Permanent visas and citizenship — an overview
A map of the main onshore PR pathways — 189, 190, 491, 186, 858 — plus what citizenship requires once you've got PR. Where to look up current invitation rounds yourself.
Published 17 May 2026 · Last reviewed 17 May 2026
This is information, not advice. For decisions with legal or financial consequences, see who to consult at the end of this guide.
Permanent residence is the goal for most people who arrive on a temporary visa and decide they want to stay. PR is not citizenship — you can lose PR, you can't lose citizenship except in narrow circumstances. But PR is the practical line where you stop worrying about renewals, get full Medicare, and can sponsor family.
This guide walks through the main onshore PR pathways, then citizenship. We don't pin current 189 invitation cut-offs or 491 occupation thresholds — those move every round. We show you how to read the official rounds page yourself.
Quick comparison
| Visa | What it's for | Sponsor / nominator | Lives where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 189 — Skilled Independent | Points-tested, no sponsor | None | Anywhere in Australia |
| 190 — Skilled Nominated | Points-tested, state nominates | State / territory government | Mostly in nominating state for 2 years |
| 491 — Skilled Work Regional | Provisional 5-year, leads to 191 | State or eligible family | Designated regional area only |
| 191 — Permanent Regional | Permanent after 3 years on 491 | None (you graduate from 491) | Anywhere (after grant) |
| 186 — Employer Nomination | Employer sponsors you to permanent | Sponsoring employer | Anywhere |
| 858 — National Innovation | Top-talent visa, replaces old GTI | Eligible nominator | Anywhere |
A note on unlicensed migration help
Providing immigration assistance for a fee without Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) registration is an offence under the Migration Act 1958. That's distinct from:
- Free help from a friend or family member — fine. The Act regulates paid assistance.
- Help from an Australian legal practitioner — also fine. Lawyers admitted to practise in an Australian state or territory don't need separate MARA registration to give immigration assistance, but they must comply with the same standards.
Two practical implications:
- A "consultant" overseas offering paid help with your Australian visa, who's not on the MARA register, is operating outside Australian law. Bad outcomes from this are extremely hard to fix.
- Verify any agent's registration before paying anything. The MARA register is searchable and free.
Who to consult
- For visa decisions — a Registered Migration Agent (check MARA registration at https://www.mara.gov.au/) or an Australian legal practitioner.
- For state nomination questions — the relevant state government program directly. State websites are listed on the Home Affairs state nomination page.
- For citizenship questions — Home Affairs handles citizenship applications directly. You generally don't need a migration agent for citizenship by conferral if your case is clean.
- For complex cases (refusals, AAT review, character issues) — an Australian immigration lawyer, not just a registered agent.