Australian permanent residents are residents of Australia who hold permanent
residency visas but are not citizens of the Commonwealth of
Australia.
Holders of permanent residency visas may remain in Australia indefinitely.
A 5-year initial visa, which corresponds to the underlying migration scheme, is
granted alongside the permanent residency. Until the initial visa expires, the
visa holder may leave and re-enter Australia freely. A notable feature of the
permanent residency visa is that, even after the initial visa expires, the
holder is entitled to stay in Australia indefinitely without breaching
immigration regulations.
Permanent residency may be revoked at the discretion of
the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. However this does not normally
happen other than in cases of criminal misconduct.
There are multiple programs under which an applicant may obtain permanent
residency. The "General Skilled Migration Program" is mainly for
skilled migrants, and has made available 168,700 visas for year 2010-2011.
Most permanent residents are eligible to become citizens after
a waiting period. When the
waiting period is complete, the process of sitting the citizenship test and
attending the ceremony will add an additional three to twelve months.
Permanent residents enjoy many of the rights and
privileges of citizens, including access to free or subsidised legal and health
services and education. They do not have the right to vote in federal elections, but some states allow
permanent residents from Commonwealth
of Nations countries to
vote in State and local government elections.
BENEFITS:
Benefits
of permanent resident status include:
- Few limitations on employment in Australia. Some job opportunities, largely state or federal governmental work, require citizenship as opposed to permanent residence.
- The right to apply for Australian citizenship after fulfilling some criteria.
- The right to apply for a Commonwealth supported place at approved higher education institutions.
- For permanent residents accepted under the humanitarian program and enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place, the right to defer payment of their student contribution under the HECS-HELP scheme.
- The right to sponsor relatives for permanent residence, subject to fulfilling residence criteria and assurance of support requirements.
- Children born inside Australia will be Australian citizens by birth.
- The right to access medical and social security benefits, though there is a 2-year waiting period for some benefits.
- The right to travel to New Zealand without applying for a New Zealand visa. (This right is granted by the New Zealand government.)
- Unrestricted rights to live, work and study in New Zealand. (This right is granted by the New Zealand government.)
