Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 191)
Understanding the 191 Visa: A Comprehensive Guide
Subclass 191 Visa: Transitioning from Temporary to Permanent Residency
Skilled regional visa subclass 191 allows people who have lived and worked in designated regional areas of Australia on an eligible visa, live and work in Australia permanently. Applicants must have complied with the conditions of their eligible visa.
Visa Eligibility for Subclass 191 Visa
- You have a held eligible a visa for 3 years subclass 491 or subclass 494;
- You must provide notices of assessment issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for three income years out of the five years of your eligible visa.
- You have lived in a regional area to meet all visa requirements;
- Meet all health and character requirement;
Achieve Permanent Residency with the 191 Visa
With this 191 visa Australia you can
Live in Australia permanently
Working and studying in Australia
Enrolment in Australia’s Medicare public health plan
Support a family member to come to Australia
Traveling to Australia and back in 5 years
If Eligible to apply for an Australian citizenship
Make Australia your home with the 191 Visa
Changes in Skilled Migration
Effective November 16, 2019, significant alterations were made to the skilled migration points test. These modifications primarily impacted subclass 491 applicants and other skilled migration visa applicants whose assessments were pending at that time. However, these changes were advantageous to applicants as they offered additional points. Here are the updated points details:
- 15 points for nomination by a State or Territory government agency or sponsorship by a family member residing in regional Australia, to live and work in regional Australia.
- 10 points for a skilled spouse or de facto partner. (with Skills assessment and Competent English)
- 5 points for a spouse or de facto partner with 'competent English'.
- 10 points for specific Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) qualifications.
- 10 points for applicants without a spouse or de facto partner.
Furthermore, there have been adjustments to the ranking order for invitations:
- First priority is given to primary applicants with a skilled spouse or de facto partner.
- Equal priority is given to primary applicants without a spouse or de facto partner.
- Second priority is assigned to primary applicants with a spouse or de facto partner who can demonstrate competent English but lacks the skills for skilled partner points (age and skills).
- Third priority is for primary applicants with a partner who is ineligible for either competent English or Skilled partner points. These applicants will be ranked lower than all other cohorts if all other points claims are equal.
FAQs
What are the main benefits of the subclass 191 Visa?
The main benefits of a 191 visa are permanent residency, access to Medicare, the ability to sponsor relatives for permanent residence, and eligibility for Australian citizenship.
What are the income requirements for the 191 Visa?
Applicants must have a taxable income at or above a specific point for at least three years while holding an eligible visa.
What happens if you don’t meet the income requirements for one of the three years?
If you do not meet the requirements for any of the years, you may not be eligible for the 191 Visa. Because the income requirement must be met for each of the three years.
Is the 191 Visa affected by changes in Australian immigration policy?
Visa criteria and processing can be affected by policy changes, so it’s essential to stay updated with official announcements from the Department of Home Affairs.
