes.