Australia's permanent Migration Program includes economic and family migration and is the main pathway to permanent residence.
It includes the Skill stream, Family stream and Special Eligibility visas. The only other way to obtain permanent residence is on humanitarian grounds.
Skill stream visas
The Skill stream is designed for workers who have the skills, qualifications and entrepreneurship most needed in the Australian economy. There are 7 visa categories:
- Business Innovation and Investment
- Distinguished Talent
- Employer Sponsored
- Global Talent (Independent)
- Regional
- Skilled Independent
- State/Territory Nominated.
Family and Child stream visas
The Family stream allows the permanent migration of close family members of:
- Australian citizens
- permanent residents
- eligible New Zealand citizens.
It focuses on partners and parents, but also provides an opportunity for other family members to join their family in Australia, such as:
- aged dependent relatives
- carers
- remaining relatives
- orphan relatives.
Child visas allow the permanent migration of children of:
- Australian citizens
- permanent residents
- eligible New Zealand citizens.
The Child visa comprises 2 categories, namely Child and Adoption visas.
Special Eligibility visas
Special Eligibility visas allow former residents and certain people who served in the Australian Defence Force to live in Australia as permanent residents.
Summary of profiles
See Australia's permanent migration outcome—the Migration Program, 2023–24.
This table provides a summary of these profiles for the 2023–24 Migration Program outcome by migration category.
Migration Program outcome by stream, 2014–15 to 2023–24
This graph shows the change in the permanent Migration Program over the past 10 years.
Source: Department of Home Affairs
