Making Australia Your Permanent Home
Australia's skilled migration system turns on points, occupation lists and nomination rounds. We work out where you sit within it, whether that means General Skilled Migration or a state and territory programme, and stay alongside you from the first eligibility check through to the visa grant.
Why People Settle on Australia
Australia runs one of the larger skilled migration programmes anywhere, and it pairs genuine career prospects with a standard of daily life that few countries match.
A System Built on Points
Skilled applicants are ranked against one another in SkillSelect, so you can see where you stand. Thousands of invitations are issued each year across a range of visa subclasses.
Everyday Living Standards
Medicare covers your healthcare, schools and universities are strong, the weather is kind, and Australian cities appear near the top of global liveability rankings year after year.
Real Demand for Skills
Wages sit high and unemployment low. Employers in IT, healthcare, engineering and several other sectors keep recruiting from overseas because they cannot fill roles locally.
Schooling for Your Children
Children of permanent residents attend public school without paying fees, and the universities rank well internationally. An Australian qualification travels well if you ever move on.
What Residency Entitles You To
Permanent residents get Medicare cover, access to social security, and the same workplace and legal protections that apply to citizens.
Citizenship Further Down the Line
Australian citizenship opens up once you have 4 years of residence behind you, the last 12 months of which must be held as a permanent resident.
Worth knowing: unrestricted work rights, Medicare cover and the ability to sponsor eligible relatives all come with Australian permanent residency. The status itself carries no expiry date, provided you keep meeting the residency conditions attached to it.
Routes into Australian Permanent Residency
Open any route below to see what it asks of you, then decide which one fits your background and plans.
What You Will Need to Qualify
Criteria shift from one visa to the next, but most Australian permanent residency applications come down to the same handful of things.
Nominated Occupation
GSM, State NominationThe occupation you nominate has to appear on the list that applies to your visa, whether that is the MLTSSL, the STSOL or the ROL. A positive skills assessment from the authority designated for that occupation is also needed.
English Ability
All ProgramsCompetent English is the floor, meaning IELTS 6.0 in every band or the equivalent. Going beyond it pays off: Proficient (IELTS 7.0) is worth 10 points and Superior (IELTS 8.0) is worth 20 points.
Education
GSM, State NominationYour qualifications have to be relevant to the occupation you nominate. A doctorate is worth 20 points and a bachelor degree 15 points, with study completed in Australia earning extra points on top.
Points Total
GSM (189, 190, 491)Nothing below 65 points can be lodged as an EOI. Being invited is a separate matter: 80-90 points or more is the usual competitive range. Age, English, experience and education all feed the total.
Age
GSM, State NominationYou have to be under 45 when the invitation is issued. The 25-32 bracket attracts the full 30 points, dropping to 25 points across 33-39 and 15 points across 40-44.
Health and Character
All ProgramsEveryone sits a medical examination and supplies police certificates for each country they have lived in for 12 months or longer. A substantial criminal record will stop an application.
How the Points Add Up
Several separate factors feed the Australian points test. 65 points gets you into the pool; realistically you want 80-90 or more to be invited out of it.
Age (25-32)
30 points
English (Superior)
20 points
Experience (8+ years)
20 points
Education (Doctorate)
20 points
Note: thresholds and invitation rounds move with immigration targets and demand. We measure your profile against the rules as they stand now and tell you which pathway gives you the strongest chance.
How Long Each Route Takes
Knowing roughly how long a pathway runs makes it far easier to plan work, housing and family arrangements around it.
Skilled Independent (189)
Skills Assessment
2-4 monthsSecure a positive assessment from the authority designated for your occupation
Lodge Your EOI in SkillSelect
1-2 weeksBuild the Expression of Interest and file it with the supporting detail
Wait for an Invitation
VariesInvitations follow your points score and occupation, and can take 1-12+ months
Lodge Visa Application
60 daysThe full application has to be filed within 60 days of the invitation
Departmental Assessment
6-12 monthsYour case is worked through, health and character checks included
Visa Grant
1-2 weeksThe grant notice arrives and you make your first entry to Australia
State Nominated (190/491)
Skills Assessment
2-4 monthsObtain a positive assessment from the designated authority
Apply for Nomination
2-12 weeksLodge with your chosen state or territory, each of which runs its own process
Nomination Decision
Varies by stateThe state examines your case and approves the nomination
EOI and Invitation
1-4 weeksFile the EOI carrying your nomination, then receive the invitation to apply
Lodge Visa Application
60 daysSubmit the visa application together with the complete document set
Departmental Assessment
8-12 monthsThe Department works through your visa application
Visa Grant
1-2 weeksThe visa is granted and you can start planning the move
Employer Sponsored (186)
Find a Sponsoring Employer
VariesLand an offer from an Australian employer approved to sponsor workers
Skills Assessment
2-4 monthsHave your skills assessed against the occupation being nominated
Employer Nomination
1-3 monthsYour employer files its nomination application with the Department
Lodge Visa Application
After nominationOnce the nomination is approved, the visa application goes in
Departmental Assessment
6-9 monthsAssessment proceeds alongside the standard checks
Visa Grant
1-2 weeksThe grant comes through and you can begin work
What Slows Things Down
- Gaps or mistakes in the documents you submit
- Assessing authorities each work at their own pace
- Nomination turnaround differs widely between jurisdictions
- Case volumes and priority settings inside the Department
Where We Come In
- Checking the file is complete before anything is lodged
- Walking you through the skills assessment step
- Recommending which state nomination to pursue
- Tracking the case and answering requests without delay
What Our PR Support Costs
Support for Your Australian PR Application
One service covers the whole Australian permanent residency application, from the first look at your eligibility through to the day everything is filed.
What the service covers:
A review of your eligibility and a recommendation on which route to take
Help with the skills assessment and the paperwork behind it
Working out your points total and where it can be improved
Drafting your EOI and lodging it in SkillSelect
State nomination applications, where one applies to you
Filling in the visa application forms and checking them over
Reviewing and verifying every supporting document
Following the case after lodgement and answering any requests
Service Fee
PR Application Support
Full preparation and lodgement of your application
$399
Note: the fee applies to a single PR pathway. State nomination applications, and applications covering a partner or dependants, are charged separately.
We confirm the final figure with you after the consultation, once the route and the work it involves are clear.
Important notes:
• Visa application charges go straight to the Department of Home Affairs
• Ivipass never handles government fees on your behalf
• Assessing authorities are paid directly for the skills assessment
• IELTS, PTE and TOEFL fees are settled with the test provider
• Every PR decision rests with the Department of Home Affairs, not with Ivipass. What we control is the quality of what gets lodged: an application built around current Departmental requirements, with the documentation complete and the claims evidenced. We do not promise an outcome, and you should be wary of anyone who does.
Government Charges (Payable to the Department of Home Affairs)
• Subclass 189 Skilled Independent: AUD $4,640 (primary applicant)
• Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated: AUD $4,640 (primary applicant)
• Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional: AUD $4,640 (primary applicant)
• Each further applicant aged 18 or over: AUD $2,320
• Each child under 18: AUD $1,160
These charges change from time to time. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for the schedule in force when you apply.
Questions We Hear Often
What applicants ask us most about permanent residency in Australia
Something we have not covered? Book a free consultation, tell us about your circumstances, and we will set out the options open to you for Australian permanent residency.
Ready to Begin Your Move to Australia?
Our team has taken applicants through the Australian permanent residency process before, and we can do the same with yours.
Speak to an Adviser
Arrange a free call to go through your Australian PR options and where you currently stand
1:1
Eligibility Review First
2014
Registered in England & Wales Since
12-24
Months, Typical Timeline