Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) Overview
The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) offers a pathway to permanent residency (PR) for individuals who have lived and worked in designated regional areas of Australia. There are 2 streams within the Subclass 191 visa:
What are the Eligibility Criteria for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)?
Regional Provisional stream
You must have held an eligible visa, such as the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) or the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 494), for at least 3 years.
There is no specific residency requirement that mandates you to reside in Australia for a particular duration before applying. Instead, you must have complied with the conditions of Subclasses 491 and 494 visas.
Meet the standard health and character requirements.
Hong Kong stream
You must have held an eligible visa, which is the Temporary Work (Skilled) Visa (Subclass 457), the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) (Subclass 482) Visa or the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485), for at least 3 years.
If your eligible visa was granted before 9 July 2020, your visa must not expire after 8 July 2025.
If your eligible visa was granted on or after 9 July 2020, your visa must be valid for 5 years.
You must hold a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport.
You must have resided in a designated regional area of Australia for at least 3 years for work or study before applying for the Subclass 191 visa.
You must have complied with the current visa subclass conditions.
Have functional English.
Meet the standard health and character requirements.
What can I do with a Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)?
You can add your Members of Family Unit (MoFU) to this Subclass 191 visa application.
Once this visa is granted, you will receive a permanent resident (PR) status, which allows you to live and work anywhere in Australia permanently.
As a PR, you can access Medicare.
Once you receive your PR status, it can be used as a pathway to Australian citizenship.
How much is the Subclass 191 Visa Application Charge (VAC)?
As of today, the visa application charge (VAC) for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) is:
Regional Provisional stream
The main applicant is AUD 490.
Each additional applicant over 18 years old is AUD 245.
An additional applicant under 18 years old is AUD 125 each.
Hong Kong stream
The main applicant is AUD 4,765.
Each applicant over 18 years old is AUD 2,380.
An extra charge may be incurred if the secondary applicant is over 18 years old at the time of application and has less than functional English. This will be a second instalment charge of AUD 4,885 for each applicant. The Department will reach out to you if you are required to make this extra payment.
Applicant under 18 years old is AUD 1,195 each.
How Long is the Processing Time for Subclass 191?
The current processing time for the Subclass 191 visa is 12 months for 90% of the visa applications. Although processing times may vary, be sure to check the Department’s website for the latest updates on processing times.
What if I have a Newborn Child in Australia?
Suppose you have a newborn child in Australia while holding your current Subclass 491 or Subclass 494 visas. In that case, you will have to notify the Department about your child before you lodge this application. Find out what to do if your child is born in Australia and what the child may be eligible for.
How Can Agape Henry Crux Help
If you are uncertain about the Subclass 191 visa eligibility, speak with an immigration lawyer to assess your situation and to give you tailored advice that is best suited for your circumstances. Seek professional advice from our experienced immigration lawyers at Agape Henry Crux. Our team works with our Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law, who specialise in handling highly complex matters. You can schedule an appointment with one of our lawyers or agents to seek professional advice by calling 02-8310 5230 or emailing us at info@ahclawyers.com.
We speak fluent English, Mandarin and Cantonese. We can also help you arrange an interpreter if this isn't your language.
This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances, please contact our office.
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