Australia follows point based system for immigration under which three categories are classified namely Skilled Independent, Skilled Nominated and Skilled Regional. To apply for a Skilled Independent visa you do not require sponsorship, but your occupation must be on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). To apply for a Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa your skill also has to be on the SOL mentioned above and you need to be sponsored by an Australian relative who lives in a designated area. Candidates looking to apply for Australian Permanent Residency must check their eligibility according to points allotted to them according to several factors such as age, qualification and experience. The current qualifying point score is 60.
Age
You will only be eligible to apply for PR in Australia if you are under the age of 50.
Following are the points allotted considering applicant’s age.
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 18-24 | 25 |
| 25-32 | 30 |
| 33-39 | 25 |
| 40-44 | 15 |
| 45-49 | 0 |
Note that if you are aged 39 years and 11 months, you still fall under 33-39 category. You will be only considered 40 years old when you actually turn 40.
English Proficiency
You need to show an evidence of your skills in English since Australia is an English-speaking nation. IELTS is preferably accepted and granted points for PR in Australia.
Based on IELTS score, you are allotted following points.
| Level of English Language | Points |
| Competent User- IELTS 6 | 0 |
| Proficient English- IELTS 7 | 10 |
| Superior English- IELTS 8 | 20 |
Work Experience (Overseas)
If you happen to be nominated under skilled occupation or closely related to skilled occupation, you will be allotted following points based on your work experience to gain Australian Permanent Residency.
| Experience (of past 10 years as of applying date) | Points |
| 3-5 years | 5 |
| 5-8 years | 10 |
| 8-10 years or above | 15 |
Australian Work Experience
At time of invitation for PR in Australia, you must have following experience to earn their respective points.
Remember that, the maximum points awarded for any combination of overseas and Australian skilled employment is 20 points.
| Experience (of past 10 years as of applying date) | Points |
| 1-3 years | 5 |
| 3-5 years | 10 |
| 5-8 years | 15 |
| 8-10 years or above | 20 |
Educational Requirements
Points for PR in Australia are given based on educational requirements as follows:
| Qualifications | Points |
| Doctorate Degree | 20 |
| Bachelor Degree | 15 |
| Australian Diploma or trade qualification | 10 |
| Diploma or degree awarded by Australian Educational Institution | 10 |
5 Crucial Steps To Earn PR in Australia
Sponsorship or Nomination
There are points for each case. You will be granted points for Australian Permanent Residency according to following conditions.
| State or Territory Government (Visa Subclass 190 only) | 5 |
| Nomination by State or Territory Government or Sponsorship by an eligible family member from Australia (Visa Subclass 489 Only) |
10 |
Additional Factors
| Factor | Points |
| Credentialed Community Language Qualification | 5 |
| Study in regional Australia or metropolitan area (excluding distance education) |
5 |
| Partner skill qualifications | 5 |
| Professional Year completion, for a period of at least 12 months (in the four years) |
5 |