Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa

Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa

This visa allows workers who hold an eligible visa and meet an income requirement to live and work in Australia permanently.

Regional provisional stream

With this visa you can

• stay in Australia permanently

• work and study in Australia

• attend free English language classes through the Adult Migrant English Program, if eligible

• enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare

• sponsor your relatives to come to Australia

• travel to and from Australia for 5 years

• if eligible, become an Australian citizen.

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

How long you can stay

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

The visa has a travel component that expires 5 years after the date of visa grant. If you wish to travel after this date, you must apply for a Resident Return visa.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts on the day we grant the visa if you are in Australia.

Include family

You can include members of the family unit in your application. You can:

• include them when you lodge your visa application.

• add them after you lodge your application but before we decide on your visa. 

Generally, family members included in your application do not need an eligible visa. Family members must hold an eligible visa if:

• they no longer meet the standard definition of member of the family unit, and

• you include them in your application.

Their eligible visa must have been granted on the basis that they were a member of your family unit. This provision applies, for example, if you want to include a child in your application who has turned 23 years of age since getting an eligible visa.

Family members included in your application must meet health and character requirements. Family members not coming to Australia may also need to meet health and character requirements.

Newborn children

If you have a child who was born in Australia since you were granted your current visa you must tell us about your child before you lodge this application. Find out what to do if your child is born after we granted your current visa. If we have not linked your child’s current visa to their passport you will be unable to lodge their application online.

Hong Kong stream

This visa lets eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders who have demonstrated commitment to Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You must hold a Hong Kong passport or a British National (Overseas) passport

• You don't need a sponsor or nominator

• You must meet certain visa requirements

• You must meet certain residence requirements​

With this visa you can

• stay in Australia permanently

• work and study in Australia

• attend free English language classes through the Adult Migrant English Program, if eligible

• enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare

• sponsor your relatives to come to Australia

• travel to and from Australia for 5 years

• if eligible, become an Australian citizen

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

How long can you stay

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

The visa has a travel component that expires 5 years after the date of visa grant.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts on the day:

• we grant the visa if you are in Australia.

• you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia.

Include family

You can include members of the family unit in your application. You can:

• include them when you lodge your visa application.

• add them after you lodge your application but before we decide on your visa. 

Family members who apply for the visa must meet our health and character requirements. Family members not coming to Australia may also need to meet health and character requirements.

If your partner or dependent children are not included in this application, tell us why. As an example, they may already hold Australian citizenship or be a permanent resident.