Australia's regional migration pathway provides a route to permanent residence through a two-stage process: first, obtaining a regional provisional visa (either the subclass 491 or subclass 494), and then — after meeting the regional residence, work, and income requirements — applying for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191). The pathway is designed to direct skilled migrants to regional areas that have identified labour needs, with permanent residence as the eventual outcome for those who genuinely settle and contribute in those regions.

The subclass 191 is the permanent destination for this pathway. It cannot be applied for without first holding a qualifying provisional visa for at least 3 years and meeting the other requirements. For current eligibility details, refer to the DHA subclass 191 page.

• Migration Regulations 1994 — Subclass 191 criteria — the specific criteria for the permanent regional visa
• DHA: Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/subclass-191
• DHA: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/subclass-491
• DHA: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/subclass-494

Stage 1 — The provisional visa

The two provisional visas that feed into the subclass 191 pathway are:

• Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional): A points-tested visa for skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory government, or sponsored by an eligible family member in a designated regional area. The 491 attracts 15 bonus points in the SkillSelect points test — reflecting the government's intention to incentivise regional settlement. The 491 is valid for 5 years and requires the holder to live and work in a designated regional area.
• Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional): An employer-sponsored provisional visa for skilled workers nominated by a regional employer. Unlike the points-tested 491, the 494 is employer-driven — the employer nominates the worker for a specific position in a regional area. A Regional Certifying Body (RCB) assesses the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the nominated position to ensure it meets regional labour market conditions. The 494 is valid for 5 years.

Both provisional visas require the holder to live and work only in a designated regional area for the duration of the visa — relocation to a metropolitan area (unless the area is specifically designated as regional) would breach this condition and affect eligibility for the 191.

Stage 2 — Meeting the subclass 191 requirements

After holding a qualifying provisional visa for at least 3 years, the holder can apply for the subclass 191 if they have also met:

• 3 years of living and working in a designated regional area: The applicant must demonstrate they have genuinely resided in and worked in a regional area for the required period while on the 491 or 494 visa. This is assessed through evidence such as employment records, tax returns, residential address history, and other documentation.
• Minimum taxable income: The applicant must have earned a minimum taxable income during the qualifying period. The specific income threshold is set by DHA and is published on the subclass 191 eligibility page — always verify the current threshold before applying, as it may be updated.
• Health and character requirements: Standard health (PIC 4005) and character (PIC 4001) requirements must be met.

What the subclass 191 grants

The subclass 191 is a permanent residence visa — once granted, the holder is a permanent resident of Australia with no ongoing regional condition attached. Unlike the provisional visas, there is no obligation to remain in a regional area after the 191 is granted. The holder can live and work anywhere in Australia.

Timing and planning

The provisional visa is valid for 5 years. The 3-year requirement means the earliest possible 191 application is 3 years after the provisional visa is granted (assuming continuous compliance with the regional condition). Provisional visa holders should plan their 191 application to ensure they can lodge before the provisional visa expires — once the provisional visa expires and the 191 has not been lodged, the pathway may be interrupted. Lodging a new 491 or 494 may be required in that situation.

For current processing times for subclass 191 applications, refer to the DHA processing times page.

The income threshold for the subclass 191 is based on taxable income — income that was earned and declared to the Australian Taxation Office while the applicant was in regional Australia on the provisional visa. Government payments and certain other amounts that do not constitute taxable income may not count towards the threshold. For the current income threshold amount, refer to the DHA subclass 191 page.

The regional condition on the provisional visa applies to the primary visa holder — family members (secondary applicants) on the same provisional visa are generally required to live in the regional area as well, but the income threshold and work requirement are assessed against the primary holder. The situation for secondary applicants should be confirmed against the current DHA guidance.