Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) 191 Visa
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The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Subclass 191) permits holders of a provisional GSM (Subclass 491) and SESR (Subclass 494) visa to apply for a permanent visa.
The Visa 191 program encourages applicants to settle in Australia’s regional and low-growth metropolitan areas by requiring them to live, work, or study in a designated regional area while holding a GSM or SESR visa.
Visa 191 converts you from a fixed-term provisional visa to becoming a permanent resident of Australia. It gives you the ability to work or study anywhere in Australia, you’re no longer restricted to regional ‘in-demand’ areas.
Eligibility
Common Criteria for All Streams
- Choose the correct visa stream.
- Meet Public Interest and Special Return criteria.
- Satisfy health and character requirements.
Regional Provisional Visas Stream
- Hold a regional provisional visa for at least 3 years.
- Comply with visa conditions of previous visas.
- Maintain a taxable income above a specific threshold for at least 3 years.
Hong Kong (Regional) Stream
- Hold a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport.
- Hold an eligible Subclass 457, 482, or 485 visa for at least 3 years.
- Comply with visa conditions.
- Not live, work, or study outside designated regional areas in the 3 years before application.
- Be usually resident in Australia for at least 3 years before applying.
FAQs
- The 191 visa is a recently introduced visa that allows temporary skilled visa holders to continue living in Australia as permanent residents.
- It offers a migration pathway for those who meet the eligibility criteria.
- Regional Provisional Visas Stream:
- Hold, and continue to hold, a subclass 491 or 494 visa for at least 3 years before applying.
- Comply with visa conditions while holding the qualifying visa.
- Provide notices of assessment from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for at least 3 income years out of the 5 years holding the qualifying visa.
- Meet health and character requirements.
- Hong Kong (Regional) Stream:
- Hold a Hong Kong passport or a British National (Overseas) passport.
- Be a primary holder of an eligible subclass 457, 482, or 485 visa for at least 3 years before applying.
- Comply with visa conditions while holding the qualifying visa.
- Have worked or studied only in a designated regional area for 3 years before applying.
- Have been usually resident in Australia continuously only in a designated regional area for 3 years before applying.
- There is no age restriction for this visa, but there is an age restriction for some of the qualifying visas.
