Skilled Regional 191 Visa

The Subclass 191 visa, which is also known as the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, is a pathway to permanent residency for skilled migrants who've lived and worked in designated regional areas of Australia on a qualifying provisional visa. It grants holders the right to live and work in Australia indefinitely.

Purpose and Background

Subclass 191 visa replaces earlier regional visas and aims to reward individuals who commit to regional living through provisional visas such as Subclass 491 and Subclass 494.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have held a Subclass 491 or Subclass 494 visa for at least three years while:

• Living and working in designated regional areas;

• Complying with all the conditions attached to those visas.

• Comply with income and reporting requirements:

• No explicit minimum income threshold;

• Applicants must demonstrate economic activity via Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Notices of Assessment for at least three years.

• Meet health and character requirements. Standard checks for Australian visa applicants.

• Be in Australia when applying. Some sources indicate that presence in Australia is mandatory at the time of filing.

Benefits of the Subclass 191 Visa

• Permanent residency: Live, work, and study anywhere in Australia permanently.

• Access to Medicare and other social services.

• Easy travel: Multiple entries to and from Australia for five years; after which a Resident Return Visa is required for continued travel.

• Family sponsorship: Opportunity to sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residency.

• Pathway to citizenship: After fulfilling residency requirements, holders may be eligible for Australian citizenship.

Step-by-Step Application Process

• Confirm eligibility: Must have held the Subclass 491 or 494 visa for at least three years in a regional area and met income documentation requirements.

• Gather documentation such as:

• ATO Notices of Assessment for each of the three years.

• Proof of residency and employment in regional Australia (e.g., payslips, contracts).

• Health and character check documents.

• Identity documents (e.g., passport).

• Apply online via ImmiAccount. Ensure your application is complete to avoid processing delays.

• Pay the visa fee. Note: amounts vary and may change, will suggest checking the Department of Home Affairs site or consult a migration agent for current rates.

• Processing time: Varies widely from a few months up to over a year.

• 50% of applications processed within 49 days;

• 90% within 86 days.

  
  

Important Notes & Common Pitfalls

• Regional commitment: Applicants must strictly adhere to visa conditions (e.g., living and working in designated areas) throughout the provisional visa period.

• No minimum income but documentation is key: Skipping or misplacing ATO records can jeopardize your application.

• Stay qualified: Dropout from regional compliance can disqualify you.

• Be present in Australia when applying (as indicated by some sources).

The Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa offers a rewarding path to permanent residency in Australia, highlighting a strong commitment to national skills distribution and regional development. With benefits extending from Medicare to citizenship, it’s a compelling pathway for regional migrants, but this also demands careful planning and strict compliance. Should you have any further questions or would like to apply for the visa, do not forget to reach out to us!

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