Overview
This visa provides the opportunity for holders of specific provisional visas to apply for permanent residency in Australia.
To be eligible to apply for this visa, you are required to have resided for a minimum of two (2) years and worked full time for a minimum total of 12 months in a Specified Regional Area of Australia.
Visa Entitlements
This visa entitles you and any secondary applicants included in your application to reside permanently in Australia.
Permanent residents of Australia are able to:
- work and live in Australia permanently
- study at Australian academic institutions such as schools, tafes or universities
- claim healthcare which is subsidised under the Australian Medicare system and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- apply for applicable social security payments (subject to specific conditions and waiting periods)
- apply for Australian citizenship (subject to specific conditions and residency eligibility criteria)
- become sponsors for others wishing to obtain permanent residence in Australia
Eligibility
This visa is applicable to persons who currently hold and have held one of these visas for at least the last 2 years:
- Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)
- Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475)
- Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)
- Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496)
- Bridgin Visa A or Briding Visa B granted because you have made a valid application for a subclass 495 or Subclass 487 Visa.
and you:
- have resided in a Specified Regional Area for a period of at least two (2) years
- have worked full time in a Specified Regional Area for a period of at least one (1) year
- have abided by the conditions on your current visa
Additional Information
Health & Character
If you are neither an Australian citizen nor an Australian permanent resident, but you intend to live in or visit Australia, both you and all secondary applicants listed in your application will be required to undergo a health examination and pass specific health requirements before a visa can be issued.
You and all secondary applicants are also required to be ‘of good character’ in order to live in or visit Australia. This is determined by Australian authorities and you may be asked to provide evidence such as police certificates for every country you have resided in since turning 16 years of age for 12 months or longer over the previous ten (10) years.
Location
You and any secondary applicants that are included in your application must be in Australia both when you lodge your application for this visa and at the time that your application is decided upon.
