Regional migration · Subclass 191
Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa
The permanent residence destination for the 491 and 494 regional pathways.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed July 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Visa type
- Permanent
- Qualifying visas
- 491 or 494
- Time on provisional visa
- 3+ years
- Income requirement
- 3 years at threshold
- Citizenship pathway
- Yes
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About the CPD →MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au
The Subclass 191 is where the regional plan pays off. If you hold a 491 or 494, live and work in regional Australia for three years, and meet the minimum taxable income requirement, the 191 converts your provisional status into full permanent residence — no more regional condition, and the door to citizenship.
The three requirements that matter
- Time held — you've held an eligible regional provisional visa (491 or 494) for at least three years.
- Income — you've met the minimum taxable income requirement for at least three years, evidenced by your ATO notices of assessment.
- Compliance — you've complied with your provisional visa conditions, living and working in a designated regional area (check whether a city counts as regional).
You must also meet health and character requirements. Because all three requirements are proven from records built up across your entire provisional visa, the 191 rewards planning from day one — not a last-minute scramble.
What the 191 gives you
- Permanent residence — live, work and study anywhere in Australia, with no regional condition.
- Access to Medicare and permanent-resident entitlements.
- A pathway to Australian citizenship once you meet the residence requirements.
Check your case
Tell us which provisional visa you hold and when it was granted.
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Questions we get asked first
What is the Subclass 191 visa?
The Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa is the permanent visa for people who hold an eligible regional provisional visa — a Subclass 491 or 494. Once you have held that provisional visa for at least three years, met a minimum taxable income requirement, and complied with your visa conditions by living and working in regional Australia, the 191 grants full permanent residence. It is the PR destination that both the 491 and 494 pathways lead to.
What are the requirements for the 191?
You must have held an eligible regional provisional visa (491 or 494) for at least three years; have met the minimum taxable income requirement for at least three years (income declared to the ATO at or above the published threshold); and have complied with the conditions of your provisional visa — in particular living, working and studying only in a designated regional area. You must also meet health and character requirements. The income threshold is set by the Department and should be checked for the relevant years.
How much income do I need for the 191?
The 191 requires you to have met a minimum taxable income requirement for at least three years while holding your provisional visa — evidenced by your Australian Taxation Office notices of assessment. The dollar figure is set by the Department of Home Affairs and is indexed, so it changes; always verify the current threshold and the exact years it must be met. Keeping clean ATO records throughout your 491/494 is what makes the 191 straightforward.
When can I apply for the 191?
You can generally apply once you have held your 491 or 494 for at least three years and can evidence the income and residence requirements across that period. Because the clock and the income record run through your entire provisional visa, the smart approach is to plan the 191 from the day your 491 or 494 is granted — not in the final months.
Does the 191 give full permanent residence?
Yes. The Subclass 191 is a permanent visa. Once granted, you have permanent resident status with the right to live, work and study anywhere in Australia, access to Medicare, and eligibility to apply for Australian citizenship once you meet the residence requirements. It removes the regional condition that applied during your provisional visa.
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