Residence Permit in Australia

Looking to secure a residence permit in Australia? Explore the possibilities and requirements for obtaining your Australian residency seamlessly

To be eligible for permanent residency in Australia, specific criteria must be met based on the chosen migration program:

• Candidates applying under work-stream-based permanent residency must be under 45 years old.
• An English language proficiency certificate is required for most permanent residency programs.
• For research-based permanent residency, applicants need to hold a Master’s or Doctoral degree.
• Sponsorship is mandatory for certain visas; applicants must provide sponsorship when applying.
• Family stream migration program applicants must have a spouse or de facto partner in Australia.

Individuals ineligible for work-based migration due to age can explore the retirement visa pathway for permanent residence.

Australia passport holders enjoy visa-free access to a comprehensive list of 196 travel destinations around the world.

The Australian Significant Investor Visa, also known as the Australia Golden Visa, was introduced by the government in 2012, providing a streamlined pathway to Permanent Residency for High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) through investment immigration. While there isn't a direct Australia Citizenship by Investment program, citizenship can be pursued after 3-4 years of residency, including one year of Permanent Residency.

Key Features:

• A$5 million investment in a specific structure.
• No age limit for applicants.
• Option to bypass English language requirements.
• Minimum stay requirement of just 40 days in 5 years.
• Permanent Residence (PR) granted after 4 years.
• No country quotas.
• No upfront investment required until after pre-approval.

After 4 years, applicants and their families can transition from Temporary Residence (TR Subclass 188) to Permanent Residence (PR Subclass 888). Although the investment is substantial, it is regulated, and residency is limited to the immediate family. Australia's popularity for HNWI residency through investment is evident, attracting 10,000 HNWI's in 2017, the highest globally.

Australia, known for its high standard of living, safety ratings, and economic success, has been a preferred destination for investors looking to establish a base in Southeast Asia. The investment of A$5 million follows specific guidelines, including a maximum of 60% in non-residential real estate, corporate bonds, and shares, and a minimum of 10% in Venture Capital.

Taxation benefits include exemptions for temporary residents on foreign income earned abroad and CGT on foreign property. After 4 years, temporary residence can be extended to 8 years.

The 188C Significant Investor Visa (SIV) is exclusively available to individuals nominated by an Australian State or Territory government. This 5-year temporary visa requires a substantial AUD 5 million investment in Australia. After maintaining the investment for 4 years, applicants can apply for permanent residence through the Business Innovation & Investment (Residence) Subclass 888 visa. The visa can be applied for both within Australia or overseas, with specific requirements for applicants in Australia. Noteworthy advantages include no upper age limit, no English language requirement, and no points tests. The visa allows for at least two extensions of two years each, subject to meeting extension criteria. The residence requirement for the 888 Permanent visa is lower, requiring 40 days per year for the main applicant or 180 days for the spouse. The SIV 188C stream mandates complying significant investments in venture capital, growth private equity funds, approved managed funds, and a balancing investment in managed funds. However, direct investment in residential real estate is prohibited. Subclass 888 visa requirements include spending 40 days per year in Australia on the Significant Investor visa for the last 4 years and sponsorship by a state or territory government. Other eligibility streams within the 188 Visa category include Business Innovation, Investor, Premium Investor, and Entrepreneur options, each tailored to different investment and business criteria.

If you're considering bringing your partner or family to join you in Australia, the process will vary based on your visa status.

For Australian citizens or permanent residents inviting family:

1. Clarify whether it's a temporary or permanent arrangement.
2. Select the appropriate visa based on their intention and explore options for your partner or family to join you.

For visa holders inviting family:

1. Determine if the stay is temporary or permanent.
2. Check if your current visa allows for subsequent entrants and ensure you have declared family members.
3. If your visa doesn't permit subsequent entrants, family members need to apply for a visa based on their intention. Explore relevant visa options.

For returning Australians bringing overseas-born family:

1. If you have children, apply for Australian citizenship by descent for them to obtain an Australian passport.
2. After citizenship approval, you can apply for an Australian passport on their behalf. Otherwise, they'll require a visa to enter Australia.
3. Partners or other family members will also need an appropriate visa. Explore visa options based on their intention to join you in Australia.

In Australia, the terms "residence permit" and "visa" are often used interchangeably, but they generally refer to different aspects of immigration status.

Visa:

• A visa is an official document or endorsement in a passport, granting an individual permission to enter, stay, and/or work in a foreign country for a specific purpose and duration.
• In the context of Australians traveling or moving abroad, an "Australian visa" refers to the permission granted by another country for an Australian citizen to enter and stay in that country. This can include tourist visas, work visas, or other types, depending on the purpose of the visit.

Residence Permit:

• A residence permit, on the other hand, is a specific type of authorization that allows a foreign national to live and, in some cases, work in a country for an extended period.
• In Australia, the term "residence permit" is not commonly used. Instead, permanent residency is often referred to as the status granted to individuals who hold a permanent visa. The most common permanent visa in Australia is the Subclass 189 visa (Skilled Independent visa) or the Subclass 887 visa (Skilled Regional visa).