The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) is the permanent residence pathway for holders of skilled regional provisional visas — the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494). To apply for the subclass 191, a provisional visa holder must have lived and worked in a designated regional area of Australia for at least 3 years while holding an eligible provisional visa, and must have earned taxable income at or above the minimum income threshold in at least one of those years. The subclass 191 is the defined endpoint of the regional migration program — it provides a pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers who commit to regional Australia during the provisional visa period. This page explains the eligibility criteria, the income threshold, how to include family members, and how the subclass 191 fits into the regional migration program.

For current subclass 191 requirements, income thresholds, and processing information, refer to the DHA Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa page.

• Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)) criteria — sets the eligibility criteria for the subclass 191, including the required period of regional residence and work, the eligible provisional visas, and the income threshold requirement
• Migration Regulations 1994, regulation 1.15J — designated regional area — defines what constitutes a designated regional area for the purposes of the regional migration program; the list of designated regional areas is maintained by DHA and covers areas outside the major metropolitan centres (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast)
• Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, Subclass 491 criteria and Subclass 494 criteria — the provisional visa criteria that are prerequisites for the subclass 191; the applicant must have held a subclass 491 or 494 for the required period
• DHA: Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/191

Eligible provisional visas — subclass 491 and subclass 494

The subclass 191 is available to holders of two skilled regional provisional visas:

• Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa: a points-tested visa for skilled workers nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member in a designated regional area; the subclass 491 is valid for 5 years and requires the holder to live and work in designated regional Australia during the visa period; see the subclass 491 page
• Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa: an employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers employed in a regional area by an approved sponsor; the subclass 494 is valid for 5 years and also requires regional residence and work; see the subclass 494 page

Holders of the former subclass 489 (Skilled Regional Sponsored) provisional visa who have not yet transitioned to permanent residence may also be eligible for the subclass 191 in some circumstances — DHA sets out the current transitional arrangements.

Core eligibility requirements

To be eligible for the subclass 191, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

• 3 years of regional provisional visa holding: the applicant must have held an eligible provisional visa (subclass 491 or 494) for at least 3 years — the 3 years does not need to be continuous but must total at least 3 years
• Regional residence: the applicant must have lived in a designated regional area for the required period while holding the provisional visa — this is assessed based on evidence of residence (lease agreements, bills, community engagement) rather than just work records
• Regional work: the applicant must have worked in a designated regional area for the required period — employment in non-regional areas does not count; self-employment, employment, and some volunteer work may count depending on the circumstances
• Income threshold: the applicant must have earned a taxable income at or above the minimum income threshold in at least one year during the 3-year period — for the current income threshold, refer to the DHA subclass 191 page
• Health and character: the applicant and all family members included in the application must meet the standard health and character requirements

No occupation list requirement

A key feature of the subclass 191 is that the application is not made in relation to a specific occupation. Unlike the subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) or other state-sponsored skilled visas, the subclass 191 does not require the applicant to hold an occupation on any occupation list at the time of the 191 application. The eligibility for permanent residence under the subclass 191 is based on compliance with the regional residence and work requirements during the provisional visa period — an applicant whose occupation was originally on the occupation list for the provisional visa does not need to re-verify occupation list eligibility for the 191.

Including family members

The primary subclass 191 applicant can include eligible family members in the application:

• The applicant's partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants in the subclass 191 application
• Family members included in the original 491 or 494 provisional visa may be able to transition to the 191 — the process depends on whether they are currently in Australia and whether they hold a current substantive visa
• Family members must each meet the health and character requirements applicable to the 191
• Secondary applicants do not need to independently meet the regional work and income requirements — the primary applicant's compliance is assessed, and qualifying secondary applicants receive permanent residence linked to the primary applicant's grant

Processing and timing

Subclass 191 applications are processed in the order received. Key points for timing:

• The applicant should apply for the 191 before their provisional visa expires — if the provisional visa expires before the 191 is granted, the applicant will be covered by a Bridging Visa A while the 191 application is pending
• Applicants should keep detailed records of their regional residence and work throughout their provisional visa period, as DHA will require evidence at the time of the 191 application
• For current processing times, refer to the DHA skilled visa processing times page

Subclass 191 vs subclass 190

The subclass 191 and subclass 190 are both permanent skilled residence pathways but operate differently:

• Subclass 190: a direct permanent residence visa requiring state or territory nomination; the applicant is nominated by a state for an occupation on the state's skilled occupation list; the subclass 190 does not require a provisional visa period
• Subclass 191: a permanent residence visa that requires the applicant to have first held a regional provisional visa (491 or 494) for at least 3 years; it is the second stage of the regional migration pathway, not a direct permanent residence stream

The subclass 191 is designed to reward commitment to regional Australia — workers who spend 3 or more years living and working in designated regional areas on a provisional visa earn a pathway to permanent residence that does not depend on ongoing occupation list eligibility. The income threshold is intended to ensure that applicants were genuinely employed in regional Australia rather than merely resident. A common practical issue is record-keeping: applicants who have not maintained detailed records of regional residence (leases, rates notices, utility bills, employment records, tax returns) may face difficulty at the 191 application stage, even if they genuinely complied with the provisional visa conditions. Regional workers should treat the 191 application documentation process as something to prepare for throughout the provisional visa period, not just at the point of applying. For current subclass 191 eligibility criteria, the income threshold, and processing times, refer to the DHA Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa page.