Permanent Residence Planning Australia
Permanent Residence (PR) planning is an effective way to attract and retain skilled talent while strengthening workforce stability.
By proactively considering PR pathways, businesses can offer stability and a clear future to migrant employees—fostering loyalty, reducing turnover, and enhancing workforce continuity.
Integrating PR into retention planning not only strengthens employee engagement but also positions the organisation as an employer of choice in competitive talent markets.
PR Planning – Skilled Pathways
To assist employers with understanding Australia’s main skilled PR pathways, Interstaff has prepared a comparative analysis.
| Permanent Visa | Suitable For | Employer Sponsorship | Skills Assessment | English | Age Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 186 Visa – Direct Entry Stream | Hiring offshore skilled workers with PR upfront | Yes | Yes – unless exempt | Competent – unless exempt | Under 45 – unless exempt |
| 186 Visa – Transition Stream | Retaining existing 482 Visa holders | Yes | No | Competent – unless exempt | Under 45 – unless exempt |
| 186 Visa – Labour Agreement Stream | Occupations not on standard lists or requiring a concession | Yes | Depends on Agreement | Depends on Agreement | Depends on Agreement |
| 191 Skilled Regional Visa | Transitioning regional workers to PR | No | No | N/A | N/A |
| 189/190 Visas – Independent Skilled Migration | Independent or state-nominated skilled migrants | No | Yes | Competent | Under 45 |
Talk to Interstaff to understand suitable Permanent Residence pathways for your employees.
Future-Proofing Talent:
PR Planning
For many migrant workers, Permanent Residence represents long-term security and the ability to settle with their families here in Australia.
Interstaff supports businesses to build PR planning into their broader employee attraction and retention strategies.
STEP 1
Assess and Strategise:
Permanent Residence Eligibility
Interstaff helps businesses and employees understand suitable PR pathways and plan accordingly by:
- Discussing your ongoing/future workforce needs
- Assessing PR eligibility for existing/new employees
- Advising a migration strategy that considers compliance advice to protect the candidate’s ongoing PR eligibility
- For example, maintaining role consistency and ensuring salary levels meet regulatory thresholds
STEP 2
Apply and Comply:
186 Visa Application
We manage the PR application process on your business and employee’s behalf, providing support by:
- Advising on application requirements
- Managing all aspects of the nomination and visa applications, including complex cases
- Keeping you and your employees informed at every stage of the process
STEP 3
Retain and Grow:
Permanent Residence Policies
Interstaff works with you to integrate PR policies into your broader workforce strategies, supporting you with:
- Compliance advice during business/employment changes
- PR pathway mapping for temporary visa holders
- Temporary visa expiry tracking
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- Building PR policies into retention strategies
- Advice on matters impacting PR eligibility
- Assistance with developing audit-ready systems for immigration inspections
- Post-visa support for employees and their families – including Australian Citizenship
- Ongoing training on immigration policy impacts
What Employees Should Know
If an employer wishes to sponsor you for PR, it is essential to understand your eligibility. Interstaff provides eligibility assessments to both individuals and employers.
We also advise on migration pathways after PR is established, such as Citizenship and Australia’s limited options to sponsor family members.
Talk to us to understand your eligibility for PR.
Experience and Insights
Permanent Residence Australia
Explore more about how we work, our industry experience and insights.
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa
Subclass 186
Industries
Immigration Australia Permanent Residency FAQs
No – many businesses support transitions to Permanent Residence through a 186 Visa on a case-by-case basis. The business must have a genuine ongoing need for the position. The benefit of making Permanent Residence policies available to employees is that it ensures the possibilities are clear and upfront.
In recent years to 2025/26, permanent placements in the Australia Permanent Migration Program for employer-sponsored and regional visas have remained steady. This means employers can rely on these pathways for their employees.