PERMANENT RESIDENCE (SKILLED REGIONAL)VISA (SUBCLASS 191)
A pathway to permanent residency for regional skilled workers
ABOUT THE VISA
The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) is a permanent Australian visa designed for skilled migrants who have lived and worked in designated regional areas of Australia on eligible provisional regional visas. This visa provides a clear pathway from temporary regional migration to permanent residency for individuals who have contributed to Australia's regional workforce and economy.
The subclass 191 visa was introduced to encourage skilled migrants to settle long-term in regional Australia and support regional development. It is available to applicants who have previously held certain regional visas, such as the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) or the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494), and who have met specific residence and income requirements.
Once granted, the visa allows applicants and their families to remain in Australia permanently, with full rights to live, work and study anywhere in the country.
WHAT THIS VISA ALLOWS YOU TO DO
The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa allows holders to live in Australia indefinitely without any regional restrictions. Unlike provisional regional visas, subclass 191 holders are no longer required to live or work only in designated regional areas.
Visa holders can work for any employer in any occupation and location across Australia. They can also undertake further study at Australian educational institutions. In addition, visa holders are eligible to enrol in Medicare, Australia's public healthcare system, which helps reduce medical and hospital costs.
This visa also provides stability and security, as it removes the uncertainty associated with temporary visas. After meeting residency requirements, holders may also apply for Australian citizenship.
SKILLS AND ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491),
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
Applicants must have lived in a designated regional area of Australia for at least three years while holding the eligible provisional visa. During this period, they must have complied with all visa conditions, including residence and work requirements.
Unlike many skilled visas, the subclass 191 visa is not points-tested, and applicants do not need to submit a new Expression of Interest or obtain state or employer sponsorship at the time of application.
INCOME REQUIREMENT
The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa allows holders to live in Australia indefinitely without any regional restrictions. Unlike provisional regional visas, subclass 191 holders are no longer required to live or work only in designated regional areas.
Visa holders can work for any employer in any occupation and location across Australia. They can also undertake further study at Australian educational institutions. In addition, visa holders are eligible to enrol in Medicare, Australia's public healthcare system, which helps reduce medical and hospital costs.
This visa also provides stability and security, as it removes the uncertainty associated with temporary visas. After meeting residency requirements, holders may also apply for Australian citizenship.
INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS
Applicants can include eligible family members, such as a partner and dependent children, in their subclass 191 visa application. Family members who were included in the applicant's previous regional visa can generally be included again.
All family members included in the application must meet Australia's health and character requirements. Including family members allows the entire household to gain permanent residency together, providing long-term stability and access to the same rights and benefits as the primary applicant.
HEALTH AND CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS
Health requirements
All applicants and their family members must meet Australia's health requirements.
This may involve medical examinations such as:
General health checks
Chest X-rays
Blood tests
The specific tests required depend on individual circumstances.
Character requirements
Applicants and family members aged 16 years or over must meet character requirements.
This usually involves providing police clearance certificates from countries where they have lived for a specified period.
The Department of Home Affairs assesses:
Criminal history
Previous immigration records
BENEFITS OF THE PERMANENT RESIDENCE (SKILLED REGIONAL) VISA
The subclass 191 visa offers several significant benefits, including
Permanent residency in Australia
The freedom to live, work and study anywhere in Australia
Access to Medicare, Australia's public healthcare system
Greater job flexibility and career opportunities
A clear pathway to Australian citizenship
The ability to sponsor eligible relatives in the future
Long-term security for visa holders and their families
These benefits make the subclass 191 visa an important final step for skilled migrants who began their journey in regional Australia.
COST
The visa application charge for the main applicant is AUD 490, which is relatively low compared to other permanent skilled visas. Additional fees apply for family members included in the application. Applicants may also need to cover costs for medical examinations, police certificates, and biometrics.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Processing times for the subclass 191 visa vary depending on the completeness of the application and individual circumstances. Providing accurate information and supporting documents can help avoid delays.
The visa is digitally linked to the applicant's passport, and no physical visa label is issued. Once granted, the visa takes effect immediately, and the holder becomes an Australian permanent resident from the date of grant.
