Permanent Residency • Display Order #4

Subclass 191: Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)

The permanent residency destination for regional provisional visa holders (491 & 494) — with no points test, no upper age limit, and no minimum income threshold.

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Eligibility

Held an eligible regional provisional visa (such as a 491 or 494) for at least 3 years while complying with regional work and residence conditions.

Processing Time

Typically 6 to 9 months, depending on application completeness and department processing priorities.

Government Fee

From AUD $630 for the main applicant (standard regional transition stream).

Stay Duration

Permanent residency with complete freedom to live, work, and study anywhere in Australia.

Overview

The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Subclass 191) is the ultimate milestone for regional provisional visa holders.

It rewards migrants who have dedicated at least three years to living and working in designated regional areas by granting them full Australian permanent residency. Once granted, the 191 visa removes all previous regional limitations. Visa holders enjoy unrestricted work and study entitlements, the freedom to live anywhere across Australia, and comprehensive access to Medicare.

Key Features

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Full Permanent Residency

Live, work, and study anywhere in Australia without being restricted to regional boundaries.

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No Points Test or Age Limit

You do not need to meet a points threshold or an upper age limit for this permanent transition pathway.

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No Minimum Income Threshold

There is no statutory minimum income required; you simply provide official ATO tax notices for three income years.

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Skills & English Exemption

Exempt from repeating skills assessments or taking another English language test.

Key Eligibility Requirements

Requirement 1

Provisional Visa Holding Period (3 Years)

  • You must hold a qualifying regional provisional visa (Subclass 491 or 494).
  • You must have held this eligible visa for a continuous period of at least three full years immediately prior to lodging your 191 application.
Requirement 2

Regional Compliance

  • You and all secondary family members must have substantially complied with the conditions of your provisional visa.
  • This primarily requires proving that you lived, worked, and studied exclusively in designated regional locations throughout those 3 years.
Requirement 3

ATO Notices of Assessment (3 Income Years)

  • You must supply official Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Notices of Assessment for three separate income years completed while holding your provisional visa.
  • Important: There is no mandated minimum taxable income dollar threshold that you must meet.
Requirement 4

English and Skills Status Exemptions

  • Because your occupational skills and English language proficiency were already verified when you secured your provisional visa, you are exempt from repeating these assessments for the 191 application.

Health, Character and Background Checks

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Health Clearances

All applicants must satisfy statutory health criteria; updated immigration medical exams may be requested if past records expired.

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Police Clearances

Updated police certificates from Australia and any country of 12+ months residence over the past 10 years are required for all members aged 16+.

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Integrity & Debts

Zero breaches of past visa conditions, clear evidence of regional residence, and clearance of all Commonwealth debts.

Application Process

1

Live and work regionally for 3 full years

Maintain strict compliance with regional living and working conditions on your 491 or 494 visa.

2

Lodge tax returns with the ATO

File your annual income tax returns to generate your three required official Notices of Assessment.

3

Gather comprehensive compliance evidence

Collect residential leases, utility bills, local bank statements, and payslips showing regional addresses.

4

Update documentation

Prepare refreshed identity documents and family relationship records for all applicants.

5

Lodge via ImmiAccount

Submit your online 191 application through the official portal and pay the application charge.

6

Provide health and character clearances

Complete any requested health checks, biometrics, or updated police certificates.

7

Visa grant & permanent freedom

Receive your permanent residence visa and enjoy unrestricted living anywhere in Australia.

Regional Evidence Audit

Transitioning to permanent residency requires bulletproof evidence of your regional compliance over the last three years. Gaps in address history or missing employment records are where 191 applications face delays or refusals. This is where working with a registered migration agent pays off.

Government Fees (2026 Scheduled Rates)

Applicant Type Fee (AUD)
Main applicant $630
Adult family member (18+) $315
Child family member (under 18) $160

Note: Eligible passport holders from designated Pacific regional nations may be entitled to a concession rate. A separate fee structure (from $6,135) applies to applicants in the Hong Kong (Regional) stream. Always verify your exact costs using the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator.

Travel and Visa Conditions

  • Unrestricted Living: Upon grant, you are no longer bound by regional residence mandates. You and your family can live, work, and study anywhere in Australia without restriction.
  • International Travel Facility: The visa grants an initial 5-year international travel facility. After five years, you will need a Resident Return Visa (RRV) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. There is no minimum taxable income threshold. You only need to provide ATO Notices of Assessment for three income years, but the Department of Home Affairs does not mandate a specific dollar amount you must have earned.
You must hold an eligible regional provisional visa (such as Subclass 491 or 494) for a minimum of three full years before you are legally eligible to lodge your 191 permanent application.
No. You are not required to provide a new skills assessment or undergo a points test. Your occupational skills were already verified during your initial provisional visa application.
Acceptable evidence includes residential tenancy agreements, local council rates, utility bills, regional bank transaction histories, employment contracts, and payslips clearly showing a regional workplace address.
No. Unlike most skilled migration visas, there is no upper age limit for the Subclass 191 permanent pathway, as long as you hold the qualifying regional provisional visa.
You must have substantially complied with your regional living and working conditions (Conditions 8579 / 8580). Serious past breaches of your visa conditions can result in refusal of your permanent visa application.
Yes. The 191 visa grants an initial 5-year international travel facility, allowing you to freely travel in and out of Australia while maintaining your permanent residency.
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Reviewed by: Jesin Joy (MARN: 2619591)

Registered Migration Agent • Last reviewed: 1st October 2026

General information current as at 1st October 2026. Requirements are subject to change — verify your specific documentation with a registered migration agent before lodging.

Ready to secure your permanent residency?

Book a consultation and we'll review your regional compliance evidence, tax documents, and pathway readiness together.