191 Visa Australia
Permanent Residence Skilled Regional visa

191 Visa Pathway

Step 1 — Hold a Regional Provisional Visa

The pathway normally begins with a subclass 491 or subclass 494 visa.

Read the RACC 491 Visa Australia guide or 494 Visa Australia guide.

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Step 2 — Meet the Three-Year Requirement

You generally need to hold the eligible regional provisional visa for at least 3 years.

Maintain evidence of your residence, work, tax records and visa compliance.

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Step 3 — Prepare ATO and Supporting Documents

Prepare the required Notices of Assessment and supporting evidence before applying.

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Step 4 — Lodge the Subclass 191 Application

Lodge the application through the method specified by Home Affairs and provide complete supporting documents.

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Step 5 — Await a Written Decision

The Department will notify you of the visa outcome in writing.

For a pathway assessment, contact RACC for a migration consultation.

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Regional Australia and the Subclass 191 Visa

Your regional obligations generally come from your previous provisional visa:

• subclass 491: regional residence and work requirements;

• subclass 494: regional residence, work and employer-related requirements.

The subclass 191 visa is permanent. After grant, the holder can generally live and work anywhere in Australia, including Sydney or Melbourne.

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Hong Kong Stream

The subclass 191 Hong Kong stream is separate from the Regional Provisional stream.

It may apply to eligible holders of:

• a Hong Kong SAR passport; or

• a British National (Overseas) passport.

Applicants must satisfy separate requirements relating to visa history, residence, designated regional areas and compliance.

Read more about the pathway on RACC’s Hong Kong PR pathway page.

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What You Get With the Subclass 191 Visa

If granted, the subclass 191 visa may allow you to:

• remain in Australia permanently;

• work and study anywhere in Australia;

• enrol in Medicare if eligible;

• sponsor eligible family members;

• travel to and from Australia for 5 years from the date of grant; and

• apply for Australian citizenship if separately eligible.

New permanent residents may need to wait before accessing certain government payments and benefits.

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Resident Return Visa (RRV) After the 5-Year Travel Facility Ends

The subclass 191 visa gives you a travel facility to leave and re-enter Australia for 5 years from the date of grant.

After the initial 5 years, you need a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

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You are generally eligible for the standard 5-year Resident Return visa if you have been present in Australia for 2 years in the last 5 years as a permanent resident or citizen. This is calculated as 730 cumulative days spent in Australia in the 5 years immediately before you lodge your Resident Return visa application.

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If you do not meet this, you may still qualify for a shorter, 12-month travel facility by demonstrating substantial ties to Australia.

The Resident Return visa currently costs AUD 1,475 to apply online.

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Check the current Resident Return visa (subclass 155 and 157) page for full eligibility and fees before your travel facility expires.

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Pathway to Australian Citizenship After Subclass 191

Holding the subclass 191 visa does not automatically grant Australian citizenship.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts on the day your subclass 191 visa is granted.

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To apply for Australian citizenship by conferral, you generally need to meet the general residence requirement:

• living in Australia on a valid visa for 4 years immediately before you apply;

• holding a permanent visa for the last 12 months immediately before you apply; and

• not being absent from Australia for more than 12 months in total across that 4-year period, including no more than 90 days in the 12 months immediately before applying.

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See the official Department of Home Affairs citizenship eligibility page for full requirements.

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191 Visa Compared With Other PR Pathways

Subclass 191

Subclass 191 is a permanent residence pathway after meeting the requirements attached to an eligible regional provisional visa.

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Subclass 189

Subclass 189 is a direct skilled permanent visa pathway for eligible applicants.

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Subclass 190

Subclass 190 is a state or territory nominated skilled permanent visa.

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Subclass 186

Subclass 186 is an employer-sponsored permanent visa pathway. See RACC’s employer-sponsored visa information.

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Subclass 494 to 191

Subclass 494 is a regional employer-sponsored provisional visa that may lead to subclass 191 after the applicant meets the required criteria.

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Read RACC’s 494 to 191 pathway guide. The correct pathway depends on your visa history, occupation, location, employer, nomination and personal circumstances.

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Documents Checklist

Depending on your circumstances, prepare:

• passport and identity documents;

• subclass 491 or subclass 494 visa history;

• three required ATO Notices of Assessment;

• regional residence evidence;

• employment and work evidence;

• address and travel history;

• police certificates;

• health examination evidence, if requested;

• relationship and dependent-family documents; and

• English translations for non-English documents.

The Department may request further documents after lodgement.

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Common Mistakes

Common mistakes include:

• applying before meeting the three-year requirement;

• missing required ATO Notices of Assessment;

• misunderstanding the 3-out-of-5-income-year rule;

• failing to keep regional residence or work evidence;

• breaching subclass 491 or subclass 494 visa conditions;

• relying on outdated visa charges;

• confusing the Regional Provisional stream with the Hong Kong stream; and

• assuming that holding an eligible visa guarantees a visa grant.

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September 2026 Government Update

Subclass 191 remains included in the skilled visa processing framework under Ministerial Direction 119.

The current Department of Home Affairs guidance confirms:

• the Regional Provisional stream is for eligible subclass 491 and subclass 494 visa holders;

• the eligible visa generally must have been held for at least 3 years;

• ATO Notices of Assessment are required for 3 relevant income years out of the required 5-year period;

• there is no fixed minimum income requirement stated for the Regional Provisional stream;

• no new sponsor or nominator is required at the subclass 191 stage; and

• processing times are estimates only.

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The MIA notice dated 11 September 2026 referred to a new subclass 191 Procedural Instruction in LEGENDcom. Because the detailed instruction was not reproduced in the public notice, applicants should not assume that it changes eligibility unless confirmed by Home Affairs or legislation.gov.au.

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FAQs

Is subclass 191 permanent residency?

Yes. Subclass 191 is a permanent visa.

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Do I need a sponsor for subclass 191?

You do not need a new sponsor or nominator at the subclass 191 stage for the Regional Provisional stream.

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Is there a minimum income requirement?

The current Home Affairs guidance states that there is no fixed minimum income requirement for the Regional Provisional stream.

You must still provide the required ATO Notices of Assessment.

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How long must I hold a subclass 491 or 494 visa?

You generally must hold the eligible visa for at least 3 years before applying.

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How much does subclass 191 cost?

The Regional Provisional stream costs from AUD 630 for the main applicant. The Hong Kong stream costs from AUD 6,135 for the main applicant.

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What is the subclass 191 processing time?

For September 2026, the Regional Provisional stream estimate is 7 months for 25% of applications, 9 months for 50%, 10 months for 75% and 11 months for 90%.

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Can I move to Sydney or Melbourne after getting subclass 191?

Generally, yes. Subclass 191 is a permanent visa and the previous regional provisional restrictions generally no longer apply after grant.

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Can I include family members?

Eligible members of your family unit may be included, subject to the applicable visa rules, charges, health and character requirements.

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Can Hong Kong passport holders apply without subclass 491 or 494?

Eligible Hong Kong SAR and British National (Overseas) passport holders may apply through the separate Hong Kong stream if they meet its specific requirements.

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Are there additional costs?

Additional costs may include health examinations, police certificates, translations, English testing and other services required for your individual application.

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Can I keep working while my subclass 191 application is being processed?

If you apply in Australia, you may be granted a bridging visa that comes into effect if your subclass 491 or 494 visa expires before a decision is made. Do not have your current visa cancelled, as this ends your bridging visa and lawful status.

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Do I need a new visa to travel overseas after 5 years as a permanent resident?

Yes. After the initial 5-year travel facility on your subclass 191 visa ends, you need a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

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How long after getting subclass 191 can I apply for Australian citizenship?

You generally need 4 years of lawful residence in Australia, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident, and you must not have been absent for more than 12 months in total, including no more than 90 days in the final 12 months. Your permanent residence for citizenship purposes starts on the date your subclass 191 visa is granted.

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Official Sources

• Department of Home Affairs – subclass 191

• Department of Home Affairs – Regional Provisional stream

• Department of Home Affairs – Visa fees

• Department of Home Affairs – Global processing times

• Department of Home Affairs – Skilled processing priorities

• Federal Register of Legislation – Migration Regulations 1994

• Australian Federal Police – National Police Checks

• Department of Home Affairs – Resident Return visa (subclass 155 and 157)

• Department of Home Affairs – Become an Australian citizen (by conferral)