Permanent residency is awarded to you as soon as your original visa is approved (subclass 189, 190, and other permanent visas), starting on the date specified in your visa grant letter. Your visa issuance letter will also mention that you have been given a "travel authority," valid for five years. Having permanent residency (PR) entitles you to stay in Australia eternally, but if you ever wish to leave the country and come back, you must still have your travel authorization.[...]