Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)

191.1—Interpretation

191.111

In this Part: income year has the meaning given by the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. relevant income year: an income year is a relevant income year for an applicant if:

(a) the income year ended before the date of application; and

(b) the applicant held a regional provisional visa for all or part of the income year.

taxable income has the meaning given by the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. Note: For regional provisional visa, see regulation 1.03.

191.2—Primary criteria

Note 1: The primary criteria for the grant of a Subclass 191 visa include criteria set out in streams. For a Subclass 191 visa in the Regional Provisional Visas stream, the criteria in Subdivisions 191.21 and 191.22 are the primary criteria. For a Subclass 191 visa in the Hong Kong (Regional) stream, the criteria in Subdivisions 191.21 and 191.23 are the primary criteria. The primary criteria must be satisfied by at least one member of a family unit. The other members of the family unit who are applicants for a Subclass 191 visa need satisfy only the secondary criteria in Division 191.3. Note 2: All criteria must be satisfied at the time a decision is made on the application.

191.21—Common criteria

Note: These criteria are for all applicants seeking to satisfy the primary criteria for a Subclass 191 visa.

191.211

(1) The applicant (the primary applicant) satisfies public interest criteria 4001, 4002, 4003, 4003B, 4004, 4007, 4010, 4020 and 4021.

(2) If the primary applicant has turned 16 at the time of application, the primary applicant satisfies public interest criterion 4019.

(3) Each person who is covered by subclause (4), (5) or (6) satisfies public interest criteria 4001, 4002, 4003, 4003B, 4004, 4007, 4010, 4020 and 4021.

(4) This subclause covers a person who is a member of the family unit of the primary applicant who is also an applicant for a Subclass 191 visa.

(5) This subclause covers a person (the relevant person) if:

(a) the relevant person was, at the time of the primary applicant’s application, a member of the family unit of the primary applicant; and

(b) the relevant person is an applicant for a Subclass 191 visa; and

(c) the Minister is satisfied that:

(i) the relevant person; or

(ii) a member of the family unit of the relevant person who has made a combined application with the relevant person or with the primary applicant; or

(iii) a dependent child of the relevant person or of the primary applicant;

has experienced family violence committed by the primary applicant. Note: For special provisions relating to family violence, see Division 1.5.

(6) This subclause covers a person if:

(a) the person is an applicant for a Subclass 191 visa; and

(b) the person is a member of the family unit of a person covered by subclause (5).

(7) Each person:

(a) who either:

(i) is a member of the family unit of the primary applicant and also an applicant for a Subclass 191 visa; or

(ii) is covered by subclause (5) or (6); and

(b) who had turned 16 at the time of the primary applicant’s application;

satisfies public interest criterion 4019.

(8) If a person:

(a) either:

(i) is a member of the family unit of the primary applicant and also an applicant for a Subclass 191 visa; or

(ii) is covered by subclause (5) or (6); and

(b) has not turned 18;

public interest criteria 4015 and 4016 are satisfied in relation to the person.

(9) Each person:

(a) who is a member of the family unit of the primary applicant; and

(b) who is not an applicant for a Subclass 191 visa;

satisfies public interest criteria 4001, 4002, 4003, 4003B and 4004, and satisfies public interest criterion 4007 unless it would be unreasonable to require the person to undergo assessment in relation to that criterion.

(10) Each person:

(a) who was, at the time of the primary applicant’s application, a member of the family unit of the primary applicant but is no longer a member of the family unit of the primary applicant; and

(b) who is a member of the family unit of a person who is covered by subclause (5); and

(c) who is not an applicant for a Subclass 191 visa;

satisfies public interest criteria 4001, 4002, 4003, 4003B and 4004, and satisfies public interest criterion 4007 unless it would be unreasonable to require the person to undergo assessment in relation to that criterion.

191.212

(1) The applicant satisfies special return criteria 5001, 5002 and 5010.

(2) Each person covered by subclause 191.211(4), (5) or (6) satisfies special return criteria 5001, 5002 and 5010.

191.22—Criteria for Regional Provisional Visas stream

Note: These criteria are only for applicants seeking to satisfy the primary criteria for a Subclass 191 visa in the Regional Provisional Visas stream.

191.221

(1) The applicant complied substantially with the conditions (other than condition 8579) to which the following visas were subject:

(a) the regional provisional visa held by the applicant at the time of application;

(b) any subsequent bridging visa held by the applicant.

(2) The applicant complied with condition 8579 to which the regional provisional visa held by the applicant at the time of application was subject unless the applicant is included in a class of persons specified in an instrument under subclause (3).

(3) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, specify a class of persons for the purposes of subclause (2).

191.222

(1) The applicant has provided copies of notices of assessment, and any notices of amended assessments, given to the applicant under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 in relation to 3 relevant income years for the applicant.

(2) The applicant’s taxable income for each of those relevant income years is at least equal to the amount specified in an instrument under subclause (3) in relation to the applicant.

(3) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, specify an amount for the purposes of subclause (2) in relation to all applicants or different classes of applicants.

(4) Subclause (1) is satisfied in relation to a copy of a notice even if the copy does not include the applicant’s tax file number within the meaning of Part VA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936.

191.23—Criteria for Hong Kong (Regional) stream

Note: These criteria are only for applicants seeking to satisfy the primary criteria for a Subclass 191 visa in the Hong Kong (Regional) stream.

191.231

(1) The applicant complied substantially with the conditions to which the following visas were subject:

(a) the Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa, Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa, Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa or Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa held by the applicant at the time of application;

(b) any subsequent bridging visa held by the applicant.

(2) During the 3 years ending immediately before the date of application, the applicant did not live, work or study in a part of Australia that was not a designated regional area unless the applicant is included in a class of persons specified in an instrument under subclause (3).

(3) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, specify a class of persons for the purposes of subclause (2).

191.232

The applicant had been usually resident in Australia for a continuous period of at least 3 years immediately before the date of the application.

191.3—Secondary criteria

Note: These criteria are for applicants seeking to satisfy the secondary criteria. All criteria must be satisfied at the time a decision is made on the application.

191.311

(1) The applicant meets the requirements of subclause (2), (3), (4) or (5).

(2) The applicant:

(a) is a member of the family unit of a person who holds a Subclass 191 visa granted on the basis of satisfying the primary criteria for the grant of the visa; and

(b) made a combined application with that person.

(3) The applicant meets the requirements of this subclause if:

(a) at the time of the application, the applicant was the spouse or de facto partner of a person (the primary applicant) seeking to satisfy

the primary criteria for the grant of a Subclass 191 visa, and the primary applicant has since been granted that visa; and

(b) the relationship between the primary applicant and the applicant has ceased; and

(c) one or more of the following:

(i) the applicant;

(ii) a member of the family unit of the applicant who has made a combined application with the applicant or with the primary applicant;

(iii) a dependent child of the applicant or of the primary applicant; has experienced family violence committed by the primary applicant; and

(d) the applicant:

(i) was in Australia at the time the applicant’s visa application was made; or

(ii) entered Australia after the applicant’s visa application was made.

(4) The applicant meets the requirements of this subclause if:

(a) at the time of the application, the applicant was the spouse or de facto partner of a person (the primary applicant) seeking to satisfy the primary criteria for the grant of a Subclass 191 visa; and

(b) the relationship between the primary applicant and the applicant has ceased; and

(c) one or more of the following:

(i) the applicant;

(ii) a member of the family unit of the applicant who has made a combined application with the applicant or with the primary applicant;

(iii) a dependent child of the applicant or of the primary applicant; has experienced family violence committed by the primary applicant; and

(d) the applicant:

(i) was in Australia at the time the applicant’s visa application was made; or

(ii) entered Australia after the applicant’s visa application was made; and

(e) the Minister has decided to refuse to grant the primary applicant the visa for reasons including that the primary applicant had engaged in conduct involving family violence (whether or not the family violence was against a person mentioned in paragraph (c)).

(5) The applicant meets the requirements of this subclause if:

(a) the applicant is a member of the family unit of a person (the secondary applicant) who meets the requirements of subclause (3) or (4); and

(b) the applicant has made a combined application with either the secondary applicant or the primary applicant mentioned in subclause (3) or (4) (whichever applies to the secondary applicant); and

(c) a Subclass 191 visa has since been granted to the secondary applicant. Note: For special provisions relating to family violence, see Division 1.5.

191.312

(1) The applicant satisfies public interest criteria 4001, 4002, 4003, 4003B, 4004, 4007, 4010, 4020 and 4021.

(2) If the applicant had turned 16 at the time of application, the applicant satisfies public interest criterion 4019.

(3) If the applicant has not turned 18, the applicant satisfies public interest criteria 4017 and 4018.

191.313

The applicant satisfies special return criteria 5001, 5002 and 5010.

191.314

(1) The applicant complied substantially with the conditions (other than condition 8579) to which the following visas were subject:

(a) any substantive visa held by the applicant at the time of application;

(b) any subsequent bridging visa held by the applicant.

(2) If the applicant held a regional provisional visa at the time of application, the applicant complied with condition 8579 to which that visa was subject unless the applicant is included in a class of persons specified in an instrument under subclause (3).

(3) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, specify a class of persons for the purposes of subclause (2).

191.315

(1) This clause applies if the applicant (the secondary applicant) meets the requirements of subclause 191.311(4).

(2) Each member of the family unit of the secondary applicant who is an applicant for a Subclass 191 visa satisfies:

(a) public interest criteria 4001, 4002, 4003, 4003B, 4004, 4007, 4010, 4020 and 4021; and

(b) special return criteria 5001, 5002 and 5010.

(3) Each member of the family unit of the secondary applicant who is an applicant for a Subclass 191 visa and who has turned 16 at the time of application satisfies public interest criterion 4019.

(4) Public interest criteria 4015 and 4016 are satisfied in relation to each member of the family unit of the secondary applicant who is an applicant for a Subclass 191 visa and who has not turned 18 at the time of application.

(5) Each member of the family unit of the secondary applicant who is not an applicant for a Subclass 191 visa:

(a) satisfies public interest criteria 4001, 4002, 4003, 4003B and 4004; and

(b) satisfies public interest criterion 4007 unless it would be unreasonable to require the member to undergo assessment in relation to that criterion.

191.4—Circumstances applicable to grant

191.411

The applicant may be in or outside Australia when the visa is granted, but not in immigration clearance.

191.5—When visa is in effect

191.511

Permanent visa permitting the holder to travel to and enter Australia for 5 years from the date of grant.