The Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)) Visa enables individuals with an eligible visa to establish permanent residency in Australia while being permitted to work and live in the country. There are two streams under Subclass 191: Regional Provisional and Hong Kong Streams. People with eligible visas who have lived and worked in specific regional areas of Australia can now do so permanently through the Regional Provisional Stream.

Benefits of Subclass 191

Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)) Visa offers the following benefits to its holders:

• Stay in Australia permanently
• Work and study in Australia
• Enrol in Medicare
• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
• Sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia
• Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Eligibility

One must meet the given prerequisites to be eligible for Subclass 191:

• Provide assessment notices issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for 3 income years out of 5 of the eligible visa
• Hold one of the following eligible visas for at least 3 years before applying:

○ Subclass 491
○ Subclass 494

• Comply with conditions of the eligible visa
• Meet the health requirements
• Meet the character requirements

Location when Applying

Individuals can be in or outside Australia when they apply for a Subclass 191 Visa.

Including Family

Individuals can include members of the family unit when lodging the application and also after lodgement of the application but before the authorities make the decision.

Typically, family members included in the application do not require an eligible visa previously.

All family members who apply for the visa must meet the health and character requirements; those not accompanying the main applicant to Australia may also need to meet these requirements.

Read more about Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)) Visa.