Permanent residency in Australia is not one thing — it's a set of different pathways, each suited to different circumstances. The pathway that works for a skilled engineer is not the same as the one that works for someone married to an Australian, and neither applies to a business owner. Here's a clear breakdown of what's actually available.
Skilled Migration — Subclass 189, 190, 491
Points-tested skilled migration is the main pathway for people without an employer sponsor or an Australian partner. You need a skills assessment in your occupation, a qualifying English score, and a points score that's competitive enough to receive an invitation from SkillSelect.
The minimum to submit an Expression of Interest is 65 points — but 65 alone rarely gets an invitation in competitive occupations. In fields like nursing, IT, and some engineering disciplines, effective cut-offs regularly sit at 80–95 points.
| Subclass | Type | Nomination required | Obligation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 189 Skilled Independent | Permanent | None | None |
| 190 Skilled Nominated | Permanent | State or territory | 2 years in nominating state |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional | Provisional | State or territory | 3 years regional — then apply for 191 |
South Australia nominates through its Skilled and Business Migration program. If your occupation is on the SA skills list, nomination adds 5 points (190) or 15 points (491) to your score — which can make a significant difference to whether you receive an invitation at all.
Employer Sponsored — Subclass 186
If an Australian employer is willing to nominate you for permanent residence directly, the ENS (186) visa is available. There are two main pathways:
- Temporary Residence Transition: After working for your current 482 employer for at least 2 years in the same occupation, you apply for the 186 through the TRT stream.
- Direct Entry: Without holding a 482 first — you must meet the occupation, age (under 45), and skills assessment requirements directly.
This pathway depends entirely on having an employer who will nominate you. But where that relationship exists, it can be one of the more straightforward routes — particularly through the TRT stream where the employment history already establishes the connection.
Partner Visa — Subclass 801 / 100
If you have an Australian citizen or permanent resident partner, the partner visa leads to permanent residence. There's no points test — the application is based entirely on demonstrating the genuineness of your relationship across four evidence categories.
The catch is time. The process takes 3–4 years from initial lodgement to permanent stage. The temporary stage (820 or 309) is granted first, and the permanent stage follows approximately 2 years later. It's not fast, but it's straightforward where the relationship evidence is strong.
Business and Investor — Subclass 888
If you have a business background and assets that meet the thresholds, the 188/888 program leads to permanent residence. Most streams require SA nomination and a points test. The Significant Investor stream ($5M in complying investments) doesn't require a points test, but the documentation is extensive.
These applications are complex and should not be attempted without professional preparation.
Combining Pathways
In practice, many people work across more than one pathway at the same time. Someone on a 482 might be building points for a 189 while working toward the 186 TRT. A student might apply for the 485 after graduation while also pursuing a skills assessment for skilled migration. Planning these in parallel — with a clear sense of timing and priorities — is usually more efficient than pursuing one and then pivoting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Written by Jeevan Kumar, MARN 2418470, Genuine Migration & Education Australia, Adelaide SA.