Did you know that more than 214,790 South Africans were residing in Australia? Australia’s economy, job prospects, and stunning scenery frequently draw South African expats. Therefore, they consider immigrating to Australia by getting the Australia PR Visa.
However, securing a PR Visa in Australia will often seem overwhelming. If you also plan to apply for the permanent residency visa, this article will provide you with every crucial detail about securing one. But, before moving ahead, let us briefly understand the meaning of an Australian Permanent Residency Visa.
What is an Australia PR Visa?
The Australian PR Visa is a legal document allowing the candidate to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. If the candidate does not violate any rules while holding the permanent residency visa, they can become eligible to apply for Australian Citizenship.
Also, the Australian Government uses a point-based method to check the eligibility of candidates, mainly under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, Australia’s most common migration program.
Different Australia PR Visa for South Africans
When candidates are planning to immigrate to Australia, it becomes crucial for the candidate to select the correct visa type, which aligns with their qualifications(educational and professional) and situation.
Selecting the correct visa type often streamlines the migration process. The following are the primary visa types for South Africans:
Work Visa
Skilled professionals and workers fall under this visa category, which includes the Skilled Independent Visa, Employer Nomination Scheme, and Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa.
Family Visa
It is designed for individuals planning to join family members in Australia, including partner visas, parent visas, and child visas.
Student Visa
Made for international students pursuing education in Australia. The Student Visa allows the candidate to study and provides limited work rights.
Each visa program has specific eligible requirements and pathways customised to the different needs of candidates.
Guide to secure an Australia PR Visa from South Africa
To successfully apply for the Australian PR Visa from South Africa, candidates are required to follow the following steps:
Check Your Eligibility
Step one is to ascertain if you are eligible under one of the PR visa streams. Most popular are:
- Subclass 189: Skilled Independent Visa: For skilled workers not nominated by a state or territory or sponsored by a family member or employer.
- Subclass 190: The skilled nominated visa, subclass 190, requires a nomination from a state or territory government in Australia.
- Subclass 491: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa: For those nominated by a regional region, this is a provisional visa to permanent residence.
Key points of eligibility are:
- Age not more than 45 years
- English language test (IELTS, PTE, etc.)
- Jobs that are listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) in Australia
- Positive skills assessment for your occupation
- Health and character requirements
Skill Assessment
After you’ve found your profession in the SOL, you’ll need to go through a skills assessment with the concerned assessing authority. This process confirms that your qualifications and experience at work are on par with Australian standards.
For instance:
- Engineers: Engineers Australia
- IT Professionals: Australian Computer Society (ACS)
- Accountants: CPA Australia or CAANZ
- Trades: TRA or Vetassess
A satisfactory assessment is essential because it’s a condition that needs to be fulfilled before filing an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Take an English Language Test
For skilled migration, candidates are required to take an English language test. However, most South African expats opt for the IELTS (International English Language Test System). Meanwhile, PTE and TOEFL are also accepted.
To get the highest points, target:
- IELTS: 8 or higher in all bands
- PTE: 79 or higher
Better English scores equal more points, enhancing your prospects of getting an invitation.
Calculate Your Points
GSM in Australia has a minimum requirement of 65 points to lodge an EOI. But better scores enhance your prospects, particularly for competitive jobs.
Points are given for:
- Age (most: 30 points)
- English language proficiency (most: 20 points)
- Skilled employment (up to 20 points)
- Educational qualifications (up to 20 points)
- Australian study, partner skills, nomination (up to 15+ points)
Use the Australian immigration points calculator to estimate your score.
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
An Expression of Interest (EOI) is submitted through the SkillSelect online system. You’ll provide details of your:
- Skills assessment
- English test results
- Work experience
- Education and qualifications
- Personal details
It is not an application for a visa. Instead, it is an avenue to show your interest in settling in Australia. If your profile is competitive, you can be invited to apply for a PR visa (Invitation to Apply – ITA).
Get Nomination for Australia PR Visa
A state or territory in Australia must nominate you if you apply under subclass 190 or 491. Every state has varying requirements and lists occupations in need.
States in demand for South African migrants are:
- Victoria
- Queensland
- New South Wales
- South Australia
- Western Australia
You might be required to prove commitment to residing in that state, possess specific work experience, or fulfill other requirements.
Apply for the PR Visa in Australia
After getting an ITA(Invitation to Apply), you will have 60 days to submit your complete visa application. This includes:
- Personal documents (passport, ID, etc.)
- Results of skills assessment
- English test results
- Certificates of health and police clearance
- Documentation of work experience and education
- Nomination (if relevant)
The visa application is submitted online through the ImmiAccount portal.
Pass Health and Character Checks
You and any members of your family covered by your application will be required to pass:
- Medical examinations with authorised panel doctors
- PCC from South Africa (and any other country you’ve lived in for over 12 months)
Wait for a Decision
The processing time for PR visas varies depending on the visa subclass and the complexity of your case. On average:
- Subclass 189: 6–8 months
- Subclass 190: 7–9 months
- Subclass 491: 5–7 months
You can use your ImmiAccount to check the status of your application online.
Receive Your Visa and Move to Australia
Once granted, you will get a visa grant notice with your conditions and entry date. With PR status, you can stay and work in Australia forever. You can apply for Australian citizenship after 4 years (at least 1 year as a PR).
Conclusion
It requires meticulous preparation, satisfying stringent criteria, and passing a points-based system to gain Australian permanent residence from South Africa. Many South Africans have been able to migrate to Australia and build prosperous lives there by being well prepared, possessing a strong skill set, and patiently waiting.
If you do things right, you can attain the Australian dream, whether you have much experience, tradesman skills, or a degree. Begin by determining your eligibility, optimising your point total, and, if necessary, consulting a professional. Today is the day to begin to get permanent residency in Australia.
Still confused about the Australia PR Visa, reach out to Keymart Visa via +91 9911338722 Or info@keymartvisa.com
