Skilled Regional Permanent Visa (Subclass 191)

In September 2021, the Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 191) had been announced by the Australian government and recently changed the income requirements previously endorsed with this visa. The Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 191) is designed to provide a pathway to permanent residency for individuals who have held a relevant regional provisional visa (such as Subclass 491 or Subclass 494) and have met certain residency and employment requirements in a designated regional area of Australia.

Key points about Subclass 191 visa (based on information available up to September 2021):

1. Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for the Subclass 191 visa, applicants generally need to have held a relevant regional provisional visa (such as Subclass 491 or Subclass 494) and have complied with the conditions of that visa, including meeting specific residency and employment requirements in a designated regional area.

2. Residency and Work Requirements: Applicants are typically required to have lived and worked in a designated regional area of Australia for a specific period while holding the provisional visa. The specific requirements may vary based on the visa subclass.

3. Permanent Residency: The Subclass 191 visa provides a direct pathway to permanent residency for individuals who meet the eligibility criteria. Once granted, it allows holders and their eligible family members to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely.

4. Health and Character Requirements: Applicants and their family members must meet certain health and character requirements as part of the visa application process.

5. Timing: The Subclass 191 visa was expected to be introduced after a certain period following the introduction of the relevant regional provisional visas (Subclass 491 and Subclass 494). This timing may vary and should be verified with the Australian government.

6. Income Requirements: Now there is no minimum income requirement for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191). Primary applicants must provide notices of assessment issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for three income years out of the five years of their eligible visa.