Things to know about Australian PR Visa

Seeking job opportunities abroad has become the primary focus of young professional aspirants. The reasons for this are the availability of well-paid jobs, an improved lifestyle, physical security, and a bright future for the family.

Australia is one such continent that many specialists intend to migrate to because of its in-demand needs in professional services. Although migrating to Australia is not easy, it requires clearance of certain stages to acquire an Australian Visa.

Therefore, here are some essential things to know about the Australian PR Visa (Permanent Residency Visa).

What is an Australian PR Visa, and how can one acquire it?

In simple terms, an Australian PR Visa is a document of authority that allows an individual and/or their family to reside in Australia permanently. Once they have immigrated to Australia, permanent residents and their families experience all the rights of Australian citizens, except for voting rights.

The process of acquiring Australian PR begins with a candidate checking their occupation on the skilled occupation list on the Australian government’s immigration website. Upon finding a relevant occupation that matches his qualifications and work experience, the candidate can proceed to submit his documents for Skill Assessment.

Skill Assessment is a document verification process conducted by the appropriate assessing authority of Australia. These assessing authorities can include Vetassess, ACS, TRA, Engineers Australia, AIM, AIMS, CPA, and the Medical Board, among others.

Upon finding a relevant occupation requirement in a particular occupation list, the concerned assessment body requests the candidate to apply for an EOI (Expression of Interest) on the online SkillSelect Immigration Programme. Expression of Interest consists of the chosen occupation, skills, and qualifications.

SkillSelect evaluates Expression of Interest, awards the nominee points and ranks them against intending migrants.

If the candidate ranks higher and if demand is available in the nominated profession, an ITA (Invitation to Apply) for a PR Visa to Australia is received. After obtaining the ITA, the candidate has 60 days to submit their final application under the IMMI account to process the PR Visa.

Check the listing of occupation demand in Australia here.

Australian PR Subclasses

The Australian PR is divided into two most important Subclasses (Subclass 189 and Subclass 190) that candidates typically look forward to. These subclasses are offered to the candidate based on the points secured by them through their EOI assessment.

Once the candidate scores 60 or more points, he is eligible for both Subclass 189 and 190. If a candidate scores 55 points, they are granted five additional points, making them eligible for the Subclass 190 visa.

The only difference between these two aforementioned Subclasses is that a Subclass 189 candidate enjoys all the benefits presented by the Australian PR and can reside and work anywhere in Australia., In contrast, a Subclass 190 candidate enjoys identical benefits to those of Subclass 189 but is restricted to living and working in a particular state of Australia.

Occupations listed under the Medium and Long-Term Skilled Strategic Skills List are applicable for candidates falling under Subclass 189 and 190. Moreover, Occupations listed under the Short-Term Occupation List are only relevant for candidates falling under Subclass 189 and 190 visas. A candidate’s visa for Subclass 189 and 190 visas is valid for 5 years, but the candidate can be naturalised after 3 years of stay in Australia.

Apart from these two major Subclasses, Subclass 489 is also taken into consideration by a few candidates. In the case that a candidate is unable to score 60 points in Subclass 189 but manages to score 55 points in the subclass, they gain five points, qualifying for Subclass 489.

The Subclass 489 restricts the candidate to reside and work in a particular region of an Australian state. Occupations listed under the Medium and Long-Term Skilled Strategic Skills List are also applicable for candidates falling under Subclass 489. The candidate’s Visa in Subclass 489 is Valid for 4 years.

Requirements to apply for Australian PR

The Australian PR Visa requires a candidate to score 60 points to be eligible to apply for the PR Visa. The SkillSelect Immigration Programme determines the eligibility of candidates based on the points secured.

These points are bifurcated and are explained in detail below:-

• Age: The candidate ought to be among 18-44 years during the time of receiving the ITA for the PR Visa. A candidate can score a maximum of 30 points based on their age.
• Qualification: The candidate should have a relevant qualification in their field of expertise. A Bachelor’s degree is a must to claim the minimum points. More points can be claimed if the candidate holds a Master’s degree or above. A candidate can score a maximum of 15 points from a relevant educational background.
• Occupation: The candidate should hold relevant professional work experience in their field of expertise. A candidate can score a maximum of 15 points from their relevant work experience.
• PTE/IELTS English Exam Score: A candidate seeking migration to Australia will also need to face an English competency exam. A candidate can score a maximum of 20 points from the English competency examination.

Learn more about PTE here: Everything You Need to Know About PTE Academic – Test, Preparation & More..

Learn more about IELTS here: Everything You Need to Know About IELTS

Learn the difference between PTE and IELTS here: IELTS Vs PTE – All You Need to Know About Them

In case the candidate falls short of scoring the required points, certain actors can come to their aid. The candidates fulfil the criteria for scoring points based on their age, qualification, and work experience.

There are specific requirements that candidates must meet, including medical clearance and police clearance from the relevant authorities, to be eligible to apply for permanent residency (PR) in Australia.

Privileges of the Australian PR Visa

The Australian PR permits the candidate and their family to live and work in Australia for an indefinite period. The candidate can study at any level of learning, whether it is school, undergraduate, postgraduate, or vocational education, at standard Australian scholar rates.

He shall also receive healthcare facilities and an unemployment fund (in case the candidate becomes unemployed after one year of working) from the Australian government. The candidate will also be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship after residing in Australia for three years.

Moreover, the candidate will also be able to sponsor his family members for permanent or temporary residence in Australia.

Benefits of Australia PR: Unemployment Benefits for Australian Permanent Residence Holders

Healthcare Insurance and Medicare in Australia for PR Holders and Immigrants

Child Care Benefit for Australian Permanent Residence Holders

Cost of an Australian PR Visa

A candidate will have to pay a sum of AUD 3,600 in the PR process. If the candidate wishes to include their spouse, an additional AUD 1,800 is charged. If the additional applicant is under 18 years of age, AUD 900 is charged.

The candidates approaching Visas Abroad for the same need to pay a sum of ₹ 1,20,000 + 18% GST as the consultancy charges.