191 Visa - Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa

Australia's regional areas are in search of skilled migrants seeking a fulfilling life amidst breathtaking landscapes, vibrant communities, and exciting career opportunities. If you possess the skills and expertise that the current Australian government is seeking, then the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) offers a direct pathway to PR in these thriving regions.

Our comprehensive guide looks into the specifics of the 191 visa, giving you the knowledge to navigate the path to permanent residency in regional Australia.

What is the 191 visa in Australia?

The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (subclass 191) visa is a permanent visa for people who have lived and worked for 3 years in a designated regional area in Australia. You don’t need a sponsor. You also don’t need a state or territory to nominate you. 

Benefits of the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) 191 Visa

With this visa, you can:

• Stay in Australia permanently

• Access Medicare and subsidised study

• Work and study in the country

• Sponsor eligible relatives to live here permanently

• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years

• Apply to become an Australian citizen if you are eligible

191 visa requirements

To apply for the 191 visa, you need to meet a few important rules:

1. Hold the 491 or 494 visa 

   • You must have held either a 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa or a 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa.

   • You need to have had this visa for at least 3 years before applying.

2. Live, work, and study in a regional area

   • You must have spent those 3 years in a designated regional area of Australia.

   • Regional areas are set by postcode. This means you need to check if your city or town counts as “regional.”

   • You also need to follow all the rules of your 491 or 494 visa during that time.

3. Notices of assessment by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

   • There is no minimum income requirement for the 191 visa.

   • Instead, you must provide Notices of Assessment from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for 3 income years out of the 5 years you held your eligible visa.

4. Health and character checks

   • Like with most permanent visas, you must meet Australia’s health and character requirements.

   • This usually means doing medical exams and police checks.

5. No visa cancellations or refusals

• Your immigration history matters. If you’ve had a visa cancelled or an application refused before, you may not be eligible.

• In some cases, you might still be able to apply for a permanent visa. This depends on special rules set by the Department of Home Affairs.

What if you have changed employers during the course of your 494 visa?

If during your 494 you changed employers correctly (new sponsorship approved before starting work), you are still compliant and can apply for the 191 once you meet the other requirements.

But if you switched employers without going through the proper nomination process, that would count as a breach of visa conditions.

That could affect your eligibility for the 191 because one of the rules is that you must have complied with your 494 visa conditions during the whole 3 years.

What if I have 3 ATO assessments, but they don’t total to 3 income years? Am I still eligible? 

For the 191 visa, the rule is that you need to show 3 Notices of Assessment (NoAs) from the ATO within the period you held your 491 or 494 visa.

The Department of Home Affairs does not require that each NoA cover a full 12 months of income. What matters is that:

• You have 3 separate ATO assessments (they can be for shorter working periods, like 6 months).

• All 3 are issued within the time you held your eligible visa.

So even if one of your tax years only shows 6 months (or less) of taxable income, it still counts as long as you have the official NoA from the ATO.

Do you have more questions like these?

Are you unsure whether you meet the eligibility requirements for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) 191 visa?

If ever you’re wondering about things like:

• What if you lived outside a regional area for part of the required period?

• What if you had a visa refused before?

• Do your ATO assessments really count?

These are tricky personal questions, and you likely won’t find clear guidance in generic guides online. The best thing to do is to consult with experts. 

Don’t risk your 191 visa eligibility.  Talk to our MARA-registered agents today. 

191 visa processing time

These are only estimates. To see the latest processing times, you can check the visa processing time guide tool on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Important: These times are not guaranteed. Your application may take shorter or longer depending on your personal situation.

What can affect your processing time?

• If you submit a complete application with all the required documents

• How quickly you respond if the Department asks for more information

• How long it takes to finish health, character, and security checks

• The number of visa places available in the migration program

Fees

From AUD505.00

Step-by-step application process

Step 1. Check your eligibility

• Make sure you held a 491 or 494 visa for at least 3 years, lived in a regional area, and meet all requirements.

Step 2. Prepare your documents

• Collect your passport, ATO Notices of Assessment, and other supporting papers (Check the document checklist below). 

Step 3. Apply online

• Lodge your application through on the Department of Home Affairs website

• Upload all required documents

• Pay the application fee

Step 4. Wait for processing

• The Department will review your application

• You may be asked to provide more information or attend health and character checks

• Processing times vary, but most applications are decided within 4 to 12 months

Step 5. Receive your outcome

• If approved, you will be granted the 191 visa

• You can then live in Australia permanently, work or study anywhere, and apply for citizenship (if eligible)

191 visa English requirements

Primary applicants are not required to meet English score requirements.

On the other hand, if a dependent is included in your application, they need to have at least functional English (IELTS 4.5). 

191 visa document checklist

When you apply for the 191 visa, you’ll need to upload clear copies of your documents to ImmiAccount. Here are the main ones:

When it comes to the 191 visa, most people stress about the documents. 

If you miss even one thing, or if something doesn’t meet immigration standards, it could slow your whole application down.

The key is simple: you have to make sure everything you send is complete and correct. That means your ATO Notices of Assessment are lined up, you’ve got solid proof of your time in a regional area, and you’re on top of health and police checks. The more accurate and organised you are, the smoother things move.

But here’s the thing. A lot of applicants aren’t sure if their documents are “good enough.” 

That’s where it helps to get someone to guide you. 

At IDP, our MARA-registered agents know exactly what immigration is looking for. We can go through your documents with you, make sure nothing’s missing, and give you peace of mind that your 191 application is strong and accurate. 

Read more visa success stories

Who is eligible for a 191 visa?

You are eligible if you have held a 491 or 494 visa for at least 3 years, lived and worked in a regional area, provided 3 ATO Notices of Assessment, and followed all visa conditions.

What is the age limit for a 191 visa in Australia?

There is no age limit for the 191 visa.

What is the score for 191 visa?

The 191 visa does not use a points test. You don’t need to reach a certain score to apply.

Do you need an English test for 191?

As the main applicant, you don’t need to take an English test. But if you include family members, they must show at least functional English (equal to IELTS 4.5).

How long does a 191 visa take to process?

Most 191 visas are processed in 4 to 12 months. Half of the applications are decided in about 4 months, while 90% are done within 12 months.

Can you include family on a 191 visa?

Yes, when you submit your application, you will be able to request a visa for them also. You cannot add family members after you’ve submitted the paperwork. This ‘family’ definition is broader, to encompass older children who travelled with you on your previous visa and have since turned 23.

MARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority) agents are officially licensed by the Australian government to give migration advice. 

That means they don’t just “know about visas” — they are legally qualified to guide you through the process.

Here’s why that matters for your 191 visa:

• Trust and credibility: Registered MARA agents are allowed to provide migration advice in Australia, so you know the guidance you receive is recognised and regulated.

• Up-to-date expertise: MARA agents are required to stay current with immigration law and policy changes, so the advice you get is accurate and reliable.

• Tailored solutions: They can look at your specific case—like your ATO Notices of Assessment, your regional work history, or past visa issues —and explain what it means for your eligibility.

• Peace of mind: Instead of worrying if you’ve understood the rules correctly, you can be confident you’re on the right track.

Melbourne

Liping Helen Shan (MARN 0961842)

Fluent in English and Mandarin
Helen has been a registered Migration Agent since 2009. With a background in both migration and education consulting, she has helped countless clients with Student, Skilled, Visitor, Family Sponsored, and State Nomination visas.

Book an appointment with Helen

Perth

Jihang Michael Li (MARN 1802068)

Fluent in English and Mandarin

Michael has been a registered Migration Agent since 2018. Originally trained as a Nuclear Engineer, he now specialises in helping clients with a wide range of visas. He combines his technical skills with a strong legal foundation as he completes his Juris Doctor at UWA.

Book an appointment with Michael

Brisbane

Jitendra Gautam (MARN 2518722)

Fluent in Nepalese and English

Jitendra came to Australia as an international student in 2009 and now uses his first-hand experience to guide others.

With a Graduate Diploma in Migration Law and a background in IT and education counselling, he specialises in supporting students and skilled professionals.

Book an appointment with Jitendra

With IDP, you get:

• Expert guidance from MARA-registered agents who understand the 191 visa requirements inside out.

• Help with document preparation, including scanning, certifying, and translating to meet official standards.

• Up-to-date advice on policy changes that could affect your 191 visa pathway.

• Long-term migration planning, so you can move smoothly from a 491 or 494 visa to PR, and later to citizenship.