Australia
Stay
Permanently
Cost
From AUD 4,045
Processing times
- 75% of applications: 6 months
- 90% of applications: 10 months
With this visa you can:
- live, work and study in Australia indefinitely
- sponsor eligible relations to return to Australia
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

You must:
- hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C
- usually, have worked for your employer in regional Australia for at least 3 years full time while holding a subclass 457 or TSS visa
- have been nominated by an Australian employer whose nomination was approved in the 6 months prior to you applying
With this visa, you can
- stay in Australia indefinitely
- work and study in Australia
- enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
- sponsor eligible relatives to return to Australia
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
Newly arrived residents may need to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits.
Travel
From the date we grant this visa, you can travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years. After that period, you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident. If you leave Australia after the expiry date of your travel facility, without being granted another permanent visa with a valid travel facility, for example a Resident Return (RRV), you might not be able to return to Australia as a permanent resident.
How long you can stay
This is a permanent visa – it lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. You become a permanent resident on the day we grant the visa. Your permanent residency for citizenship purposes starts:
- on the day the visa is granted if you are in Australia
- on the day you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia
Include family
You can:
- include family members in your application when you apply
- add family members to your application after you apply but before we decide on your visa
For this visa, your family members are:
- your partner
- your dependent child or stepchild
- your partner’s dependent child or stepchild
- the dependent child or stepchild of your or your partner’s dependent child or stepchild
You can also include someone who holds a subclass 457 visa or subclass 482 visa if we granted them that visa on the basis they are a member of your family. Family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health and character requirements. Family members who do not apply for the visa with you might also have to meet the requirements.
Cost
The visa costs AUD 4,045 for the main applicant. There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.
Second instalment
You will need to pay an additional charge called a second instalment for any family member aged 18 years or older who:
- applies for the visa with you, and
- has less than Functional English
The second instalment for family members who apply for the visa with you is AUD 4,890. To be eligible for this visa because the main applicant, you must be able to show us you have Competent English unless you are exempt. If you are exempt from showing us you have Competent English, you must still show us you have Functional English. If you can’t show us you have Functional English you must also pay a second instalment of AUD 9,800 once we ask you to. If you need to pay the second instalment, we will send you an invoice after you have met all other requirements for the visa.
Other costs
You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa pricing estimator. The estimator does not take into account the second instalment or other costs.
Apply from
Apply for this visa from in or outside Australia. If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a bridging visa A, B or C. You can be in or outside Australia when we decide on your application.
Processing times
Your application can take longer to process if:
- you don’t fill it in correctly
- you don’t include all the documents we need or we need more information from you
- it takes us time to verify your information
We can`t process your application if you don’t pay the correct visa application charge. We will notify you if this is the case and if necessary return your application.
Your obligations
You and your family members must obey all Australian laws. We expect that you simply work for your nominating employer in regional Australia for at least 2 years. If you don’t, we might cancel your visa. You agree to begin your employment within 6 months of:
- entry to Australia if you were granted the visa outside Australia
- the visa grant date if you were granted the visa in Australia
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
Have the required skills
You must have the specified skills and qualifications needed to perform the tasks of the nominated occupation. We might ask you to urge a skills assessment to show you have these skills.
Licensing, registration or membership
You must be licensed, registered or a member of a professional body if it is mandatory in the state or territory you intend to work in.
Be nominated by the employer who sponsored your temporary work visa
Your employer must have sponsored you to work full-time on your subclass 457 or subclass 482 visa for a minimum of 3 of the 4 years prior to nominating you for the subclass 187 visa. If you held (or had applied for and were later granted) a subclass 457 visa on 18 April 2017, your employer must have sponsored you to work full-time for at least 2 of the 3 years prior to nominating you for this visa. If you have been temporarily stood down, been on unpaid leave or had your hours reduced due to the impact of COVID-19 and related restrictions, these periods of time can still be counted towards the time worked for your employer. Your employer must provide evidence that you have been temporarily stood down, been on unpaid leave or had your hours reduced due to COVID-19 but your employment was not terminated.
Be this age
Usually, you must be under 45 years of age when you apply. You are exempt from this criteria if any of the subsequent applies to you:
- you are nominated as an academic (university lecturer or faculty head at Academic Level B, C, D or E) by a university in Australia
- you are nominated as a scientist, researcher or technical specialist at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 by an Australian scientific government agency
- you are a medical practitioner who has worked in your nominated occupation for a minimum of three years as a 457 or 482 visa holder. For two of those years you were employed in regional Australia. The nominated position is in regional Australia
- as a subclass 457 or 482 visa holder, you have been working in the nominated occupation for the nominating employer for at least the last 3 years, and your earnings were at least as much as the Fair Work High Income Threshold for each year of that period
If during that 3 year period you were stood down or required to work reduced hours due to COVID-19, your earnings and the high income threshold are assessed at a pro rata rate for the affected years. This concession applies for applications lodged on or after 24 November 2020 and in relation to periods of COVID-19 related temporary employment changes since 1 February 2020. If you held (or had applied for and were later granted) a subclass 457 visa on 18 April 2017, you can still apply for this visa if you are under 50 when you apply.
Transitional arrangements
If you held (or had applied for and were later granted) a subclass 457 visa on 18 April 2017, you can still apply for this visa if you are under 50 when you apply.
Have this visa
You must currently be the first visa holder of either:
- a subclass 457 visa
- a subclass 482 (TSS) visa
- a bridging visa A, B or C
The bridging visa must be the one you were granted after your subclass 457 or TSS visa expired.
Meet our health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement. Other family members will also need to meet the requirement.
Meet our character requirement
You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our chartacter requirement. Other family members will also need to meet the need.
Sign the Australian values statement
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must:
- have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia booklet and
- sign an Australian Values Statement that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws.
Have this level of English language
You must have at least Competent English. You are exempt from this requirement if you have completed a minimum of 5 years of full-time study in a secondary or higher education institution where all tuition was delivered in English.
Have paid back your debt to the Australian government
If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have a formal arrangement to pay it back.
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia.
Organise health exams
You need to have health examinations. You can complete them before you apply or you can wait until after you apply.
Get help with your application
You don’t have to use a migration agent to apply for any visa. But if you want to, see how to find a registered migration agent. Anyone can help you fill out forms or give you general help with your application. But you would like to allow us to know if you want someone to:
- receive your correspondence
- provide immigration assistance and act for you
Get the nomination TRN
Make sure your employer has submitted a nomination application. They will receive a nomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN) when they do. Ask your employer for the TRN. You need it to apply for the visa.
Your rights and your employer’s responsibilities
Criminal and civil penalties are often applied to anyone who asks for, receives, offers or provides a benefit in exchange for visa sponsorship. Gather your documents
Provide accurate information
Provide accurate information.
Identity documents
Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates. Also provide:
- a national identity card, if you have one
- proof of change of name
Documents that prove a change of name include:
- a marriage or divorce certificate
- change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
- documents that show other names you have been known by
Licensing, registration or membership
Provide evidence of any license, registration or professional membership mandatory to perform the nominated occupation within the state or territory you intend to work in, if applicable.
Skills assessment
We will ask you to undertake a skills assessment if you are required to do so.
Age exemption documents
If you are 45 years old or older.
English language documents
Provide documents that show you have Competent English at the time you submit your application. You are exempt from having to show us you have Competent English if you can instead show us you have completed at least 5 years of full-time study in a secondary or higher education institution where all tuition was delivered in English. If this is the case you must still show us you have Functional English or pay the second instalment.
Health documents
You do not need to provide health documents. If you have had medical exams, the results are sent to us by your doctor.
Character documents
Provide an Australian police certificate. We only accept complete disclosure National Police Certificates issued by the Australian Federal Police . We do not accept standard disclosure certificates or national police certificates issued by Australian state or territory police. For immigration purposes, Australian police certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Also provide:
- an overseas police certificate from every country, including your home country, where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16
- military service records or discharge papers if you served in the armed forces of any country
Tell us you are getting help documents
To nominate someone to:
- receive your correspondence, use Form 956a Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration advice, use Form 956 Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance
- act for you but not provide immigration assistance, allow us know in writing what they can do on your behalf (such as submit or withdraw an application for you). Upload your written notification in ImmiAccount
Partner documents
Provide:
- identity documents
- character documents
Provide either:
- your current marriage certificate or
- enough documents to prove your partner has been in a de facto relationship with you for at least 12 months before you apply
Documents that prove a de facto relationship include:
- joint bank account statements
- billing accounts in joint names
- joint leases or mortgages
- documents that show you have both lived at the same address
Proof of Functional English
You must show that your partner has Functional English.
If you can’t prove Functional English
If you can’t show that your partner has Functional English, you will need to pay the second instalment when we ask you to.
Dependants under 18 documents
For every dependant under 18 years old who is applying with you, provide:
- identity documents
- proof of your relationship with them, like a birth or marriage certificate
- character documents, if applicable
Parental responsibility documents
You must get consent for any applicant under 18 years of age to migrate to Australia from anyone who:
- has a legal right to decide where the child lives and
- is not coming to Australia with the child
They must complete either:
- Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years
- a statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to visit Australia on this visa
Include a document with the signature and photo of the person who completed the form or declaration, such as a:
- passport
- driver’s licence
Alternatively, you can show us:
- an Australian court order that allows your child to migrate to Australia, or
- that the laws of your home country allow them to migrate
Include:
- an identity document that shows the signature and photo of the person who completed the form or declaration, such as a passport or driver’s licence
- adoption papers or other court documents if applicable
Dependants over 18 documents
For every dependant 18 years old or older who is applying with you, provide:
- identity documents
- documents about their other relationships, if applicable
- character documents
Proof of dependence
You need to prove that this person is a family member and/or dependent on you. Provide:
- a completed Form 47a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over
- proof of your relationship with the dependent such as a birth certificate or adoption papers
You must also prove this person has been financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply. You could provide:
- proof they live with you
- their tax records
- proof they are currently studying
For other family members, if applicable, provide evidence the person:
- holds a subclass 457 or subclass 482 visa
- was granted that visa because they were your family member and
- is included in your application for this subclass 186 visa
Proof of Functional English
You must show us your family member has Functional English.
If you can’t prove Functional English
If you can’t show your family member has Functional English, you will need to pay the second instalment when we ask you to.
Prepare your documents
Translate
Scan or photograph
Scan or photograph all documents (English and non-English) in color. The scans and photos must be clear. If a document is more than one page, save it all as one file.
Attach
Attach a document only once, even if you are using it to show more than one thing.
What will happen after you apply
We will let you know when we have received your application. There are other things you need to know and might need to do.
Status updates
We can’t give updates on applications within the standard processing time.
Travel after you apply
If you are in Australia, you don’t have to tell us if you want to travel outside Australia while we process your application. This is because you can be outside Australia when we decide on your application. But if you allow Australia, confirm you’ve got a legitimate visa to return.
Health exams
If you didn’t have health examinations before you applied, we will let you know if you need them.
Biometrics
We might invite Biometrics (fingerprints and photo). We will let you know if you need to provide them.
Attach more information
If you didn’t attach all documents when you applied, attach them as soon as possible in ImmiAccount. We might also ask you to supply more information.
Stay lawful
Make sure you stay lawful by holding a legitimate visa while we process your application. When you apply for this visa in Australia, you are likely to be granted a bridging visa. If your current visa expires before we decide your application, the bridging visa will start. You can stay in Australia on the bridging visa while we process your new visa application.
Pay the second instalment
If you need to pay a second instalment we will send you an invoice after you have met all other requirements for the visa.
Add family
You can add family to your application after you apply but before we choose your visa. For the purposes of adding family to your application after you apply, your family members are:
- your partner
- your dependent child or stepchild
- your partner’s dependent child or stepchild
Mistakes on your application
Let us know as soon as you can if you made an error on your application. Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers.
Help with your application
Let us know if you no longer want someone to:
- receive your correspondence – complete Form 956a Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration advice – complete Form 956 Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance
- act for you – allow us know in writing by uploading your advice in ImmiAccount
Tell us if things change
Things you need to let us know about after you submit you application include:
- you want to withdraw your application
- changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
- changes to your relationship status
- the birth of a child
Additional information for after you apply
Skills Assessment
We might ask you to get a skills assessment.
Visa outcome
You can be in or outside Australia when we decide on your application.
We will let you know our decision in writing.
About visa outcome
If we grant your visa, we will tell you:
- your visa grant number
- the date your visa starts
- your visa conditions, if applicable
Keep a copy of the decision. If we refuse your visa, we will tell you:
- why we refused the visa
- whether you have a right to a review of the decision
We will not refund the visa application charge if we refuse your application.
Coming to Australia
Before you travel
Check your travel documents You must have:
- a valid visa to enter Australia
- a valid passport or other travel document
At the Border
Completing an Incoming Passenger Card
All people arriving Australia must complete an Incoming Passenger Card . You will tend this card during your flight.
Using the SmartGate
We have an automated process that uses face recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate
New Zealand passport holders
If an immigration officer processes your clearance at our border, we recommend you tell them:
- you have a permanent Australian visa
- you do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444)
If you do not tell them, you might be granted the 444 visa. Grant of a subclass 444 visa will override your permanent visa and might affect your eligibility for Australian citizenship.
In Australia
What you can do when you have this visa
This visa lets you:
- stay in Australia indefinitely
- work and study in Australia
- enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
- sponsor eligible relatives to return to Australia
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
Newly arrived residents may have to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits.
What you must do on this visa (your obligations)
You and your family members must obey all Australian laws. We expect that you will work for your nominating employer in regional Australia for at least 2 years. If you don’t, we might cancel your visa. You must begin your employment within 6 months of:
- entering Australia if we granted you the visa outside Australia
- the visa grant date if we granted you the visa in Australia
See how long you can stay
Permanently
Tell us if things change
Things you need to let us know about when you have this visa include:
- changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
- changes to your relationship status
- the birth of a child
Travelling on your visa
From the date we grant this visa, you can travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years. After that period, you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident. If you leave Australia after the expiry date of your travel facility, without being granted another permanent visa with a legitimate travel facility, for example a Resident Return (RRV), you might not be able to return to Australia as a permanent resident.
Proving you have a visa
To prove you have been in Australia, request your international movement records by completing Form 1359 – Request for international movement records
Working
When you work in Australia, you are protected by Australian workplace law. See your workplace rights and entitlements.
Bringing family
As an Australian permanent resident, you might be able to sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia.
Becoming an Australian citizen
After a particular time, you might be eligible for Australian citizenship. Find out more about becoming a citizen. For citizenship purposes, your permanent residency starts on the day:
- we grant the visa, if you were in Australia
- you entered Australia on this visa, if you were outside Australia when we granted it
Leaving Australia
Before you leave
Check your travel documents
You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia.
Ensure your visa remains valid
Check your conditions and the expiry of your Resident Return visa.
At the border
Leaving the airport faster
We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.
After you leave
Proving you have been to Australia
To prove you have been to Australia, request your international movement records by completing Form 1359 Request for international movement records.

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