AsimAliReceiving a permanent residency visa is an important milestone for skilled workers who want to build their future in Australia. Once the Department of Home Affairs approves a subclass 186 visa, the applicant can move forward with greater certainty about their long-term residence, employment, and family plans. However, approval is not the end of the process. 
There are several practical matters to understand, including employment arrangements, Medicare eligibility, travel rights, family benefits, and the responsibilities that come with permanent residency.
The period immediately after approval is an excellent opportunity to organise documents, understand visa conditions, and prepare for life as an Australian permanent resident. Although many of the next steps are straightforward, knowing what to expect can help prevent confusion and unnecessary delays.
Understanding what happens after a subclass 186 visa is granted also helps applicants recognise their rights and responsibilities. Employer-sponsored permanent residency provides significant opportunities, but it does not remove every immigration requirement or automatically make someone an Australian citizen. Your next steps will depend on whether you are already living in Australia, whether your family members were included in the application, and whether you need to travel internationally.
This comprehensive guide explains what to do after approval, how employment arrangements may change, which government services you may access, and how to plan for your future in Australia.
1. Your Permanent Residency Status
The first major change after visa approval is your immigration status. The Employer Nomination Scheme visa, subclass 186, is a permanent visa designed for eligible skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer.
Unlike a temporary work visa, it generally allows the holder to remain in Australia indefinitely, subject to Australian law and any applicable visa provisions.
Permanent Residency Begins With Grant
Your visa grant notice confirms that your application has been approved. Read it carefully to check your name, passport details, visa grant number, and any information about included family members.
Keep a digital and printed copy of the notice. You may need it when dealing with employers, government agencies, financial institutions, or other organisations that request evidence of your immigration status.
If you applied while outside Australia, the grant generally allows you to enter Australia as a permanent resident, subject to the visa's applicable travel and entry arrangements.
If you were already living in Australia, your status generally changes from the date the permanent visa is granted. Your previous temporary visa arrangements will no longer govern your stay in the same way.
Check Your Visa Details
Use the Department of Home Affairs' Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service to check your current visa status and applicable conditions.
Confirm that your passport information is accurate and that your visa details appear correctly. If you recently renewed your passport or notice an error, follow the department's guidance on updating your details.
It is also useful to save your grant notice securely. Losing a paper copy does not ordinarily cancel a visa, but keeping accessible evidence makes administrative tasks easier.
2. Your Employment Responsibilities
One of the most important things to understand after approval is the relationship between your permanent residency and your sponsoring employer.
A subclass 186 visa is employer-sponsored, meaning the nomination and proposed employment played an important role in your application. Although the visa grants permanent residency, you should still take your employment commitments seriously.
Do You Have to Stay With Your Sponsoring Employer?
The Department of Home Affairs expects successful applicants to work for their nominating employer for at least two years. The visa is not generally a temporary visa that automatically expires when your employment ends. However, your intentions and circumstances surrounding the nominated position may be relevant to immigration compliance.
For example, if you accepted a genuine permanent position and later experienced an unexpected redundancy, that situation differs from accepting sponsorship with no intention of undertaking the proposed employment.
You should not assume that leaving immediately after approval has no possible consequences. Equally, you should not assume that losing your job automatically cancels your permanent residency.
If you are considering changing employers, discuss your circumstances with a registered migration agent or Australian immigration lawyer, particularly if the original employment arrangement has changed significantly.
When Should You Start Working?
If you received your visa while outside Australia, the Department of Home Affairs states that you must begin the nominated employment within six months of entering Australia. If you received the visa while already in Australia, the relevant period is generally six months from the visa grant date. Check the requirements for your particular stream.
Keep evidence of your employment, including your contract, payslips, commencement date, and correspondence with your employer. These records can help explain your circumstances if questions arise later.
What If Your Employer Closes the Business?
Business closure, redundancy, restructuring, or a serious workplace dispute can create uncertainty. Permanent residents generally retain their ability to live and work in Australia, but the circumstances surrounding the original nomination may still matter.
Keep written evidence of what happened and when. If your employment ends unexpectedly, obtain advice before making decisions based on assumptions about your immigration status.
3. Access Medicare and Other Government Services
Another important benefit after approval is the opportunity to access services available to Australian permanent residents.
Eligibility for particular programs depends on their individual rules, so permanent residency does not mean every government payment or benefit becomes available immediately.
Enrolling in Medicare
Medicare is Australia's public healthcare system. Permanent residents living in Australia can generally enrol if they meet the applicable requirements.
You can apply through your myGov account or use a Medicare enrolment form. You will generally need a current passport or ImmiCard and evidence of your permanent residence.
After enrolling, keep your Medicare details accessible and check which medical services and treatments are covered. Medicare does not cover every health-related expense, so private health insurance may still be useful depending on your circumstances.
If your spouse or children were included in your migration plans, check their individual eligibility and enrolment requirements rather than assuming that their records will be updated automatically.
Centrelink and Other Benefits
Some permanent residents may qualify for government assistance, family payments, or other support. However, newly arrived residents can face waiting periods and must satisfy the eligibility rules of the specific program.
Before relying on a payment to cover living expenses, check the relevant Services Australia guidance. Eligibility can depend on factors such as residence history, income, assets, family circumstances, and the type of benefit.
It is also sensible to understand Australia's tax system, employment rights, and superannuation arrangements. Your visa grant does not remove your responsibility to comply with tax laws or workplace requirements.
4. Plan Your Travel Carefully
International travel is another area that requires attention after permanent residency approval.
The subclass 186 visa generally includes a travel facility that allows multiple trips to and from Australia for up to five years from the grant date. The exact expiry date should be confirmed through your grant notice or VEVO.
Can You Travel Immediately After Approval?
You can generally travel once your visa has been granted and the relevant travel arrangements are in place. Before booking flights, confirm that your visa details are correct and linked to the passport you intend to use.
If you received the visa outside Australia, check the entry arrangements and any relevant deadlines associated with beginning your nominated employment.
If you are already in Australia, ensure your travel plans will not interfere with important work commitments or other arrangements you need to complete after approval.
What Happens When the Five-Year Travel Facility Expires?
Your permanent residency and your right to return from overseas are not exactly the same thing.
A permanent visa allows you to remain in Australia indefinitely, provided it remains valid. However, the travel facility attached to the visa generally expires after five years. If you are in Australia and do not travel overseas, you do not normally need a Resident Return visa simply because that travel facility has expired.
If you leave Australia after your travel facility expires, you generally need to obtain a Resident Return visa, if eligible, before returning as a permanent resident.
This distinction is particularly important if you regularly visit family overseas or expect to spend extended periods outside Australia.
5. Bring Your Family and Organise Their Arrangements
For many successful applicants, permanent residency is a family milestone rather than an individual achievement.
If eligible family members were included in the application and granted visas, they may also receive permanent residency rights under their respective grants.
Check Each Family Member's Visa
Review the grant notices and travel details for your spouse, partner, and dependent children. Confirm that names, passport information, and other personal details are accurate.
If a family member was not included in the application, do not assume that they automatically receive permanent residency when your visa is granted. Their immigration options will depend on their relationship to you, their circumstances, and the applicable visa requirements.
Where appropriate, obtain professional advice about bringing eligible relatives to Australia.
Schooling and Family Life
Permanent residency can make it easier to plan long-term family arrangements, including housing, education, and employment.
Children may be able to enrol in Australian schools, although state and territory rules, enrolment zones, fees, and documentation requirements can differ. University fees and access to financial assistance also depend on the relevant institution and program.
Research the rules in your intended state or territory before making major financial commitments. A permanent visa is an important foundation, but it does not make every service free or every educational benefit automatic.
6. Your Work, Study, and Residency Rights
A major advantage of permanent residency is the freedom to make longer-term decisions about your career and education.
Can You Change Jobs or Start a Business?
Permanent residents generally have the right to work in Australia without the same employer-specific work restrictions that apply to many temporary visa holders. They may also pursue different employment opportunities or establish a business, subject to Australian laws and any professional licensing requirements.
However, the circumstances of your original nomination still deserve consideration. If you are planning to leave your sponsoring employer shortly after approval, seek advice about your particular situation before taking action.
For those who want to improve their career prospects, permanent residency may make it easier to apply for professional positions, undertake further training, and plan a long-term career path.
Can You Study in Australia?
Yes. Australian permanent residents can generally study in Australia. However, course fees, eligibility for government assistance, and access to student loans vary according to the institution and program.
Compare tuition fees and admission requirements before enrolling. Some courses may offer domestic fee arrangements to eligible permanent residents, while others have additional eligibility criteria.
7. Prepare for Australian Citizenship
Permanent residency can be an important step toward Australian citizenship, but citizenship is a separate legal status with its own eligibility requirements.
When Can You Apply?
Many applicants may become eligible to apply for citizenship after meeting the general residence requirements. These usually include four years of lawful residence in Australia immediately before applying, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident, subject to limits on time spent outside Australia and other requirements.
You must also satisfy the applicable character and other citizenship requirements. Check the Department of Home Affairs' current citizenship guidance before calculating your eligibility date.
Your time in Australia before permanent residency may count toward the general residence requirement if it meets the relevant rules. Therefore, you should not automatically assume that the citizenship clock begins only on the day your permanent visa is granted.
What Are the Benefits of Citizenship?
Australian citizens can obtain an Australian passport, vote in federal elections, and enjoy the rights associated with citizenship. Permanent residents generally cannot obtain an Australian passport and have different rules governing their return to Australia after overseas travel.
Citizenship is not compulsory. Many people remain permanent residents for years, provided they understand their travel arrangements and continue complying with Australian law.
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid After Visa Approval
Although receiving permanent residency is exciting, several mistakes can create unnecessary difficulties.
-
Ignoring the grant notice: Check your visa details, relevant dates, and travel facility as soon as possible.
-
Leaving the sponsoring employer without advice: Understand the circumstances of your nomination and your employment commitments before making a major change.
-
Forgetting Medicare enrolment: Check your eligibility and submit the necessary documents if you have not already enrolled.
-
Travelling without checking your passport: Make sure your passport is valid and your visa details are linked correctly.
-
Assuming every government benefit is immediately available: Confirm eligibility and waiting periods directly with the responsible agency.
-
Confusing permanent residency with citizenship: Permanent residents have substantial rights, but some rights remain exclusive to Australian citizens.
-
Failing to update personal information: Notify the relevant authorities when required if your passport or contact details change.
Taking these precautions early can make the transition to permanent residency much smoother.
9. A Practical Checklist After Your Visa Is Granted
Use this checklist to organise your next steps.
Your post-grant checklist
0 of 8
Conclusion
Receiving a subclass 186 visa is a significant achievement that can provide a stable foundation for building a life in Australia. It generally allows you to live in the country indefinitely, work and study, enrol in Medicare if eligible, and plan for your family's future.
However, the benefits of permanent residency come with practical responsibilities. You should understand the expectations associated with your sponsoring employer, check your visa and passport details, organise healthcare enrolment, and keep track of your international travel rights.
It is equally important to recognise that permanent residency is not the same as Australian citizenship. You may become eligible for citizenship after satisfying the relevant residence and other requirements, but you must submit a separate application and meet the applicable criteria.
The best approach after approval is to take things step by step. Keep your documents organised, check official government information, and seek qualified immigration advice whenever your employment or personal circumstances raise questions. With careful planning, your new status can help you pursue career opportunities, support your family, and build a secure long-term future in Australia.
