Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia — pathways and requirements

Introduction

Permanent Residency (PR) is the status of a permanent resident in Australia — almost all the rights of a citizen except for voting and certain government positions. It provides access to Medicare, social benefits, unrestricted work, and a pathway to citizenship after 4 years.

PR Rights

• Unrestricted work in any company
• Medicare (free healthcare)
• Social benefits (after 2-4 years — "newly arrived resident's waiting period")
• Education at resident rates (significantly cheaper)
• Family sponsorship (parents, siblings)
• Travel outside Australia (with RRV — Resident Return Visa after 5 years)
• Pathway to citizenship after 4 years of legal presence

PR Limitations

• YOU cannot vote in elections (except local ones in some states)
• Some government positions require citizenship
• RRV after 5 years (if you leave long-term)
• Deportation possible for serious crimes

Pathways to PR

1. Skilled Independent (189) — direct PR

• No sponsorship
• Min. 65 points, realistically 85+
• See visa options

2. Skilled Nominated (190) — direct PR

• State sponsorship (NSW, VIC, QLD)
• +5 points; commitment of 2 years in the state

3. Skilled Regional (491 → 191) — 5 years to PR

• 491 is a temporary visa for 5 years
• After 3 years of work and living in a "regional area" — apply for 191 (PR)
• The easiest pathway if you accept "regional" (outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)

4. Partner Visa (820/801 or 309/100) — 2 years to PR

• Spouse/partner of an Australian citizen or PR
• 820 (onshore) → 801 (PR after 2 years)
• 309 (offshore) → 100 (PR after 2 years)
• Requires proof of relationship (photos, joint account, living together, witness statements)

5. Employer Sponsored ENS (186) — direct PR

• Employer sponsors for permanent residency
• 2 pathways: Direct Entry (3+ years of experience) or Temporary Residence Transition (after 2-3 years on a 482 visa)
• Occupation on the MLTSSL/STSOL list

6. Distinguished Talent (124, 858) — for the exceptional

• International recognition in sports, arts, science, academia
• Sponsor in Australia (organization or individual)
• Very difficult; for Nobel laureates, world champions, university professors

7. Business / Investor (188 → 888) — business

• Investment from 1.5 million AUD or starting a business in Australia
• Temporary visa 188 → PR 888 after 4 years

After receiving PR — what next

Step 1: Tax File Number (TFN)

• Application on ATO website or at Australia Post
• Free
• Without TFN — higher tax (47% instead of scaled)
• See TFN — equivalent to SSN

Step 2: Medicare

• Application at Medicare Service Centre or online (myGov)
• Card issued in 2-3 weeks
• See Medicare in Australia

Step 3: Bank account

• All banks: CommBank, NAB, ANZ, Westpac
• Required: passport + proof of Australian address + TFN
• Account in 1 day

Step 4: Driver's License

• Polish driver's license valid for 3 months from arrival
• After 3 months — conversion at the state office
• Theoretical exam (in Polish in some states NSW)
• Sometimes practical exam (depends on the state and country of origin)

Step 5: Superannuation

• Every employer must contribute 12% (from 2026) of your salary to a superannuation account
• Choose a fund: AustralianSuper, Hostplus, Aware Super
• See superannuation

Australian citizenship — the next step

• 4 years of legal presence in Australia (of which the last year as PR)
• Max 12 months outside Australia in 4 years (max 90 days in the year before the application)
• Citizenship test (in English, 20 questions)
• Ceremony (usually 6-12 months after the decision)
• Poland allows dual citizenship — you can have both
• Cost: 530 AUD

Resident Return Visa (RRV)

• After 5 years from PR — your PR "expires" in terms of travel
• RRV (155) — 5 years of further entry rights
• Requires 2 years of physical presence in Australia in the last 5
• Cost: 405 AUD

Family Sponsorship

• After 2 years as PR you can sponsor parents
• Parent Visa (143) — 4 years waiting; 47,950 AUD/parent ("contributory")
• Parent Visa (103) — non-contributory; 30+ years waiting (!!)
• Siblings — nearly impossible; only if they stayed in PL as the "last parent"

Common Mistakes

• Leaving Australia for a long time without RRV — loss of return rights
• Not reporting address changes — delay in government correspondence
• Not paying taxes in the first years — penalty + delay in citizenship
• Cash work — no Super, no credit, no history for citizenship
• No Medicare card at the border — delay at the airport