Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)
Latest 191 visa news: No Minimum Income Requirement
The Department of Home Affairs has today clarified that there is no minimum income requirement for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191), as there is no legislative instrument in place specifying a minimum income threshold for this visa.
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. Primary applicants who have already lodged should check and ensure their application provides these three notices.
The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa in the Regional Provisional Stream is the pathway to permanent residence for eligible holders of the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) visas.
Whilst this appears to be positive news, please note that legislation is yet to be released therefore this information should be taken as general information only.
The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) allows individuals holding a qualifying visa who have lived for at least 3 years in a designated regional area and who have also earned the specified income amount, to reside permanently in Australia. The visa can include eligible members of your family. You do not need a sponsor or be nominated for this visa.
The announced minimum requirements for this visa are set out below:
Regional Provisional Stream
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)
Skilled Regional Visa Requirements
Visa Applicant – You must:
-
Hold a qualifying visa for at least 3 years prior to the visa application as listed below.
1)Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa; or
2) Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa. -
Have complied with the conditions of the qualifying visa while in Australia (as detailed above), including any family members holding the same qualifying visa as a dependent. -
Have lived in a designated regional area for at least 3 years on a qualifying visa (as detailed above) -
Have earned an Australian taxable income of at least the income threshold specified, for at least three years while holding your qualifying visa -
Have functional English or pay the second visa application charge -
Meet relevant health and character criteria, including any family members holding the same qualifying visa as a dependent
Note : Designated Regional Areas are defined by postcode.
Designated regional areas postcodes.
If you are applying for a Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa, and you are being sponsored by an eligible relative, your sponsor must be usually a resident in one of the following designated areas:
| State or Territory | Category | Postcodes |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Cities and major regional centres | 2259, 2264 to 2308, 2500 to 2526, 2528 to 2535 and 2574 |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | 2250 to 2258, 2260 to 2263, 2311 to 2490, 2527, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2739, 2753 to 2754, 2756 to 2758 and 2773 to 2898 | |
| Victoria | Cities and major regional centers | 3211 to 3232, 3235, 3240, 3328, 3330 to 3333, 3340 and 3342 |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | 3097 to 3099, 3139, 3233 to 3234, 3236 to 3239, 3241 to 3325, 3329, 3334, 3341, 3345 to 3424, 3430 to 3799, 3809 to 3909, 3912 to 3971 and 3978 to 3996 | |
| Queensland | Cities and major regional centres | 4019 to 4022, 4025, 4037, 4074, 4076 to 4078, 4207 to 4275, 4300, 4301, 4303 to 4305, 4500 to 4506, 4508 to 4512, 4514 to 4519, 4521, 4550, 4551, 4553 to 4562, 4564 to 4569, 4571 to 4575 |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | 4124, 4125, 4133, 4183, 4184, 4280 to 4287, 4306 to 4498, 4507, 4552, 4563, 4570, 4580 to 4895 | |
| Western Australia | Cities and major regional centres | 6000 to 6038, 6050 to 6083, 6090 to 6182, 6208 to 6211, 6214 and 6556 to 6558 |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | All postcodes in Western Australia not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above | |
| South Australia | Cities and major regional centres | 5000 to 5171, 5173 to 5174, 5231 to 5235, 5240 to 5252, 5351 and 5950 to 5960 |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | All postcodes in South Australia not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above | |
| Tasmania | Cities and major regional centres | 7000, 7004 to 7026, 7030 to 7109, 7140 to 7151 and 7170 to 7177 |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | All postcodes in Tasmania not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above | |
| Australian Capital Territory | Cities and major regional centres | All postcodes in the Australian Capital Territory |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | None | |
| Northern Territory | Cities and major regional centres | None |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | All postcodes in the Northern Territory | |
| Norfolk Island | Cities and major regional centres | None |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | Regional centres and other regional areas | |
| Other Territories | Cities and major regional centres | None |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | All postcodes in a Territory other than the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory or Norfolk Island |
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) (HONG KONG STREAM)
The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) allows eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders who have demonstrated commitment to Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.
The announced minimum requirements for this visa are set out below:
HONG KONG Stream Requirements
Visa Applicant -You must:
- Hold an eligible visa at the time you make your visa application. You must have held that visa for at least 3 years before that date. Multiple visas, including visas of the same subclass, cannot be combined to meet this requirement.You must have been granted one of the following eligible visas on the basis of meeting the primary criteria:
- Subclass 457
- Subclass 482
- Subclass 485
- Hold a passport from Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) at the time you apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)
- Have lived in a designated regional area for at least 3 years on an eligible visa (as detailed above) immediately before you apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191). Designated Regional Areas are defined by postcode.
- Have undertaken Work or Study 3 years immediately before you apply for a Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191), and this must have been in a designated regional area.
- Have complied with the conditions of your eligible visa while in Australia (as detailed above), including any family members holding the same qualifying visa as a dependent.
- Have functional English or pay the second visa application charge
- Meet relevant health and character criteria, including any family members holding the same qualifying visa as a dependent
Applies to Both Streams of the Skilled Regional 191 Visa:
With this visa you can
-
Stay in Australia permanently -
Work and study in Australia -
Enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare -
Travel to and from Australia for 5 years -
Sponsor your relatives to come to Australia -
If eligible, apply for Australian Citizenship.
Can I include family in the 191 Visa?)
You can include members of the family unit in your application.
You can:
-
Include them when you lodge your visa application. -
Add them after you lodge your application but before the Department of Home Affairs makes a decision on your visa application.
Generally, family members included in your application do not need an eligible visa.
Family members must hold an eligible visa if:
-
They no longer meet the standard definition of member of the family unit, and -
You include them in your application.
Their eligible visa must have been granted on the basis that they were a member of your family unit. This provision applies, for example, if you want to include a child in your application who has turned 23 years of age since getting an eligible visa.
Family members included in your application must meet health and character requirements. Family members not coming to Australia may also need to meet health and character requirements.
To find out whether you qualify for a skilled migration visa, get in touch with our Australian Migration Expert by booking appointment.
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