How to Get Permanent Residency in 2026: Australia, Canada, and Singapore

Permanent residency (PR) gives you the right to live and work in a country indefinitely without needing to renew a visa. In most countries, permanent residents can access public healthcare, education, and social services. PR is also the most common step before citizenship.

Getting PR is harder than getting a temporary visa. Countries want to see that you will contribute to their economy and society over the long term. This guide covers the main pathways to permanent residency in three of the most popular destinations: Australia, Canada, and Singapore.

How to get PR in Australia

Australia has one of the most structured PR systems in the world. There are several pathways, but the two most common are the points-based independent visa and the employer-sponsored visa.

Points-based: Subclass 189 and 190

The Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa is for workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state, or a family member. You apply based on your skills, and the Australian government selects applicants using a points system.

Points are awarded for:

• Age: Maximum points if you are between 25 and 32 years old
• English ability: Higher scores on IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL earn more points
• Work experience: Both Australian and overseas experience count, with Australian experience worth more
• Education: A bachelor's degree earns points, with bonus points for Australian qualifications or a PhD
• Other factors: Partner skills, community language ability, and professional year completion

You need a minimum of 65 points to be eligible, but in practice, competitive scores are often 80 to 90 points or higher. You submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the SkillSelect system, and the government sends invitations to apply in regular rounds.

The Subclass 190 (State Nominated) visa works similarly, but a state or territory government nominates you. This adds 5 points to your score and may give you access to occupations not available under the 189. The trade-off is that you are generally expected to live and work in the nominating state for at least two years.

Timeline: After receiving an invitation, processing takes approximately 6 to 12 months. The total process from skills assessment to PR grant can take 12 to 24 months.

Cost: The base application fee is approximately 4,640 AUD for the main applicant. Add skills assessment fees (300 to 1,200 AUD), English test fees (around 400 AUD), health checks, and police clearances. Total costs typically range from 6,000 to 10,000 AUD.

Employer-sponsored: Subclass 186

The Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa lets an Australian employer nominate you for permanent residency. There are two main streams:

• Temporary Residence Transition: For workers who have held a Subclass 482 temporary visa with the same employer for at least two or three years (depending on the stream)
• Direct Entry: For workers who have not held a temporary visa but have their skills assessed and meet the requirements

Your occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list, and your employer must be an approved sponsor. Salary must meet market rates.

Timeline: Processing takes approximately 6 to 12 months for the Transition stream and 12 to 18 months for Direct Entry.

Cost: The base application fee is approximately 4,640 AUD, plus employer nomination fees and skills assessment costs.

How to get PR in Canada

Canada is widely considered one of the most accessible countries for permanent residency. The main pathway is Express Entry, which manages three federal immigration programs.

Express Entry and the CRS

Express Entry is not a visa itself. It is a system that ranks candidates using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Your CRS score is based on:

• Age: Maximum points at ages 20 to 29
• Education: Higher degrees earn more points, and Canadian credentials receive a bonus
• Language ability: IELTS or CELPIP scores for English, TEF for French. Bilingual candidates score significantly higher
• Work experience: Both Canadian and foreign work experience count
• Arranged employment: A valid job offer from a Canadian employer adds points
• Provincial nomination: Being nominated by a province adds 600 points, which virtually guarantees an invitation

Express Entry manages three programs:

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): For skilled workers with foreign work experience. Requires at least one year of continuous skilled work experience, language ability, and education.
2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC): For people who already have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada.
3. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): For workers in eligible skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers, and welders.

The government runs regular draws, inviting candidates with the highest CRS scores to apply. In 2025, minimum scores for general draws ranged from approximately 470 to 530 points. Category-based draws for healthcare, STEM, trades, and French-speaking candidates had lower thresholds.

Timeline: After receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you have 60 days to submit your full application. Processing takes approximately 6 months for most applications.

Cost: The government fees are 1,365 CAD per adult (processing fee plus Right of Permanent Residence fee). Add language test fees (approximately 300 CAD), Educational Credential Assessment (approximately 200 to 300 CAD), police checks, and medical exams. Total costs typically range from 2,500 to 4,000 CAD per applicant.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

Each Canadian province and territory runs its own immigration program targeting specific skills and labor market needs. Some PNP streams are aligned with Express Entry (adding 600 CRS points), while others are paper-based with separate processing.

PNPs are particularly useful if you have a connection to a specific province, such as a job offer, previous work or study experience, or family ties. Requirements and processing times vary significantly by province and stream.

How to get PR in Singapore

Singapore does not use a points-based system. PR applications are evaluated holistically, and the government does not publish exact criteria. However, certain factors are known to be important.

Employment Pass to PR

The most common pathway to Singapore PR is through an Employment Pass (EP). The EP is a work visa for foreign professionals earning at least 5,000 SGD per month (higher for older or more experienced workers). After working in Singapore on an EP for at least six months, you can apply for PR.

Factors that strengthen your PR application include:

• Income level: Higher salaries improve your chances significantly
• Time spent in Singapore: Longer residence demonstrates commitment
• Industry: Workers in sectors that Singapore prioritizes (technology, finance, biomedical sciences) may have an advantage
• Age and family: Younger applicants with families (especially Singaporean spouses or children) tend to have higher approval rates
• Tax contributions: A consistent track record of tax payments helps

The PR application is submitted through the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) e-PR system. There is no interview for most applicants.

Timeline: Processing takes approximately 4 to 6 months. Some applications take up to 12 months.

Cost: The application fee is 100 SGD. If approved, the entry permit fee is 50 SGD per person. The main cost is the Re-Entry Permit (REP), which is 50 SGD and must be renewed every five years. Compared to Australia and Canada, Singapore's PR application costs are minimal.

S Pass to PR

Workers on an S Pass (for mid-skilled workers earning at least 3,150 SGD per month) can also apply for PR, but approval rates are generally lower than for EP holders. The same factors apply: income, time in Singapore, industry, and personal circumstances.

Family ties

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of Singapore citizens or PR holders can apply for PR under the family scheme. Approval rates for spouses of citizens are generally higher than for employment-based applicants.

Choosing the right PR pathway

The best pathway depends on your profile. If you are young, highly educated, and have strong English or French skills, Canada's Express Entry system may offer the most predictable path. If you have a specialized occupation and are willing to work in regional areas, Australia offers multiple options. If you are already working in Singapore on a high salary, applying for PR after building a track record is straightforward.

Rather than researching each country separately, you can use Passpoort to see which PR pathways match your profile across all three countries and more. Create a free Passpoort profile to compare your permanent residency options based on your actual qualifications, work experience, and personal situation.