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. It is only available to people who have already held a Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) or Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) visa for at least three years. It is also available to some holders of the older Subclass 487 visa. There is no points test for the 191. Eligibility depends entirely on meeting the three conditions: time on a qualifying visa, regional residence, and the income threshold.

The Three Eligibility Requirements

First, you must have held a qualifying provisional visa — Subclass 491, 494, or 487 — for at least three years at the time you apply. The three-year clock starts from the date your provisional visa was granted, not the date you arrived in Australia. Second, you must have lived and worked in a designated regional area of Australia for at least three years during that period. The regional definition for the 191 is the same as for the 491 and 494: most of Australia qualifies. The excluded zones are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast-Tweed Heads, Newcastle-Lake Macquarie, Wollongong, Sunshine Coast, and Perth. Temporary absences are generally acceptable — the Department expects normal travel patterns. Prolonged absence from regional Australia, particularly if you moved to an excluded city, will be scrutinised. Third, you must have earned at least AUD $53,900 per year in each of the three years of regional residence. This is the income threshold as at 2026 and is indexed annually. The income must come from employment in regional Australia — salary, wages, or self-employment income in your nominated occupation. Passive income, investment returns, and a partner's income generally do not count toward your threshold.

The Income Threshold: Where Most Applications Stall

The AUD $53,900 annual income requirement is the single most common reason 191 applications are delayed or refused. Several situations create problems. Part-time work: if you worked part-time in any of the three years, your annualised income may fall below the threshold even if your hourly rate is well above it. Parental leave: unpaid or partially-paid parental leave periods reduce your annual taxable income. Career breaks: any period of unemployment or study without income reduces your annual figure. Underpaid employment: some regional industries — hospitality, care work, agriculture — have salary structures that sit close to or below the threshold. The practical fix: before lodging a 491 or 494 application, calculate whether your proposed salary will clear the 191 threshold in each year. If it will not, negotiate a higher salary or understand that you may need an additional year of work to meet the requirement. Keep payslips, tax returns, and employment records for all three years — these are the primary evidence the Department uses to assess the threshold.

What Evidence You Need

Your 191 application requires evidence across all three eligibility conditions. For time on a qualifying visa: the Department verifies this from immigration records — no action required from you. For regional residence: council rate notices or rental agreements showing your address; utility bills and bank statements addressed to your regional address over the three-year period; records of your children attending regional schools; electoral roll enrolment at your regional address. For income: individual tax returns (ITR) for each of the three financial years; payment summaries or income statements from your employer; payslips covering the three-year period; if self-employed, business activity statements and an accountant's letter confirming annual income. Gaps in evidence are a common reason for requests for further information, which extend processing time significantly. Collect and organise these documents well before you are eligible to lodge.

Processing Times and What Happens After Grant

Processing times for the 191 visa are typically 6 to 12 months from lodgement for straightforward applications. A decision-ready application — where all evidence is complete at lodgement — processes faster than one where the Department needs to issue information requests. Once the 191 is granted, the regional obligation ends immediately. You can move to Sydney, Melbourne, or any other city in Australia. Your PR is permanent and is not subject to conditions. Secondary applicants included in your application receive the same permanent residence. From the date of PR grant, the clock starts toward Australian citizenship: generally four years of lawful residence, including one year as a permanent resident.

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.

Does my income threshold need to be met in every single year?

Yes. The AUD $53,900 requirement applies to each of the three years individually. Averaging across years is not accepted — one year below threshold means you do not meet the requirement, even if the other two years were well above it.

What if I changed employers during the three years?

That is fine. The 191 does not require continuous employment with a single employer. What matters is that your total taxable income from regional employment exceeded the threshold in each year.

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.