Australia residence and citizenship

National Innovation visa (subclass 858)

Invitation-only direct PR for internationally recognised exceptional achievers, including innovative investors and entrepreneurs. No mandatory capital amount is stated; AUD 6,235 × 0.6894 = USD 4,298.41. Individual processing guide supplies no stable route bound. Citizenship needs four qualifying Australian years, including at least one PR year; sparse investor visits do not meet that test. Eligibility follows achievement and invitation, not passport.

Sources: National Innovation visa (subclass 858) (Department of Home Affairs), National Innovation visa invitation and investor eligibility (Department of Home Affairs), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs), RBA exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (Reserve Bank of Australia), Australia National Innovation Visa residence summary (Henley & Partners, summary), Australian residence minimum capital summary (Henley & Partners, summary)

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), points-tested

Invited skilled worker under 45 with an eligible occupation, skills assessment and points test; no sponsor or capital investment. AUD 6,135 × 0.6894 = USD 4,229.47. No reliable subclass processing bound is stated. Four qualifying residence years for citizenship, including the final PR year. Eligibility follows skill criteria rather than nationality.

Sources: Skilled Independent (subclass 189) points-tested stream (Department of Home Affairs), Migration Regulations 1994: subclass 189 application charge (Federal Register of Legislation), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs), RBA exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (Reserve Bank of Australia)

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Hong Kong stream

Eligible Hong Kong SAR or British National (Overseas) passport holder with qualifying Australian visa and residence history; direct PR. AUD 6,135 × 0.6894 = USD 4,229.47. No capital investment or stable processing bound. Citizenship after four qualifying residence years including the final PR year. Eligibility follows the named passport classes, represented by HK and GB codes.

Sources: Skilled Independent (subclass 189) Hong Kong stream (Department of Home Affairs), Migration Regulations 1994: subclass 189 application charge (Federal Register of Legislation), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs), RBA exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (Reserve Bank of Australia)

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

Skilled applicant nominated by a state or territory; direct PR. Statutory standard base charge AUD 6,140 × 0.6894 = USD 4,232.92; qualifying Pacific-region passports may pay less. No verified processing bound or investment floor. Four qualifying residence years for citizenship. Eligibility follows state nomination and skills, not passport.

Sources: Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) (Department of Home Affairs), Migration Regulations 1994: subclass 190 application charge (Federal Register of Legislation), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs), RBA exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (Reserve Bank of Australia)

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)

Skilled worker nominated by an Australian employer; direct PR through an eligible stream. AUD 6,140 × 0.6894 = USD 4,232.92. Employer nomination charges are separate; no investment floor. No subclass-specific decision bound is verified. Citizenship after four qualifying residence years, with at least the last year as PR. Eligibility is employment based.

Sources: Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) (Department of Home Affairs), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs), RBA exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (Reserve Bank of Australia)

Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)

Existing eligible regional provisional visa holder after at least three years, subject to income and visa conditions. AUD 630 × 0.6894 = USD 434.32. No investment or verified processing bound. The four-year citizenship period counts qualifying earlier lawful residence, with the last year on PR. Eligibility follows existing eligible visa status.

Sources: Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) subclass 191 (Department of Home Affairs), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs), RBA exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (Reserve Bank of Australia)

Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191), Hong Kong stream

Eligible Hong Kong SAR or British National (Overseas) passport holder with a qualifying subclass 457, 482 or 485 visa held for at least three years and continuous residence in a designated regional area for the three years before applying. AUD 6,135 × 0.6894 = USD 4,229.47. No capital investment or reliable processing bound. Four qualifying Australian residence years for citizenship, including the final PR year; the three regional years are an eligibility prerequisite, not processing time. Eligibility follows the named passport classes, represented by HK and GB codes.

Sources: Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) subclass 191 Hong Kong stream (Department of Home Affairs), Migration Regulations 1994: subclass 191 Hong Kong stream application charge (Federal Register of Legislation), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs), RBA exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (Reserve Bank of Australia)

Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) to subclass 191

State/territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship for regional skilled work, then subclass 191 after at least three eligible provisional years and other conditions. Initial 491 standard base charge AUD 6,140 × 0.6894 = USD 4,232.92; the later 191 application has a separate AUD 630 charge. Qualifying Pacific-region passports may pay less. No investment or bounded processing time. Earliest ordinary citizenship is four qualifying lawful years including the last PR year, if timing permits. Eligibility follows nomination or family sponsorship.

Sources: Regional provisional skilled visas (Department of Home Affairs), Migration Regulations 1994: subclass 491 application charge (Federal Register of Legislation), Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) subclass 191 (Department of Home Affairs), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs), RBA exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (Reserve Bank of Australia)

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) to subclass 191

Regional employer-sponsored skilled work, then subclass 191 after at least three eligible provisional years and other conditions. Initial 494 standard base charge AUD 6,140 × 0.6894 = USD 4,232.92; later 191 charge is separately AUD 630. Qualifying Pacific-region passports may pay less. No investment or bounded processing time. Earliest citizenship four qualifying lawful years including the final PR year if eligible. Eligibility follows employer sponsorship.

Sources: Regional provisional skilled visas (Department of Home Affairs), Migration Regulations 1994: subclass 494 application charge (Federal Register of Legislation), Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) subclass 191 (Department of Home Affairs), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs), RBA exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (Reserve Bank of Australia)

Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) to subclass 186

Employer-sponsored temporary work route with possible later subclass 186 PR; transition is conditional and not automatic. Statutory standard base charge AUD 4,015 × 0.6894 = USD 2,767.94; qualifying Pacific-region passports may pay less. No verified processing bound or investment floor. Eligibility follows employer nomination.

Sources: Skills in Demand visa to employer-sponsored permanent residence (Department of Home Affairs), Migration Regulations 1994: subclass 482 application charge (Federal Register of Legislation), Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) (Department of Home Affairs), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs), RBA exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (Reserve Bank of Australia)

Partner visa (subclasses 820/801)

Genuine spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Temporary 820 normally precedes permanent 801; eligibility for permanent assessment usually begins two years after joint application, which is not a processing guarantee. No investment. Citizenship after four qualifying years including one PR year. Eligibility follows relationship.

Sources: Permanent partner visa subclass 801 (Department of Home Affairs), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs)

Overseas partner visa (subclasses 309/100)

Genuine spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen applying through the offshore provisional 309 and permanent 100 stages. No investment. Four qualifying Australian residence years including one PR year for citizenship; time outside Australia does not count. Eligibility follows relationship.

Sources: Overseas partner visa subclasses 309 and 100 (Department of Home Affairs), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs)

Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)

Parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian PR or eligible New Zealand citizen, subject to sponsorship and parent eligibility rules. Direct PR; AUD 49,900 total over two instalments for a single applicant × 0.6894 = USD 34,401.06. This is a visa charge, not an investment. Four Australian residence years for citizenship. Eligibility follows parent-child relationship.

Sources: Contributory Parent visa subclass 143 (Department of Home Affairs), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs), RBA exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (Reserve Bank of Australia)

New Zealand Special Category visa (subclass 444)

Eligible New Zealand citizens may stay and work on renewable-on-entry SCV; it is technically temporary but counts as permanent for citizenship residence purposes. Official cost says Free, hence USD 0. Arrival processing has no month bound and in-country cases vary. No investment. Citizenship after four qualifying Australian years. Eligibility is limited to New Zealand citizenship.

Sources: Special Category visa subclass 444 (Department of Home Affairs), Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1 item 1219 (Federal Register of Legislation), New Zealand SCV holders and citizenship (Department of Home Affairs), Australian citizenship residence requirement (Department of Home Affairs)