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  • Australian Permanent Residency vs Australian Citizenship

    Australian Permanent Residency vs. Australian Citizenship: A comparison between Australian permanent residency and Australian citizenship.

Australian Permanent Residency vs Australian Citizenship

PR vs citizenship at a glance (2026)

  • A permanent resident can live, work and study in Australia indefinitely, enrol in Medicare and sponsor some relatives, but needs a valid travel facility to return after travel.
  • An Australian citizen can also vote, hold an Australian passport, apply for most government jobs, get HECS-HELP loans and cannot be deported.
  • Most permanent residents can apply for citizenship after 4 years living in Australia, including 1 year as a permanent resident.
  • The citizenship by conferral application fee is AUD 595 from 1 July 2026.

While, as a permanent resident of Australia, you will be able to enjoy a great deal of freedom, there are some things you can only do when you are an Australian citizen. We will go through the difference between the two in this article.

Who is a permanent resident?

To become a permanent resident, you will have to apply for a visa that will allow you to live in Australia permanently. Some of the key permanent residency visas include Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189), Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190), Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186), and Business Innovation and Investment Permanent visa (Subclass 888) (now only for existing 188 visa holders, as the business program closed to new applicants on 31 July 2024).

Applicants who hold a permanent resident visa can stay in Australia permanently, work and study, enrol in Medicare, travel to and from Australia for 5 years and sponsor relatives.

Who is a citizen?

The Australian Citizenship Act 2007 sets out the law on who is and who can become an Australian citizen.  In Australia, citizenship can be acquired automatically or by application.

Ways to become an Australian Citizen include:

For many migrants, the most common way to become an Australian citizen is via citizenship by conferral. Generally, to apply for citizenship by conferral, you must be a permanent resident for the last 12 months and have been living in Australia on a valid visa for the past 4 years. If you are aged 18 to 59, you will also need to pass a citizenship test.

What can an Australian citizen do that a permanent resident cannot?
Rights and Privileges Australian Citizen Australian Permanent Resident
Vote during election Yes No
Run for election Yes No
Federal government jobs Yes No
Consulate support Yes No
Student Loan Yes A PR may be eligible to pay domestic school fees. However, you generally cannot get a HECS-HELP loan.
Travel A citizen can be overseas indefinitely. Usually PR has 5 years travel facility attached to their visa. You would have to renew the travel facility every 5 years.
Australian passport Yes No
Deportation No Yes
Government benefits, for example JobSeeker Yes In most cases, a PR is eligible, but eligibility depends on the rules set by the government.
New Zealand residency (on arrival) Yes Yes
Children’s citizenship eligibility Yes Yes

From permanent resident to citizen: 5 steps

  1. Check you meet the residence requirement: 4 years in Australia on a valid visa, 1 year as a permanent resident, and no more than 12 months away (including no more than 90 days in the last year).
  2. Gather identity documents, your travel history and any police certificates you may need. See our citizenship checklist.
  3. Apply online and pay the application fee.
  4. Attend your appointment and sit the citizenship test if you are aged 18 to 59. Practise with our practice questions.
  5. Once approved, make the Australian citizenship pledge at a ceremony.

Frequently asked questions

No. Permanent residency is a visa status. Citizenship is a legal status that gives extra rights, such as voting and an Australian passport, and it cannot be cancelled on visa grounds.

No. Many people stay permanent residents for life. You just need to keep a valid travel facility, through a Resident Return visa, if you travel.

Yes. A permanent visa can be cancelled on character grounds, and you can lose the ability to return if your travel facility expires and you do not qualify for a Resident Return visa.

Yes. A child born in Australia is generally an Australian citizen at birth if at least one parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time of birth.

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