Skilled · Subclass 191
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa
Permanent visa for 491 and 494 holders after 3 years in regional Australia.
Who it is for
Holders of a 491 or 494 visa who have lived and worked in regional Australia.
Key eligibility
- Hold a 491 or 494, held for at least 3 years.
- Notices of assessment from the Australian Taxation Office for 3 income years within the period of the visa. There is no minimum income amount.
- Complied with the conditions of the visa for the whole period.
- Health and character.
Where to apply, and bridging visas
In or outside Australia (not in immigration clearance).
Your journey, step by step
Track your dates
From the start of your 491 or 494, track the 3-year date and lodge tax returns on time.
How a registered migration agent helps: reviews compliance across the whole provisional period.
Resolve tax issues
Pay any tax debt or arrange a payment plan.
How a registered migration agent helps: flags tax issues that can delay a decision.
Service agreement
Before any personal advice or preparation, you receive a written service agreement and the OMARA Consumer Guide.
How a registered migration agent helps: sets out the work, the fee and the refund policy in writing. No money is taken for visa work before the agreement is signed.
Lodge after 3 years
Apply in ImmiAccount and include eligible family.
How a registered migration agent helps: prepares evidence of regional residence and work.
Health, police and biometrics
Health examinations, police certificates and biometrics when the Department asks.
How a registered migration agent helps: tracks every request and deadline so nothing lapses.
Permanent residence
A permanent visa with a 5-year travel facility; citizenship when eligible.
How a registered migration agent helps: plans citizenship timing.
The Department of Home Affairs makes every decision. No one can promise a grant, an invitation or a faster decision.
Government charges from 1 July 2026
| Applicant or item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Main applicant | A$630 |
| Family member 18 or over | A$315 |
| Family member under 18 | A$160 |
Health checks, police certificates, translations, skills assessments and English tests are extra and paid to the provider. Our professional fee is separate and quoted in writing. Estimate total charges for your family.
Source: Home Affairs Current visa pricing table, charges from 1 July 2026, read 22 October 2026. Confirm in the Visa Pricing Estimator before you pay.
Processing times
Source: Home Affairs Global visa processing times, read 22 October 2026. Check the current guide. A guide only; times change monthly and are not a promise.
Common refusal risks
- Breach of regional residence or work conditions.
- Fewer than 3 income years assessed by the tax office.
- Applying before holding the visa for 3 years.
- Health or character.
Drawn from the published criteria and general practice experience, not Department statistics.
Document checklist
Tick items as you collect them. Ticks are saved in this browser only and are not sent to us. This is a general list; the Department may ask for more.
0 of 0 collected
The Immigration Worldwide. Sukh Sandhu, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1384130. General information, checked 22 October 2026.
Sources and checks
- Home Affairs: Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)
- Home Affairs Current visa pricing table, charges from 1 July 2026
Information checked 22 October 2026. General information only, not advice about your situation. Australian advice is given by Sukh Sandhu, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1384130.
Talk it through. The first 15 minutes are free and general. Personal advice starts only after a written service agreement and the OMARA Consumer Guide.