Transition to Permanent Residency with Subclass 191 Skilled Regional

The Subclass 191 visa allows eligible holders of 491 or 494 regional visas to transition to permanent residency after meeting income, residence, and compliance requirements. It does not require a new Skills Assessment or points test.

You must have held a 491 or 494 visa for at least 3 years, have complied with all visa conditions, and demonstrate eligible taxable income for 3 consecutive income years. You must also have lived, worked and studied only in designated regional areas.

There is no fixed public salary figure published by DHA. Instead, applicants must meet or exceed the annual taxable income threshold set by the Minister for each assessed year. Tax returns and ATO Notice of Assessments (NOAs) are used to verify eligibility.

Yes. You must be living in a designated regional area at the time you apply and continue to meet your regional obligations until the visa is granted.

No. The 191 visa does not require a Skills Assessment, English test, points test, or state nomination. These were already assessed when you applied for your 491 or 494 visa.

Most complete 191 applications take approximately 5–10 months depending on DHA workload, verification checks, and caseload prioritisation. Applications with missing documents or complex circumstances may take longer.

Yes. You can include your spouse/partner and dependent children if they meet health and character requirements. Family members can also be added after the initial application if needed.

Yes. Once approved, Subclass 191 gives you full Australian permanent residency, including Medicare, work and study rights, and the ability to sponsor eligible relatives. A 5-year travel facility also applies.

Time lawfully spent in Australia on a 491 or 494 visa may count towards the general residence requirement for citizenship, depending on how long you have lived in Australia and whether you met your PR obligations. You may later qualify for Australian citizenship.

Yes. After the 191 visa is granted, there are no location restrictions. You may live, work or study anywhere in Australia.