People search for a “PR visa” every day, and it doesn’t exist. Permanent residency in Australia is a status, not a single visa — you get it by being granted one of several permanent visas, each with its own rules. Understanding that distinction is the first step to planning a move, because it changes the question from “how do I apply for PR?” to “which permanent visa can I realistically get?”. This guide maps the main paths, explains what PR actually gives you, and covers the one thing most people forget: how to keep your PR once you have it. Last verified 14 October 2026.
Key facts at a glance
| What PR is | A status granted by holding a permanent visa — there is no single “PR visa” |
|---|---|
| Stay | Indefinitely, while you hold the visa |
| Travel | Your permanent visa has a travel facility — usually 5 years from grant |
| Keeping it overseas | Resident Return visa (subclass 155/157) if your travel facility expires |
| Medicare | Permanent residents can enrol in Medicare |
| Last verified | 14 October 2026 |
PR is a status, not a visa
When the Department grants you a permanent visa, you become an Australian permanent resident. There is no separate “PR visa” you apply for. You might get PR through a skilled visa, an employer-sponsored visa or a family visa — the end state is the same, but the route and the requirements are completely different.
This matters for two reasons. First, it means there’s no single application form, fee or points test — those belong to the individual visas. Second, it means “can I get PR?” is the wrong question. The right question is “which permanent visa fits my situation?”
Permanent vs temporary vs citizen
These three are often blurred together, but they are distinct.
| Temporary visa | You can stay for a set period. It ends when it expires or is cancelled. Many temporary visas can lead to a permanent one, but holding a temporary visa is not PR — and some, such as the Working Holiday visa, do not lead to PR at all. |
|---|---|
| Permanent resident | You can stay in Australia indefinitely and work and study anywhere. Your visa usually includes a travel facility, which is what lets you leave and re-enter as a permanent resident. |
| Australian citizen | Full membership of the Australian community. Citizens hold an Australian passport, can vote, and cannot have their citizenship cancelled the way a visa can be. |
One detail trips people up constantly: as a permanent resident, you do not have an automatic right of entry to Australia. Your ability to re-enter depends on whether the travel facility on your permanent visa is still valid. That’s the whole reason the Resident Return visa exists.
The main ways to get PR
Most people get PR through one of four families of visas. Each has its own cost and its own rules — follow the link for the visa you’re considering.
| Skilled independent — subclass 189 | Points-tested, no sponsor or nominator. You must be invited to apply. Permanent from the start. See our 189 Skilled Independent guide. |
|---|---|
| Skilled nominated — subclass 190 | Points-tested, but you need a nomination from a state or territory government. Permanent from the start. See our 190 Skilled Nominated guide. |
| Skilled regional — subclass 491, then 191 | A temporary regional visa (subclass 491) that can lead to permanent residence via the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) after you meet the regional requirements. |
| Employer-sponsored — subclass 186 | Permanent, nominated by an Australian employer. The Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition and Labour Agreement streams each have their own rules. |
| Family — Partner visas | The 820/801 (onshore) and 309/100 (offshore) lead to permanent residency. See our Partner visa guide. |
| Business and investment | A separate stream of visas for people investing in or running a business in Australia, with its own requirements. |
Notice the pattern. Some permanent visas (189, 190, 186) grant PR straight away. Others are two-step: you hold a temporary visa first — a 491, a 482, an 820 — and convert to permanent later if you meet the conditions. The 491-to-191 route and the 820-to-801 route are both examples of this.
Each of these visas is processed under its own priorities, and the Department doesn’t publish a single waiting time for “PR”. It publishes which month’s lodgements it is currently working through, and for the skilled and family streams that order is set by ministerial direction. For the fuller picture, see our guide to Australian visa processing times.
What PR actually gives you
Once you are a permanent resident, the core rights are:
- Stay indefinitely and work and study anywhere in Australia.
- Enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public health scheme — permanent residents are eligible to enrol.
- Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence.
- Apply for Australian citizenship once you meet the requirements.
- Travel in and out while your travel facility is valid.
What PR does not automatically give you is immediate access to every government payment. Some benefits have waiting periods for newly arrived residents, and some payments are not available to permanent residents at all until certain conditions are met. If you’re planning around income support, check the specific payment’s eligibility rules rather than assuming PR means instant access.
PR is not citizenship
Permanent residency is a big step, but it is not the same as being an Australian citizen. The differences that matter:
- No vote. Permanent residents cannot vote in Australian elections.
- No Australian passport. You travel on your own country’s passport.
- Your visa can be cancelled. A permanent visa can be cancelled in certain circumstances, including on character grounds. Citizenship, by contrast, is generally not taken away in the same way.
- You can lose your travel facility. Stay away too long and your ability to re-enter as a permanent resident lapses.
To become a citizen you must be a permanent resident and meet the Department’s residence and other requirements — including the period you have lived in Australia. Rather than guess at the numbers, check the official residence requirement and use the Department’s residence calculator, because the rules depend on your circumstances.
Keeping your PR: the Resident Return visa (subclass 155/157)
This is the part people discover too late. Your permanent visa comes with a travel facility, typically up to 5 years. Once it expires, you can still be a permanent resident inside Australia, but you can’t re-enter as one. If you leave Australia after your travel facility expires — or it expires while you’re overseas — you’ll need a Resident Return visa (RRV) to come back as a permanent resident.
The RRV (subclasses 155 and 157) costs AUD 1,475.00 to apply online. How long a travel facility you get depends on which criteria you meet:
| Present in Australia for 2 of the last 5 years | You get a 5-year travel facility. The test is at least 2 years (730 days) spent in Australia in the 5 years immediately before you apply. |
|---|---|
| Outside Australia with substantial ties | If you’ve been outside Australia but can show substantial ties that benefit Australia, you can be granted a maximum 12-month travel facility. |
| Subclass 157 | If you don’t meet the 155 criteria but qualify for a 157, the maximum travel facility is 3 months. |
If you don’t know how many days you’ve spent in Australia, you can request your travel records from the Department before you apply. And if you’re a permanent resident who re-entered on a temporary visa such as an ETA, you should apply for an RRV as soon as you can — returning without a permanent visa can affect your entitlements and your ability to meet the residence requirements for citizenship or a future RRV.
Step-by-step: getting to PR
- Decide which permanent visa fits you. Skilled, employer-sponsored or family — each has a different entry test.
- Check whether it’s a direct PR visa or a two-step route. A 189, 190 or 186 grants PR directly; a 491 or 820 leads there later.
- Meet that visa’s requirements. For skilled visas that means an occupation on the relevant list, a skills assessment, an invitation and the points test.
- Apply for and be granted the permanent visa. That grant is what makes you a permanent resident.
- Note your travel facility expiry. Usually 5 years from grant — put a reminder in your calendar.
- Enrol in Medicare and set up the rest of your life in Australia.
- Before your travel facility expires, decide whether to apply for an RRV or pursue citizenship.
Common mistakes
- Looking for a “PR visa”. There isn’t one. You get PR by being granted a permanent visa.
- Assuming PR means you can always re-enter. Your travel facility can expire — then you need an RRV.
- Confusing PR with citizenship. Permanent residents can’t vote or hold an Australian passport.
- Thinking PR means instant benefits. Some payments have waiting periods for new residents.
- Letting the 5-year travel facility lapse while overseas. That’s when the RRV becomes essential, and a long absence narrows your options.
- Guessing the citizenship residence rule. Use the Department’s residence calculator rather than relying on second-hand numbers.
FAQ
Is there such a thing as a PR visa?
No. Permanent residency is a status you get by being granted a permanent visa, such as the 189, 190, 186 or a Partner visa. There is no single visa called “PR”.
How long does PR last?
You can stay in Australia indefinitely. The travel facility on your visa — usually 5 years — is what lets you leave and re-enter as a permanent resident.
What happens if I stay overseas too long?
Your travel facility can expire. You may then need a Resident Return visa (subclass 155/157), which costs AUD 1,475.00 to apply online, to re-enter as a permanent resident.
Can permanent residents get Medicare?
Yes. Australian permanent residents can enrol in Medicare.
Can I vote or get an Australian passport with PR?
No. Those come with citizenship, not permanent residency. You’d need to apply for citizenship and meet the residence and other requirements.
Can I lose my PR?
Permanent visas can be cancelled in certain circumstances, including on character grounds. Letting your travel facility expire while overseas also affects your ability to re-enter as a permanent resident.
Visa fees are indexed on 1 July each year. The figures here were verified on 14 October 2026 — always confirm the current amount with the Visa Pricing Estimator before you lodge.
Official sources
- Permanent resident — overview — Department of Home Affairs
- Overseas travel as a permanent resident — Department of Home Affairs
- Resident Return visa (subclasses 155 and 157) — Department of Home Affairs
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) — Department of Home Affairs
- Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) — Department of Home Affairs
- Become an Australian citizen — Department of Home Affairs
- Enrolling in Medicare — Services Australia
AU0061 publishes general information, not personal migration advice. Visa rules and fees change, and eligibility depends on your individual circumstances. Always confirm the current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs or a MARA-registered migration agent before you act on anything in this guide.