The Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 191 is a new visa category introduced by the Australian government to encourage skilled workers to live and work in regional areas of Australia. The subclass 191 visa is the permanent residency pathway for subclass 491 and 494 visa holders who meet the eligibility requirements.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for a subclass 191 visa, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a subclass 491 or 494 visa: The subclass 191 visa is only available to those who hold a subclass 491 or 494 visa. Applicants must have held the subclass 491 or 494 visa for at least three years.
- Complied with the conditions of the subclass 491 or 494 visa: Applicants must have complied with all the conditions of their subclass 491 or 494 visa, including the requirements to live, work, and study in a designated regional area of Australia.
- Minimum income requirement: Applicants must meet the minimum income requirement per year for three years while holding a subclass 491 or 494 visa.
- Health and character requirements: All applicants must meet the health and character requirements as set out by the Australian government.
- Language requirement: Applicants must meet the English language requirement of a minimum score of 6.0 in each band of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or equivalent.