Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)
The Subclass 191 Regional Provisional stream provides a pathway to Australian permanent residence for eligible Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 visa holders who have met their regional visa obligations.
There is currently no minimum income threshold for this stream. Primary applicants must provide Australian Taxation Office Notices of Assessment for three income years out of the five years of their eligible visa and satisfy all other requirements.
What is the Subclass 191 Visa?
The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa allows eligible regional provisional visa holders to transition to permanent residence. The Regional Provisional stream is intended for people who have lived and worked in designated regional Australia while holding an eligible visa and have complied with the conditions attached to that visa.
Once granted, the visa permits permanent residence in Australia. Visa holders can work and study, enrol in Medicare subject to eligibility, sponsor eligible relatives, travel to and from Australia during the five-year travel facility and pursue Australian citizenship if they later meet the requirements.
Key eligibility requirements
How the Subclass 191 process works
Confirm your eligible visa history
Check that you hold an eligible Subclass 491 or 494 visa and have held it for the required period before applying.
Review visa condition compliance
Confirm that you and relevant family members complied with the regional residence, work, study and other conditions applying throughout the eligible visa period.
Collect your ATO records
Obtain Notices of Assessment for three income years out of the five years of your eligible visa. There is no prescribed minimum income threshold.
Prepare supporting evidence
Gather identity, residence, work, study, tax, family, health and character documents relevant to your circumstances.
Lodge the permanent visa application
Submit the application through ImmiAccount with complete and accurate evidence, then respond promptly to any further information requests.
Income and ATO evidence
Applicants do not need to meet a specified minimum income amount. However, the primary applicant must provide Notices of Assessment issued by the ATO for three income years within the five-year period of the eligible regional provisional visa. Tax returns, payslips or bank statements do not replace an official Notice of Assessment where that document is required.
If the applicant or a family member owes money to the ATO, evidence of repayment or an approved payment arrangement should be provided to avoid processing delays.
Regional visa compliance
You must have complied with the conditions of your eligible visa for the entire period you held it in Australia. Depending on your visa history, supporting evidence may include residential leases, utility bills, employment references, payslips, study records and other documents showing residence, work or study in a designated regional area.
Benefits of the Subclass 191 Visa
- Live in Australia permanently as a permanent resident.
- Work and study in Australia without regional provisional restrictions.
- Include eligible members of your family unit in the application.
- Enrol in Medicare, subject to applicable eligibility rules.
- Sponsor eligible relatives for Australian permanent residence.
- Travel to and from Australia for five years from visa grant.
- Apply for Australian citizenship later if eligible.
Documents commonly required
Documents may include passports and identity records, evidence of the eligible provisional visa, ATO Notices of Assessment, proof of regional residence, employment or study evidence, relationship and dependent documents, police certificates, health examinations and evidence addressing any Australian Government or ATO debt.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our migration team can review your Subclass 491 or 494 history, identify evidence gaps, check regional visa compliance, help organise ATO and supporting documents and assist with preparing a decision-ready Subclass 191 application based on the requirements applying to your circumstances.