191 Visa (Permanent Residence Regional): Complete 2026 Guide

What Is the 191 Visa?

The Subclass 191 is a permanent residence visa. Once granted, you can live and work anywhere in Australia — the regional requirement ends. You can include your partner and dependent children. You gain access to Medicare and, after meeting the residence requirement, a pathway to Australian citizenship. The 191 is not a standalone application. Under Home Affairs' current eligibility criteria, it is only available to people who already hold, or have held, a Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) or Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) visa for at least three years. There is no points test for the 191. Eligibility depends on holding an eligible visa for the required period, complying with that visa's conditions, and providing the required ATO tax records — there is no minimum income you need to have earned.

The Eligibility Requirements

First, you must hold, or have held, an eligible visa — a Subclass 491 or 494 — for at least three years at the time you apply. Second, you must have complied with the conditions of that visa for the whole time you held it, which includes the 491/494 requirement to live, work and study in a designated regional area. The regional definition used for the 491, 494 and 191 excludes only Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart are all within the regional definition (Home Affairs' Category 2, 'Cities and Major Regional Centres'), alongside every other designated regional postcode (Category 3). Third, there is no minimum income requirement — but you must provide notices of assessment issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for three income years out of the five years of your eligible visa. If you owe the ATO money, you need to have paid it back or have an approved payment plan in place.

The Income Threshold Was Removed — What You Actually Need to Prove

Home Affairs removed the minimum income requirement for the 191 visa in June 2023. There is no dollar figure to clear in any year. What the Department still checks is that you can produce ATO notices of assessment for three of the five income years covered by your eligible visa — these confirm you lodged tax returns and had assessable income, not that you earned above any particular threshold. If you changed employers, worked part-time, took parental leave, or had a career break during the five-year window, that does not disqualify you, provided you can still produce three years of notices of assessment and you complied with your visa conditions throughout. Keep your ATO notices of assessment for every year of your eligible visa, since you choose which three of the five years to submit.

What Evidence You Need

Home Affairs' published evidence categories for the 191 are: proof of residence in a designated regional area (leases or rental agreements, utility bills showing your address, school reports, title deeds, or other evidence of residence); proof of work (reference letters, payslips) and, where relevant, proof of study (school reports, academic transcripts, letters of completion); and evidence of income, which means ATO notices of assessment for three of the five income years of your eligible visa, plus evidence that any ATO debt has been paid or is under an approved payment plan. Gaps in evidence are a common reason for requests for further information, which extend processing time. Collect and organise these documents well before you are eligible to lodge.

Processing Times and What Happens After Grant

Home Affairs publishes indicative processing times for recently decided applications through its visa processing time guide tool rather than a single fixed range, and actual times vary with how complete your application is, how quickly you respond to information requests, and how long health, character and other checks take. Once the 191 is granted, the regional obligation ends immediately. You can move to Sydney, Melbourne, or any other part of Australia. Your PR is permanent, though the visa's travel facility — the ability to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident — expires 5 years after grant, after which a Resident Return visa is needed to keep travelling. Secondary applicants included in your application receive the same permanent residence. From the date of grant (if you are in Australia), your permanent residence period begins, which counts toward the standard Australian citizenship residence requirement.

Can I apply for the 191 before my 491 expires?

Yes — and you should. Lodge your 191 application while your 491 is still valid. Once lodged, a Bridging Visa A (BVA) will activate if your 491 expires during processing, allowing you to remain in Australia lawfully.

Do I need to earn a minimum income to qualify for the 191?

No. Home Affairs removed the minimum income requirement for the 191 visa in June 2023. Instead, you must provide notices of assessment issued by the ATO for three income years out of the five years you have held your eligible visa. There is no dollar amount you need to have earned.

What if I changed employers during the three years?

That is fine. The 191 does not require continuous employment with a single employer, and there is no income figure to reach. What matters is that you can provide ATO notices of assessment for three of the five years of your eligible visa and that you complied with your visa conditions throughout.

Can I include a new partner who was not on my 491?

Yes. You can include secondary applicants in your 191 application even if they were not on your original 491 or 494. They will need to meet health and character requirements.