Australia · Skilled Worker Visa

Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence

Official name Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)

By António Mira, Founder · Member, Arab-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCIAP) & Portuguese-Saudi Business Council (PSBC)
✓ Verified against the official government source · Last verified 2026-06-08 · Our methodology
4/10 diff
Moderate

Transition permanent residence visa for Subclass 491 (or older 494) holders. Must have lived in designated regional area…

Min income
Processing
60+ days
Path to PR
Yes
Job offer
Not required
Direct answer

Transition permanent residence visa for Subclass 491 (or older 494) holders. Must have lived in designated regional area for at least 3 years on the provisional 491 and earned ≥AUD 53,900 (indexed) taxable income in at least 3 of the 5 provisional years. No new points test. Free of charge in real terms (AUD 510 admin).

At a Glance

Visa Duration
24 months
Processing Time
60+ days
Min Income
Path to PR
Yes
Difficulty
4/10 — Moderate

Eligibility Requirements

RequirementDetails
Age Range18–65
Job Offer RequiredNo
Sponsorship RequiredNo
Health Insurance RequiredNo

Family & Rights

RightDetails
Family AllowedYes
Spouse Can WorkYes
Path to Permanent ResidencyYes
Time to Citizenship4 years

Related Pathways

Cost of Living

Sydney
Single (monthly)€3,140
Family (monthly)€5,650
Rent 1BR (center)€2,072
Groceries€785
Transport pass€188
Melbourne
Single (monthly)€2,503
Family (monthly)€4,800
Rent 1BR (center)€1,475
Groceries€626
Transport pass€150
Brisbane
Single (monthly)€2,448
Family (monthly)€4,550
Rent 1BR (center)€1,565
Groceries€612
Transport pass€147

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)?

Transition permanent residence visa for Subclass 491 (or older 494) holders. Must have lived in designated regional area for at least 3 years on the provisional 491 and earned ≥AUD 53,900 (indexed) taxable income in at least 3 of the 5 provisional years. No new points test. Free of charge in real terms (AUD 510 admin).

Can I bring my family on the Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)?

Yes, this pathway allows family members including dependents. Your spouse may also be eligible to work.

Can the Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) lead to permanent residency or citizenship?

Yes. Holders of this visa can work toward citizenship in approximately 4 years, subject to meeting residence and other conditions.

Are there alternative pathways to Australia?

Yes. Australia offers 24 other immigration pathways. Compare all options on our Australia country page.

What is the cost of living in Australia?

Monthly costs for a single person in city center: Sydney: €3,140/mo; Melbourne: €2,503/mo; Brisbane: €2,448/mo. These include rent, groceries, transport, and utilities.

Does your profile fit this route?

Take the free 3-minute quiz — see where you qualify across 2,500+ routes, and what's blocking you.

Get Your Free Verdict → Full Report — €10
• Free • 3 minutes • No signup

Official source

Requirements on this page are based on this official/primary source:

Data last verified: 2026-06-08 · See our methodology

Complete guide to emigrating to Australia →

This page may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Free verdict — 3 min