How to Get PR in Australia — Complete Guide for Indian Students 2026 | Sentpo
How to Get PR in Australia — A Simple Guide for Indian Students
Australia has one of the clearest permanent residency pathways in the world. This guide explains every option, who qualifies, and exactly what to do — step by step.
Australia is one of the most popular settlement destinations for Indian students and professionals. It has a structured, transparent permanent residency (PR) pathway — and unlike many other countries, you do not need a job offer to start.
What is Australian PR?
Australian Permanent Residency (PR) is a visa status that lets you live and work in Australia long-term with no restrictions on which employer, job, or state you choose. A PR visa is valid for 5 years. After at least 4 years of living in Australia as a PR holder (and meeting other conditions), you can apply for Australian citizenship.
PR is different from a temporary work or student visa. It gives you nearly all the rights of a citizen, and lets you sponsor eligible family members to join you.
Am I eligible?
Australia uses a points-based system. Points are awarded for your age, English level, work experience, education, and other factors. You need a minimum of 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest — but most successful applicants score between 80 and 95 points because competition is high.
Minimum points to be eligible
But in practice, most candidates who receive an invitation score 80–95 points. The higher your score, the faster you get invited. Points are based on age, English ability, work experience, education, and other factors.
| Factor | Points available | How to maximise |
|---|---|---|
| Age (25–32 is ideal) | Up to 30 | Apply as early as possible in your career |
| English language ability | Up to 20 | Aim for IELTS 8.0+ (Superior English = 20 points) |
| Skilled work experience in Australia | Up to 20 | Work in Australia on a post-study or employer visa first |
| Skilled work experience overseas | Up to 15 | Relevant Indian work experience counts |
| Educational qualification | Up to 20 | PhD = 20 pts, Masters = 15 pts, Bachelor = 15 pts |
| Australian study requirement | 5 | 2 years of study at an Australian institution |
| Regional study or work | 5 | Study or work outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane |
| Partner skills or single status | Up to 10 | Partner with skills assessment = 5 pts; single = 10 pts |
| State or territory nomination | 5 | Apply for Subclass 190 or 491 with state nomination |
You must also be under 45, have a positive skills assessment, and your occupation must appear on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
The four main PR visa pathways
The right pathway depends on your points score, occupation, whether you have a job offer, and your willingness to live in a regional area.
Skilled Independent Visa
The most straightforward PR pathway. If your occupation is on the MLTSSL and you score enough points, you apply independently — no state or employer involvement required.
- Minimum 65 points (85–95 to be competitive)
- Under 45 years old
- Positive skills assessment
- Occupation on the MLTSSL
- Receive an Invitation to Apply via SkillSelect
Skilled Nominated Visa
Similar to 189 but requires a nomination from an Australian state or territory. In return you get 5 extra points — a significant advantage in competitive invitation rounds.
- State or territory nomination
- Occupation on the state’s skilled list
- Commit to live and work in that state for 2 years
Skilled Work Regional
A temporary visa that opens the door to PR. Live and work in a designated regional area for 3 years, then apply for Subclass 191 (permanent regional visa).
- State nomination or eligible family sponsorship in a regional area
- Minimum 65 points
- Under 45 years old
Employer Nominated Scheme
If you have a full-time job offer from an approved Australian employer, this pathway gives you direct PR without needing to go through the points system.
- Approved sponsoring employer
- Minimum 2 years work experience in the nominated occupation
- Generally under 45 years old
- Meet English language requirements
Which occupations qualify?
Your occupation must be on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List. The most in-demand fields for Indian applicants in 2025–26:
| Field | Average salary in Australia (AUD/year) |
|---|---|
| Healthcare & Nursing | $101,000 – $169,000 |
| Information Technology | $99,000 – $115,000 |
| Engineering | $92,000 – $110,000 |
| Accounting & Finance | $77,000 – $92,000 |
| Construction & Skilled Trades | $72,000 – $99,000 |
| Social Work | $70,000 – $90,000 |
| Early Childhood Education | $60,000 – $75,000 |
Step-by-step: how to apply
Here is the full process, explained simply.
Check your occupation
Visit the Australian Department of Home Affairs website and confirm your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List for the visa you want. Different lists apply to different visa subclasses.
Get a skills assessment
Apply to the relevant assessing authority for your profession — Engineers Australia for engineers, ANMAC for nurses, VETASSESS for many other trades and professions. This confirms your qualifications and experience meet Australian standards.
Take an English language test
Accepted tests: IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, OET, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge Advanced English (CAE). A higher score earns more points — Competent English gives 0 bonus points, Proficient (7.0+) gives 10, Superior (8.0+) gives 20.
Calculate your points
Use the official points calculator on the Department of Home Affairs website. Be honest — your score will be verified. Aim for 80+ to improve your chances of receiving an invitation quickly.
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect
SkillSelect is Australia’s online migration system. Create a profile, enter your details, and indicate which visa type you want. You are not applying for the visa yet — you are registering your interest and entering the candidate pool.
Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
The Department of Home Affairs runs invitation rounds — usually monthly. Candidates with the highest points scores are invited first. Once you receive an ITA, you have 60 days to submit your full visa application.
Submit your visa application
Apply online through ImmiAccount, the Australian government’s immigration portal. Attach all required documents: passport, skills assessment, English test results, work experience evidence, health check results, and police clearance certificate.
Complete health checks and biometrics
You and any family members included in your application must complete a medical examination at an approved panel physician. Biometric data may also be required.
Wait for a decision
Processing typically takes 6 to 12 months depending on your visa subclass, occupation demand, and completeness of your application. Subclass 189 and 190 applications with complete documents are generally processed faster.
For students: going from student visa to PR
If you are studying in Australia or planning to, the PR pathway is more accessible than most students realise. Here is the typical route:
The student-to-PR roadmap
- Choose a PR-friendly course — pick a field on the Skilled Occupation List: nursing, IT, engineering, social work, construction, early childhood education. A 2-year or longer course gives you more time to build experience.
- Study in a regional area — studying at a regional institution (outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) earns you 5 extra PR points automatically.
- Get a post-study work visa (Subclass 485) — after graduating, you get 2 to 4 years of full work rights in Australia depending on your qualification and where you studied.
- Build Australian work experience — Australian work experience earns significantly more PR points than overseas experience. One to three years of skilled work in Australia adds 5 to 15 points.
- Submit your EOI and apply for PR — once your points are strong, submit your Expression of Interest through SkillSelect and wait for your invitation.
How many PR visas does Australia offer?
For the 2025–26 migration year, Australia has allocated 185,000 places in the permanent migration program. Around 70% of these go to the skilled stream.
| Visa subclass | Type | Places (2025–26) |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 189 | Skilled Independent | 16,900 |
| Subclass 190 | State Nominated | 16,500 |
| Subclass 491 | Regional Provisional | 9,760 |
| Subclass 186 | Employer Nominated | Up to 44,000 |
Common questions
Yes. If your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List and you score 65+ points based on your qualifications, work experience, age, and English ability, you can submit an EOI and apply for Subclass 189 or 190 from India. You do not need prior Australian residence.
For Competent English (the minimum): IELTS 6.0 per band or equivalent. For Proficient English (10 extra points): IELTS 7.0+ per band. For Superior English (20 extra points): IELTS 8.0+ per band. Accepted tests are IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, OET, TOEFL iBT, and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE).
From submitting your EOI to a final decision, the full process typically takes 12 to 24 months. The wait depends on your points score, your visa subclass, and how competitive your occupation invitation round is.
The main applicant fee for Subclass 189 and 190 starts at AUD 4,910 (approximately ₹3,00,000). Additional family members included in your application pay separate fees. Skills assessment and English test fees are additional costs on top of this.
Yes. Your spouse and dependent children can be included in your PR application at the time of applying. Once granted, they have the same work and study rights as you do in Australia.
After living in Australia for 4 years as a PR holder (including at least 12 months as a PR, not on a temporary visa), you become eligible to apply for Australian citizenship — subject to meeting other conditions like good character and basic English.
Sources: Australian Department of Home Affairs (homeaffairs.gov.au), Y-Axis (updated April 2026), Aptech Visa (2026), Careers360 Study Abroad. Immigration policies and annual place allocations are subject to change. Always verify current requirements on the official Department of Home Affairs website before applying.
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