An Australian permanent resident does not automatically lose their PR status simply because they have not lived in Australia for two years within a five-year period.

The commonly mentioned “two years out of five years” requirement mainly relates to the Resident Return Visa (RRV) and its travel facility.

If an applicant has lived in Australia for at least two years in the five years before applying for an RRV, while holding Australian permanent resident or citizenship status, they will generally meet the residence requirement for a five-year RRV travel facility.

If the applicant has not met the two-year residence requirement, they may still be eligible for a shorter RRV depending on factors such as their substantial ties to Australia.

If a PR holder is already in Australia, the expiry of the travel facility attached to their original permanent visa does not mean they need to apply for an RRV immediately. Usually, an RRV is required when the person plans to leave Australia and wishes to return as a permanent resident after the travel facility has expired.

There may be opportunities, but eligibility depends on the nominated occupation and the requirements of the relevant skills assessment authority.

Different occupations have different requirements regarding qualifications, work experience, and evidence of skills. Some occupations may allow applicants to demonstrate their skills through work experience, RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning), or other recognised pathways. However, having work experience alone does not automatically mean an applicant will pass the skills assessment.

If you do not have formal qualifications, it is recommended to first confirm your occupation code and the relevant assessment authority, then determine whether your experience can satisfy the skills assessment（职业评估） requirements before considering skilled migration pathways such as 189, 190 visa（190签证）, or 491 visas.

This depends on the specific visa type.

The 482 SID visa is a temporary employer sponsored visa. Visa holders are generally required to work for their sponsoring employer or an eligible associated entity. If the employment relationship with the original sponsor ends, the visa holder generally has up to 180 days to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa, or make arrangements to leave Australia.

The 186 visa is a permanent residence visa and has different requirements from the 482 visa. For a 186 visa application, the nominated position must meet requirements such as genuine long-term employment needs. The Department of Home Affairs expects the nominated employment to continue after visa approval.

If employment ends shortly after approval, whether there are any concerns depends on factors including the reason for leaving, the genuine intentions of both parties at the time of application, and the individual circumstances. It should not simply be understood that “186 visa holders must work for the same employer for two years or their PR will automatically be cancelled.”

The Department of Home Affairs guidance states that the nominated position is expected to continue for at least two years after visa grant, while the 186 visa itself is a permanent visa. In comparison, the 482 visa has clearer ongoing employer-related obligations.

Yes, depending on the visa requirements, applicants may be able to use other English tests recognised by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. IELTS is not the only accepted English test.

Some Australian migration visas may also accept English tests such as PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT. English requirements vary depending on the visa type and application pathway, and certain exemptions may apply in some circumstances.

If you are planning to apply for the 189 visa, 190 visa, 491 visa, or 186 visa, it is recommended to confirm the specific English requirements for your visa category and EOI points calculation in advance.