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Hello there,
I’m looking for some clarification regarding the conditions of our recently granted Subclass 491 visa.
My partner is the primary applicant (healthcare professional), and I’m the secondary applicant. We’re currently living in the UK and our 491 visa was granted on 20 December 2025. We made our initial entry into Australia on 24 December and left on 27 December due to existing work commitments and my partner’s ongoing doctoral studies in the UK.
I’d appreciate guidance on the following points:
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Relocating as the secondary applicant: Am I allowed to move to regional Australia in March while the primary applicant remains in the UK until around August/September 2026 to finish their studies?
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Living outside the nominating state: Although we were nominated by NSW, we have close family friends in Victoria near Melbourne. Is it permissible for me to live in regional Victoria (including Melbourne postcodes eg Mernda 3754 - that fall under regional postcodes), or must we remain in NSW until we qualify for the Subclass 191 visa?
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Impact of temporary long distance: Would the temporary long distance mentioned in Question 1 affect our eligibility for the Subclass 191 visa or future citizenship applications?
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Regional residency options: Since urban cities like Canberra and Adelaide are classified as regional, would living in either city for three years meet the residency requirement for the Subclass 191 visa?
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Timing of eligibility for the 191 visa: From what we understand, both applicants must meet the requirement of working for three financial years and lodging tax returns while regional residing in Australia. Given our situation, we may complete the three‑year requirement at different times. Does this mean we can only apply for the Subclass 191 visa once both of us have met the criteria, since the 491 was granted as a joint application?
Looking forward to some insightful responses soon. Thank you
