Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) — immi.wiki

The Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa is the permanent residence pathway for holders of provisional regional visas — primarily the Subclass 491 and Subclass 494. To be eligible, the holder must have completed 3 years of regional work and earned income at or above the income threshold (AUD 53,900 per year, indexed annually) for the required period. The Subclass 191 grants permanent residence with no obligation to continue living in a regional area after grant.

The Subclass 191 replaced legacy pathways (such as the Subclass 887) as the primary permanent residence pathway for the 491 and 494 regional provisional visa cohort. The income threshold is designed to ensure that provisional visa holders have genuinely worked (rather than subsisted on minimal income) in regional Australia before transitioning to permanent residence.

To be eligible for the Subclass 191:

• Hold or have held a Subclass 491 or 494 provisional visa
• Have been physically present in a designated regional area for at least 39 months of the 48 months immediately before applying (approximately 3 of the 4 years prior to application)
• Have earned at least the income threshold (currently AUD 53,900 per financial year, indexed) for each of the 3 financial years of the required regional work period
• Satisfy health and character requirements
• Be nominated by the state or territory government that nominated for the Subclass 491 (or have a Regional Certifying Body endorsement for the 494 pathway)

Income is assessed from tax returns — the ATO payment summary or income statement showing taxable income from employment (salary and wages). Business income from self-employment does not count.

Subclass 191 applications are lodged online via ImmiAccount. The application may be lodged up to 6 months before the provisional visa expires if the eligibility requirements have already been met. Key documents include:

• ATO income statements or notices of assessment for the relevant financial years
• Evidence of living in a designated regional area (utility bills, lease agreements, rates notices)
• Employment evidence (payslips, employer letters)
• State/territory nomination (for 491 pathway)

The Department of Home Affairs assesses the application and, if approved, grants the Subclass 191 permanent visa. Processing times vary.

The Subclass 191 is a permanent residence visa. After grant, the holder has unlimited rights to work and live anywhere in Australia — they are no longer required to remain in a regional area. Standard permanent visa travel facilities apply (5-year travel facility from grant date). After that, a Resident Return Visa (RRV) is required to re-enter as a PR.