191 Visa Salary Requirements

This has been the big question for over six months.

I have made videos on the topic. I have contacted DHA and followed up with the peak professional body the Migration Institute of Australia.

More recently with the TSMIT announced as going up, the questions from 491 visa holders have been frequent and there have been lots of videos.

So now the Department of Home Affairs has clarified, by a post on their website on 21st June 2023.

It says:

"There is no minimum income requirement for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).

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 ensure their application provides these three notices."

So this is a great relief for 491 holders.

It also will upset many, who have been struggling and doing multiple jobs to try and meet what they thought was the requirement of $53,900.

To repeat, there is currently no income requirement for the 191 visa.

We will keep you posted if the Department decides to put an income requirement in place in the future.

Who needs this visa?

This visa is available to holders of a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa or  Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) subclass 494 visa and allows them to live in Australia permanently. The visa allows you toi live, work and study anywhere in Australia, sponsor eligible relatives for permanet residnecy, and apply for Australian citizinship once eligible.

What are the application requirements?

• hold an eligible visa (the subclass 491 or 494) and have complied with the conditions of that visa (this includes the main applicant and any dependents)

• both primary and secondary applicants have lived for at least 3 years in a location defined as regional Australia (anywhere in Australia except Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane) 

• the primary applicant has worked in a location defined as regional Australia for at least three years and has earned a taxable income of $53,900 or more per annum for at least three years

What is the application process?

Details are yet to be published, but the application process is expected to be similar to that for the Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887).

How can Work Visa Lawyers help?

Work Visa Lawyers is highly experienced in all parts of the Employer Sponsored visa application process.

Our team of experienced Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents look forward to assisting you with your Australian visa or appeal.

Based in Adelaide South Australia, we provide Australian Immigration advice to people and businesses from all over the world.