Australia has introduced a new permanent visa to attract more skilled workers and professionals to regional areas, namely Subclasses 494, 491, and 191.

Subclass 494 and Subclass 491 are two new regional visas that came into effect in November this year, replacing and substituting the recently closed permanent Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa and Subclass 489 (Skilled Regional (Provisional)) visa.

The Subclass 494 visa is designed to assist employers and businesses in regional Australia by enabling them to hire skilled and talented foreign workers through the Employer-Sponsored program and labor agreements.

The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa is a points-based visa for applicants sponsored by a specific state or territory government organization or by a family member residing in a designated regional area.

The Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)) visa is set to begin on November 16, 2022. Only holders of the new Subclasses 491 and 494 can apply for this visa. The Honorable Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs, Mr. David Coleman, stated, "The new Subclass 191 visa mirrors many existing general requirements for permanent residency, including security, health, and character standards."

According to the Migration Amendment (New Skilled and Talented Regional Visas) Regulations 2019, the eligibility criteria for the Subclass 191 visa include the following:

• The applicant must hold a regional temporary visa at the time of application and must have held that visa for at least three years.
• The applicant must have earned a minimum salary for at least three years while holding the regional temporary visa.
• The applicant must have complied with the conditions of the regional temporary visa.

The delayed commencement of the Subclass 191 visa is due to the requirement that applicants must have held a regional temporary visa for three years before applying for the Subclass 191 visa, meaning applications will not be assessed until after November 16, 2022.