There are a lot of benefits to becoming an Australian permanent resident and here are the top ones.
Using a temporary visa such as a visitor visa, a student visa or a working holiday visa will enable you to stay in Australia for a certain period until your visa expires. As an Australian permanent residency visa holder, you can stay in Australia for as long as you like.
A permanent visa is granted for 5 years. While holding your permanent residency, you can freely travel in and out of Australia and you will have the option to apply for Australian citizenship (subject to meeting eligibility criteria). After 5 years, if you have not become an Australian citizen, the travel facility on your permanent residency visa will cease and you will need to apply for a Resident Return Visa to be able to return to Australia if you leave. If you do not intend to travel overseas after getting your permanent residence, then you do not need to apply for a Resident Return visa.
As an Australian Permanent Residency holder, you will have unrestricted working rights. You will be able to choose where and how much you want to work, unlike certain temporary visa holders whose work rights can be restricted by hours of work allowed or employers they can work for. Important to note, some government jobs in Australia require you to have a top security clearance and for that, you would need to be an Australian citizen.
Services Australia is a government organisation responsible for social security benefits for Australian permanent residents and citizens entitled to those benefits. For example, if you are unemployed or disabled, you will be entitled to some financial help from the Government. The payment you receive will depend on your personal circumstances. As a student, you will be eligible to apply for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) where the government pays part of your school fees. This part is a subsidy which means you would not have to pay it back. However, keep in mind that being eligible for a CSP does not guarantee you will be offered a spot. You will need to meet the academic entry requirements to get into the course.
The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is a service provided to help eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants with low English levels improve their English language skills and settle in Australia, free of charge. It is highly recommended that you attend this programme as it will equip you with the language skills necessary to fully participate in Australian life and to gain employment. Australian permanent residents will be offered free childcare during their attendance of an AMEP class. The Adult Migrant English Program is offered at around 300 locations across Australia. There is also an option to do it remotely via distance learning.
Upon the grant of your Australian permanent visa, you will become eligible to enrol into Australia’s national health scheme known as Medicare. Medicare is an Australian government health care provider that covers a range of health care services for free or at a subsidised cost. Through Medicare, you will have access to doctors, specialists and other health professionals.
Permanent residents can freely buy property in Australia, unlike temporary Australian residents who require permission from the Foreign Investment Review Board to buy a house or land. As a permanent resident, you can access the First Home Owner’s Grant (New Homes) scheme designed to help families and individuals, who are new to the Australian property market, secure their first home. Rules and requirements will vary from state to state. Generally, the grant will range from $10,000 to $20,000 AU.
Australian permanent residents are eligible to sponsor an immediate family member or relative for a temporary or permanent visa, depending on individual circumstances. For example, you can bring your fiancé, partner, or spouse to live with you in Australia or sponsor your parent for a permanent Parent visa. For those relatives who do not eligibility criteria for permanent migration, there is a range of temporary visa options available. One thing remains true, once you have received your permanent residence status yourself, your chance of successfully sponsoring a family member increases.
A child born in Australia to parents, of whom at least one is an Australian permanent resident at the time of their birth, automatically acquires Australian citizenship with full rights and benefits of an Australian citizen.
As a permanent resident, you can apply for Australian citizenship after you meet Australian residence requirements and given you meet all other criteria. Becoming a citizen of Australia is an important decision as it is a recognition that you are making a commitment to Australia, its people, and its way of life. Australian citizenship is a privilege offering significant rewards. There are many reasons to become a citizen – the right to vote, the ability to work for the Australian public service or in the Australian Defence Force, to seek election to parliament, apply for an Australian passport and receive embassy help while overseas.
Australia and New Zealand are natural allies with a solid and unique trans-Tasman sense of family. Migration, trade and defence connections and strong nation-to-nation links have helped shape a close and cooperative relationship. As an Australian permanent resident, you can work and live in New Zealand. You will not need a visa before you travel to New Zealand. Instead, you will need an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) which you apply for before your travel.
The above reasons are just a few examples of why more and more people across the world consider Australia as their primary choice when deciding to relocate to a different country. The quality of life that Australia can offer is undoubtedly the biggest benefit of all. So, if you wish to make Australia your dream home, let us help you turn your dream into reality. Book an appointment today with one of our registered migration agents to discuss how we can achieve your migration goals.
