Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)
The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) was introduced on 16 November 2022.
The Subclass 191 is a permanent visa for applicants currently holding a regional provisional visa, such as:
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491); and
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494).
What is the 191 Visa?
The Subclass 191 visa is a permanent skilled visa.
191 visa holders can live, work and study in Australia, and may sponsor family members to join them (family members included in the applicants’ application do not need an eligible visa).
Applicants can also take advantage of Medicare, Australia’s public health care system, and apply for Australian citizenship once eligible.
Visa holders can travel to and from Australia as many times as they like for 5 years. They will need to apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) to continue travelling afterwards.
Subclass 191 Visa Applications
Applications for the Subclass 191 Visa opened on 16 November 2022.
Applications may be lodged in or outside Australia; however, applicants may only apply if they have fulfilled the conditions of their current provisional visa.
For example, applicants must have lived and worked in a designated regional area for no less than 3 years.
Regional areas include anywhere in Australia except for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
How to apply for the 191 Visa
In addition to the above provisional visa requirements, applicants must also satisfy the following:
- Hold an eligible provisional visa;
- Satisfy the income requirement;
- Meet the health requirements;
- Meet the character requirements;
- Sign the Australian values statement;
- Have no debt to the Australian government; and
- Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does the 191 Visa lead to PR?
The Subclass 191 Visa is a permanent visa and has a pathway to Australian Citizenship, once eligible.
What are the 191 Visa income requirements?
There is no minimum income requirement for the Subclass 191.
Can I include family members in my 191 Visa application?
Applicants may include their spouse or de facto partner and children in their application.
Applicants may also add eligible family members anytime after lodging their applications, but before a decision is made by the Department. Generally, family members do not need an eligible visa.
Family members are also subject to the health and character requirements.
Which provisional visas lead to the Subclass 191 Visa?
Existing regional provisional visa holders may apply for the Subclass 191 Visa, including:
Where can I live on the Subclass 191 Visa?
Subclass 191 Visa holders will not be restricted to regional areas of Australia.
If an applicant is granted a 191 Visa, they are free to live anywhere in Australia.
What are the 191 Visa processing times?
As of March 2024, the processing time for the majority of Subclass 191 applications typically ranges from 2 to 3 months.
However, the Department has announced that all applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
A high-quality application will positively influence an application’s processing time.
Does the Subclass 191 Visa require an English test?
Subclass 191 Visa applicants do not need to meet English language skill requirements.
However, family members applying as secondary applicants will need to have functional English language skills.
Contact Us
For expert advice on applying for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) through a professional consultation, contact Bambrick Legal today:
- Schedule a professional consultation with our specialists here
- Call us on 08 8362 5269
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Please note: Our migration and citizenship consultations are provided on a fee basis.
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