Permanent Residents

Entitlements:

An Australian permanent resident and an Australian citizen are not the same.

As a permanent resident of Australia, you generally can:

• remain in Australia indefinitely
• work and study in Australia
• enrol in Australia’s national health scheme, Medicare
• apply for bank loans to buy property
• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
• travel to and from Australia for as long as your travel facility permits. Please see Overseas
• travel as a permanent resident.
• attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program
• work in New Zealand

You may also qualify for other government benefits and services. If you hold a permanent visa, but you are not residing in Australia, your eligibility for the above may be impacted. Contact the relevant government departments or authorities to confirm your rights and obligations.

• have an Australian passport
• vote in Australian Government elections unless you enrolled (as a British subject) before 26 January 1984
• access student loans
• join the Australian Defence Force
• obtain ongoing work in the Australian Government
• return to Australia from overseas without a valid travel facility (you do not have an automatic right of entry to Australia). See Overseas travel as a permanent resident.