Australia is a good option if you are thinking of permanent residency in another country. It offers many visa subcategories to applicants with specific eligibility requirements. To streamline the immigration process, filter the immigrants and ensure that qualified people are granted visas, the Australian government has devised many immigration programs for the PR visa.

If you are thinking of applying for a PR visa to Australia in 2021, you might be wondering what the easiest way is to get Australia PR in 2021. Well, this depends on many factors. Each immigration program has its unique eligibility requirements, conditions, and criteria for selection.

The government, on its part, sets the migration planning levels and fixes a certain number of places under each migration program. Here is a table with details of slots allotted to each migration program in 2020-2021:

As you can see in the table, the highest number of places is allocated to the Skilled Stream category, which has a total of 79,600 immigration places for 2020-21. Australia needs skilled migrants who will contribute to the economy. Skilled migrants bring with them high educational qualifications and higher employment potential. This holds the promise of a better contribution to the economy. Migrants who employees sponsor have more potential to bring the desired results.

With the Skilled Migration stream having the most significant number of places, this should be your option when applying for a PR visa. You have better chances under this stream, provided you meet the eligibility requirements and score the required points. The Australian government, on its part, has made changes to the age and English language requirements under this program to ensure only highly skilled migrants are eligible.

Moreover, the Skilled migration stream is a points-based system and is the most popular immigration program aspiring migrants choose. Here is a brief description of the eligibility requirements for the three main visa categories under the Skilled Migration Program.

Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189): Before submitting your application under this category, you must give an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect. This can be done within or outside of Australia.

 The applications are by invitation only; for this, you should:

• Have experience in a nominated occupation on Australia’s Skilled Occupations List
• Get a skill assessment report by a designated authority for that occupation
• Submit an Expression of Interest
• Be under 45 years
• Meet general Skilled Migration basic requirements
• Score at least 65 on the points test
• Meet health and character requirements

Once you receive an invitation to apply for this visa, you must do so within 60 days.

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190): You qualify for this visa if an Australian state or territory nominates you. The privileges in this visa are the same as the Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189)

The application requirements are similar, except that you should have experience in a nominated occupation on the Skilled Occupations List.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 Visa: This visa has replaced the Subclass 489 Visa as a pathway to a PR visa. Under this visa, skilled workers and their families must live, work and study in designated regional areas for five years. They will be eligible for a PR visa after three years. The eligibility requirements are the same as for other Skilled nomination programs.

If you opt to apply for your PR visa under the Skilled Migration program, choose an option best suited to your qualifications. Consider how far you can meet the eligibility requirements and choose your opportunity for a successful outcome.

Global Talent Program

The government has also introduced a Global Talent Independent Visa program (GTS) to help fill the tech talent shortage in Australia. The GTS aims to attract tech workers and encourage innovation in the future-focused industries in the country. There are plans to expand the GTS visa to provide permanent residence options to attract bright and skilled migrants to settle in the country and contribute to the economy.

Employer-Sponsored Migration

Considering the 22,000 places available under the Employer-Sponsored Migration program, it could be your best bet to try for a PR visa. The program aims at filling skill shortages in the Australian Labor Market by matching the vacancies to those migrants who have the requisite skills and experience.

Business Innovation and Investment Program

The Australian business visa program helps business owners, senior executives, and investors to come here for business purposes and develop new or existing businesses in Australia. This can also be a pathway to permanent residency.

There are two pathways for Business Skills entry to Australia

1. If you have a provisional business visa (Business innovation and investment (temporary) visa), you will be eligible for permanent residence after establishing your business
2. A state or territorial government can sponsor business visa applicants with extensive Experience (Business talent visa) for a PR visa

Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa

With this visa, you can own and manage a business in Australia or conduct a business or investment activity entrepreneurial activity in Australia.

The provisional visa program has seven categories:

1. Business Innovation Stream
2. Investor stream
3. Significant investor stream
4. Business innovation extension stream
5. Significant investor extension stream
6. Premium Investor stream
7. Entrepreneur stream

All these visa subcategories have a validity of four years and three months.

Path to permanent residency

You can apply for your PR visa if you have stayed on the Subclass 188 visa for at least one year and meet the financial requirements. Apart from this, you will have to give evidence of your enduring business interest by making regular investments and recruiting local workers for your business.

Distinguished talent visa

The Distinguished Talent visa is designed for individuals who have achieved something exceptional in a profession, arts or sports, or research or academic fields. The visa has two subclasses- Subclass 858 for onshore and Subclass 124 for offshore.

The simplest way to get your Australia PR is purely subjective. There are many options available to you; success depends on your choice and how well you meet the eligibility requirements to get your PR visa in 2021.