How to Get Permanent Residency in Australia 2026: Pathways & Points Test

How to Get Permanent Residency in Australia 2026: Pathways & Points Test

Australia issued 190,000 permanent-resident visas in 2022024 and the 2026 planning levels remain similar. Most applicants still enter through the Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) or Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491 → 191) streams. All three are points-tested, invitation-only and entirely online through the SkillSelectportal. Below is the exact roadmap my office has used to secure PR for 600+ clients since 2018, updated with the 2026 thresholds released 1 July 2025.

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1. What “Permanent Residency” Actually Means in 2026

• Lifetime multiple-entry travel facility (first issued for 5 years, renewable)
• Immediate Medicare enrolment
• Access to 2026-27 Help student loans and JobSeeker after standard waiting periods
• Direct pathway to citizenship: 4 years lawful residence including 12 months as PR, no more than 90 days out of Australia in the year before application
• Must live in Australia at least 2 years in every 5 or risk losing the travel facility (can apply for a Resident Return Visa (subclass 155) to restore it)

2. Three Main PR Pathways Compared

Subclass 189 Skilled Independent – No sponsor needed

• 2026 points cut-off: 85 (invitations issued monthly; occasionally 80 for “pro-rata” ICT & accounting occupations)
• Occupation must be on MLTSSL (Medium- and Long-term Strategic Skills List)
• Age上限45 at invitation
• Processing time after invitation: 5-8 months (90% of cases)

Subclass 190 State Nominated – Extra 5 points

• Requires nomination from a state/territitory; each publishes its own “stream” criteria (usually “currently working in the state in occupation” or “PhD graduate”)
• Extra 5 points → effective pass-mark 80 in 2026
• Must commit to live in the nominating state for 2 years (morally binding, not monitored after grant)
• Processing time: 6-9 months

Subclass 491 → 191 Two-Stage Regional

• Step 1: 491 provisional (5-year) granted if you have either state nomination or eligible family in regional Australia + 65+ points
• Step 2: apply for subclass 191 PR after 3 years on 491 with taxable income ≥ AUD 63,000 for at least 3 years (threshold 2026)
• Processing time for 491: 7-12 months; 191: 4 months

3. Do You Qualify? The 2026 Points Test Line-by-Line

Points are awarded once only at invitation; you cannot “add” points later. The table below is straight from the Migration (Skilled) Regulations 2025.

Age (must be under 45 when invited)

• 18-24: 25 points
• 25-32: 30 points
• 33-39: 25 points
• 40-44: 15 points

English

• Competent (IELTS 6 / PTE 50): 0
• Proficient (IELTS 7 / PTE 65): 10
• Superior (IELTS 8 / PTE 79): 20

Test must be sat after you receive your skills-assessment outcome; validity 3 years

Skilled Employment in the last 10 years (calculated in 52-week blocks)

• 0-3 years outside Australia: 0
• 3-5 years: 5
• 5-8 years: 10
• 8+ years: 15
• Inside Australia extra 5 points on top of above (so 8+ in Australia = 20)

Educational Qualifications

• Doctorate: 20
• Bachelor or Masters by coursework: 15
• Diploma or trade cert: 10
• Australian-educated (at least 2 academic years in Australia): extra 5

Other

• Accredited community language (NAATI CCL): 5
• Partner skills (age <45, same occupation list, positive skills assessment, Competent English): 10
• Single OR partner is Australian citizen/PR: 10
• State nomination (190): 5
• Regional nomination/family (491): 15

Bottom line: an applicant aged 29 (30), Bachelor (15), Proficient English (10), 5 years overseas + 3 years Australia (10+5), single (10) = 80 points. Add NAATI (5) and you are at the 85 sweet-spot for 189 in 2026.

4. Document Checklist (Lodgement-Ready)

Every PDF you upload must be colour-scanned, ≤5 MB, and have an certified English translation if required. Have the following before you submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) because you only have 60 days to lodge after invitation.

Identity & Character

1. Passport bio-data page (all applicants)
2. Birth certificate or household register showing parents’ names
3. National ID (if applicable)
4. Recent passport-sized photo (45-50 mm, white background)
5. Form 80 (Personal Particulars) – download from Home Affairs
6. Form 1221 (Additional Personal Particulars) – mandatory for 189/190/491 since Nov 2023
7. Police clearance certificates from every country lived 12+ months in the last 10 years (valid 12 months)

Skills & Occupation

1. Positive skills assessment letter (see table below for assessing authority and validity)
2. Employment references on company letterhead: dates, hours, salary, duties, supervisor name + phone
3. Payslips, tax docs, super statements, contracts (redundant evidence for last 10 years)
4. CV in Australian format (no photo, 3-4 pages max)

English

• IELTS TRINITY number / PTE Academic Score Report / TOEFL iBT / OET / Cambridge C1 Advanced

Education

• Degree certificates + transcripts (colour); if Australian qualification, provide AUS-qual verification code

Partner & Family (if claiming points or including)

• Marriage cert / relationship registration / evidence of 12-month de-facto (joint lease, bank statements)
• Partner’s skills assessment, English result, Form 80
• Child birth certificates; Form 1229 if one parent is not migrating

State Nomination (only 190/491)

• Documentary evidence required by the state (varies: NSW wants current NSW employment payslips; V wants job offer; etc.) – upload into the state’s portal before they issue the nomination

5. Skills-Assessment Bodies & Validity (2026)

Occupation Example	Assessing Authority	Validity
Software Engineer	Australian Computer Society (ACS)	2 years
Civil Engineer	Engineers Australia (EA)	3 years
Accountant (General)	CPA Australia/CA ANZ/IPA	3 years
Electrician (General)	Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)	3 years
Registered Nurse	Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)	2 years

If your letter is older, obtain a “re-validation” letter—faster than a new assessment

6. Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Choose occupation & verify Ceiling Value

Check the 2026 Invitations to Apply report each month on the Home Affairs website. occupations marked “Pro-rata” (ICT, Accountants, Engineers) need 90-95 points in 2026.

Step 2: Sit English (if needed)

Book IELTS/PTE at least 6 weeks ahead; allow 5 days for PTE results.

Step 3: Skills Assessment

Timeline: ACS 8-12 weeks, EA 12-16 weeks, ANMAC 8 weeks. Cost: AUD 500-1,050.

Step 4: Submit EOI in SkillSelect

• Log into skillselect.homeaffairs.gov.au
• Select visa subclass (189/190/491) and state preferences
• EOI is valid 2 years; you can update points anytime before invitation

Step 5: Wait for Invitation Round

• 189 invitations issued 1st Monday of each month; 190/491 whenever state decides
• You receive an email with a unique Invitation ID

Step 6: State Nomination (if 190/491)

Upload state-specific docs into their portal (e.g., NSW “Smart & Skilled”, vic “Live in Melbourne”). Pay state fee AUD 200-350. Nomination usually takes 2-6 weeks.

Step 7: Lodge Visa Within 60 Days

• Start application in ImmiAccount
• Pay first instalment: AUD 4,640 (main applicant) + 2,320 (>18 dependants) + 1,160 (<18)
• Upload all documents; front-load police & medical to avoid delays

Step 8: Medical & Police

• Use eMedical clinic locator; HAP ID generated after you enter visa application
• Cost: chest X-ray ~AUD 150, medical ~350

Step 9: Wait for Case Officer & Possible RFI

“Request for Information” normally gives 28 days to respond. Typical RFIs: Form 80 incomplete, newborn PCC, updated employment letter.

Step 10: Grant & Initial Entry

Your grant letter lists “Must enter by” date—usually 12 months from police clearance or passport expiry, whichever is earlier. Activate PR by making a first entry, even a 3-day holiday.

7. Fees Summary (AUD, 2026)

• Skills Assessment: 500-1,050
• English test: 340 (IELTS) / 375 (PTE)
• NAATI CCL test (if claiming 5 pts): 800
• State nomination: 0 (WA) to 350 (SA)
• Visa application: 4,640 main, 2,320 adult dependant, 1,160 child
• Medical & police