191 Visa Requirements, Application Process & Cost

191 Permanent Residence

Starting from November 2022, the Skilled Residence (Permanent Residence) - Subclass 191 will allow its holders work and study anywhere in Australia, sponsor eligible relatives and apply for Australian citizenship.

Subclass 191 Visa

The Skilled Residence (Permanent Residence) visa is for people who have lived, worked and studied in designated regional area Australia on a previous, eligible visa. It will apply to those who hold a regional provisional visa Skill Work Regional - Subclass 491 or Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional 494 pathway to PR.

With 191 Visa you can:

stay permanently

work and study anywhere in Australia

sponsor eligible relatives for permanently residence

apply for Australian citizenship, after one + years.

enrol in Medicare

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191 Visa Requirements

Here's a simplified list of requirements that you need to meet before applying for 191 Visa. In case of questions, don't hesitate to contact us.

Must have held 494 or 491 visa

You cannot apply directly for the 191 visa.
You must first have held the 491 visa or 494 visa for at least three years.

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Resident in a regional area

You must have maintained residency in a regional area. Although you're not restricted to stay in the same state or regional area.

Z

Worked in a regional area

You must have complied with the conditions of the regional provisional visa which includes working in a regional area.

Note: Visa holders of the 491 or 494 can move between regional areas. You are not restricted to stay in the same state or regional area that you apply. Regional areas are defined as any area excluding Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Regional areas include Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.

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Thanks Michael for the guidance along the way to my 189 visa! I've had consults with Michael and Nick and both were great and informative and helped me heaps to fill and file my applications.
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Thank you to Joanne Crespin and Max Admana- I had a very positive experience with Pathway to Aus. They assisted me throughout my skills assessment process, and I’m so grateful to have received a positive outcome. The team was professional, helpful, responsive and made the process feel much easier to manage. They explained what was required, guided me with the documentation and supported me along the way. Receiving my positive skills assessment was such an important milestone for me, and I really appreciate the support I received from Pathway to Aus. I would definitely recommend their services to anyone needing assistance with their migration or skills assessment journey.
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I had a great experience with Michael throughout my migration process. He was extremely helpful, professional and knowledgeable from start to finish. He was always available whenever I needed advice or had any questions, and he made what could have been a very stressful process feel much easier. Michael was always quick to respond, kept me informed throughout the process and genuinely went above and beyond to help. I really appreciated his professionalism and support, and I would highly recommend Michael to anyone looking for a reliable and trustworthy migration agent. Thanks again for all your help mate & look forward to speaking again soon regarding citizenship.
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We are very grateful to Nick for helping my partner Lorenzo through his whole migration journey, from Brazil until now with his PR application. Nick has always guided us in the right direction, even with so many changes in the immigration rules over the years. Everything has always gone well and we always felt we could trust his advice. Today we are very happy with the life we have built in Australia and proud to have our own building company, LRZ Construction, here on the Sunshine Coast. Thank you, Nick, for being part of our journey. We highly recommend him!
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Super grateful for this agency! They were very approachable whether it was through phone calls or emails. They were able to explain to me thoroughly the requirements and documents I needed for my visa application. They were also proactive in updating me with what I needed and and the progress of the application. Highly recommended this team 😊🤍
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I highly recommend this agency. I've done my process for my 482 visa with Sunil and Glady. Very professionals, patients, and all I can say is Thank you guys from Pathway ❤
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I’m incredibly grateful to Pathway to Aus for helping me with my Temporary Graduate Visa application. The process took much longer than expected because of my medical requirements, but their team was very supportive and patient throughout the entire process. A special thank you to Kenneth from the Graduate Visa Team for his guidance, professionalism, and support throughout my application. I truly appreciate all the help and assistance he provided. I would also like to thank Gemm for her incredible patience and understanding while I was waiting for my medical process to be completed. I know it was a long and stressful wait, but having someone who was patient and supportive made such a big difference. After almost a year of waiting, I’m finally grateful to say that my Graduate Visa has been granted! 🎉🇦🇺 Thank you, Kenneth, Gemm, and the whole team of , Pathway to Aus for helping me through this journey. I highly recommend your services to anyone needing assistance with their Australian visa journey. ❤️
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Highly recommend Kenneth, Gemm and Team! He assisted me throughout my 485 visa application, and I’m very grateful for his help and guidance. He was professional, approachable, responsive, and always willing to answer my questions and explain the process clearly. Visa applications can be stressful, but having someone knowledgeable and reliable to guide me made the whole experience much easier. I’m so happy and grateful that my 485 visa was successfully granted! 🎉 Thank you so much, Kenneth, for your patience, support, and assistance throughout the entire process. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done and would definitely recommend your service to anyone needing help with their visa application. 😊
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I had a great experience with Pathway to Aus when they helped me with my parents' tourist visa application in September 2026. Despite of major migration changes the whole process was smooth, professional, and well explained, which made everything much easier and less stressful. Special thanks to Xavier, Gemm, Aici, and Moesha for their assistance and support throughout the process. I really appreciate your patience, responsiveness, and guidance. Highly recommended to anyone looking for reliable and helpful visa assistance. Thank you, Pathway to Aus!
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Thank you so much Pathway to Aus for helping me all throughout my visa applications journey in Australia. Thank you for being so patient, understanding and considerate when I first started my student visa last 2023. It was not easy on my end but your exceptional assistance during the process is really commendable having said that, it is with immense pride to say I am one of the clients of this agency. Yesterday, my 485 was granted and again forever thankful and grateful to the agents and the whole team who made it very smooth and easy process. Truly, with you guys I was, and I am in good hands. For those who are planning to start their journey overseas, go with Pathway to Aus, they will surely take care of you not just because of money but your success is their success too.

Application Process for 191 Visa

Complete Your Visa Application in 5 Key Steps: EOI Submission, Invitation, Application, Documentation, and Processing

l

Expression of Interest (EOI)

Submit an EOI through SkillSelect if required.

Invitation

Receive an invitation to apply for the visa.

Application:

Lodge the visa application within the specified timeframe.

i

Documentation:

Provide necessary documents such as proof of residence, income, and compliance with visa conditions.

Processing:

The Department of Home Affairs processes the application, which may include health and character checks.

Book a Migration Consultation

We have a ton of information on our site about various visa options and FAQs that answer most of our visitors’ questions, but if you’re still not sure where to start or you need a personalised step by step walkthrough, then schedule a call with one of our Registered Migration Agents.

Simply follow the link below and you'll be able to pick an agent for consultation.

Book a Consultation

If you're having any trouble booking your consultation then don't hesitate to contact us either via info@pathwaytoaus.com or by calling us +61 7 5526 5900

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Frequently Asked Questions

In case you don't find an answer to your question, feel free to consult with one of our agents.

Is the 191 visa permanent residency?

Yes the 191 visa is permanent. This means that if you hold it, you are a permanent resident of Australia.
Can I work in any occupation on the 191 visa?
Yes, you can work in any occupation on the 191 visa. You can work in any occupation on the 491 visa as well.

How can I get PR after 491 visa?

You must live and work for 3 years in regional areas to get Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) 191 Visa.

Can I live anywhere on a 191 visa?

Yes, once you hold a 191 visa, you can live anywhere in Australia. You do not need to remain in a regional area.

Can I include family members on the 191 visa?

Yes, you can include family members on the 191 visa. You can include your spouse/de facto partner and children.

What visa do I have to be on to apply for a 191 visa?

You must hold a 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa or a 494 Skilled Employed Sponsored Regional Visa.

How much does a 191 visa cost?

The costs vary by stream. For Regional Provisional Stream: Main Applicant – $505, Additional Applicant over 18 – $250, Additional Applicant under 18 – $130. And for Hong Kong Stream: Main Applicant – $4,910, Additional Applicant over 18 – $2,450, Additional Applicant under 18 – $1,230.

Is the 191 visa points tested?

No, the 191 visa is not points tested. In order to apply for the 191 visa you must first have held the 491 or 494 visa. The 491 visa is points tested.

Can I apply directly for the 191 visa?

In order to apply for the 191 visa, you must first have held the 494 or 491 visa.

What is the income requirement for the 191 visa?

Applicants are required to have a taxable income of at least the minimum amount specified in the legislative instrument (Currently $53,900). Either the main applicant or the secondary applicant of the 491 visa can earn over $53,900.

What is condition 8579?

Condition 8579 is placed on the 491 or 494 visas. It requires applicant to live, work and study (where relevant) in designated regional area. You can move between designated regional area. The condition prevents visa holder from accessing any other skilled migration visa for at least three years

Can I apply for another visa from a 491?

Holders of the new provisional visas will also be unable to apply for most other skills based visas in Australia unless they have completed at least three years in a designated regional area, unless exceptional circumstances exist.

What is regional area?

For immigration regional areas are generally speaking anywhere outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

GET IN TOUCH

In case of questions, feel free to reach out to one of our experienced Registered Migration Agents.

Contact details

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