191 Visa Requirements in Australia (2026)

You can generally apply for the Subclass 191 visa if you hold a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (491) or a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (494), have held it for at least three years, and have followed its conditions. You also need to meet the health, character and documentary requirements, including Notices of Assessment from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

These 191 visa requirements decide whether your years in regional Australia turn into permanent residency. Holding a 491 or 494 is the starting point, but it does not guarantee an outcome on its own.

Information checked on 14 October 2026. Always confirm the current rules with the Department of Home Affairs before you apply.

What Is the Subclass 191 Visa?

The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, Subclass 191, is a permanent visa. It is designed for people who have lived and worked in a designated regional area on a qualifying provisional visa.

A provisional visa is a temporary visa that comes with a pathway to permanent residency. A permanent visa has no expiry date, so you can live, work and study in Australia indefinitely, subject to the visa’s own conditions. You do not need a new sponsor or employer nomination to apply for the 191.

The 191 has two streams. The Regional Provisional stream, covered in this article, is the common route for 491 and 494 holders. There is also a separate Hong Kong stream with different requirements.

191 visa vs 491 visa vs 494 visa

Learn more about the earlier steps on our Subclass 491 page and Subclass 494 page.

191 Visa Requirements in Australia: The Full List

The Department of Home Affairs sets the criteria for the Regional Provisional stream. The main requirements are below, and your own circumstances may add to them.

Requirement 1: Hold an eligible 491 or 494 visa

You must hold a Subclass 491 or 494 visa when you apply, and you must have held it for at least three years before you apply.

Requirement 2: Comply with your visa conditions

You must have followed the conditions of your eligible visa while you were in Australia. This applies for the whole period you held it.

For the 491 and 494, the conditions generally include living, working and studying in a designated regional area. You can check the exact conditions in VEVO.

Requirement 3: Provide ATO Notices of Assessment

The primary applicant must provide Notices of Assessment from the ATO for three income years out of the five years of the eligible visa. More detail is in the income section below.

Requirement 4: Meet health and character standards

You, and any family members who apply with you, must meet the health requirement and the character requirement. Police certificates and health examinations may be requested.

Requirement 5: Australian values statement and no debts

Applicants aged 16 or over generally need to sign the Australian values statement. You should also have no outstanding debt to the Australian Government, or an arrangement to repay it.

Requirement 6: Visa history

Home Affairs says you may not be eligible if a visa was cancelled or an application was refused while you were in Australia. Your history is looked at as part of the assessment.

What the 191 visa requirements do not include

The Regional Provisional stream has no points test, and it does not ask for a new state nomination or employer sponsorship. Agents and Home Affairs-based summaries also report no age limit at this stage, although the 491 and 494 had their own age rules when you first applied.

191 Visa Eligibility: Who Can Apply After a 491 or 494?

Eligible applicants are usually holders of a Subclass 491 or Subclass 494 visa who have met the time, compliance and evidence requirements.

The 191 visa after 491 and the 191 visa after 494 follow the same basic rules. The difference lies in how you got the earlier visa. The 491 is based on state or territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship, and the 494 is based on employer sponsorship.

Holding one of these visas does not automatically make you eligible. Time spent outside the conditions, gaps in evidence or a problem in your visa history can affect your application.

Family members who held the provisional visa with you may be able to apply on the same application. A secondary visa holder may also apply as a primary applicant if they meet every requirement themselves.

191 Visa Income Requirements and ATO Notices of Assessment

There is no minimum income requirement for the 191 visa. Home Affairs advised in June 2023 that no legislative instrument sets a minimum income threshold for it.

What you do need is ATO Notices of Assessment for three income years out of the five years of your eligible visa. A Notice of Assessment is the ATO’s summary of your tax return, so you must have lodged your returns.

Many websites still publish older figures, such as a taxable income of AUD 53,900 a year or an amount linked to the temporary skilled migration income threshold. Treat those pages as outdated.

Some firms report that the Department does not require each notice to cover a full twelve months of income. Because this affects borderline cases, confirm it for your situation before you rely on it.

191 Visa Requirements: How Long Must You Hold a 491 or 494 Visa?

You must have held your 491 or 494 for at least three years before you apply. The Department’s wording is that you hold the visa and have held it for at least three years at the time of application.

This is generally counted from the date your provisional visa was granted. Check your grant letter and VEVO for the exact date.

The three years is the minimum holding time. It is separate from the three Notices of Assessment, which must come from income years within your visa period.

Time spent in a regional area before your 491 or 494 was granted does not necessarily count. Also, lodging a 191 application does not cancel the conditions of your current provisional visa, so keep following them until the 191 is granted.

Your provisional visa lasts five years, so the application must be lodged while it is still valid. Plan your lodgement date well before the expiry date.

191 Visa Document Checklist: Application Requirements to Prepare

The final list depends on your circumstances and what the Department asks for. Use the checklist inside ImmiAccount as your guide. These are the documents most applicants prepare.

Identity and visa documents

• Current passport identity page
• Your 491 or 494 visa grant notice
• Details of previous visas, if relevant

Tax and income

• ATO Notices of Assessment for three income years within your eligible visa period
• Amended notices, if you amended a return

Evidence of compliance with visa conditions

• Proof of where you lived and worked, if requested, such as leases, utility bills, payslips or employment letters
• Employment details that match your tax records

Family members

• Identity documents for each family member included
• Relationship evidence, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificates

Health and character

• Police certificates, if requested
• Health examination results, if requested
• Signed Australian values statement

191 Visa Application Process: Step by Step

1. Check your eligibility. Confirm your visa type, your holding period and your visa conditions.
2. Gather your documents. Download your Notices of Assessment and collect your identity and visa papers.
3. Lodge online. Apply through ImmiAccount and pay the application charge.
4. Attach your documents. Upload everything you have at the time of lodging.
5. Complete checks. Arrange health examinations or police certificates if the Department asks.
6. Respond to requests. Reply to any request for information before the deadline.
7. Wait for the decision. The Department will notify you of the outcome.

191 Visa Application Fees and Charges

As checked on 14 October 2026, the base application charge for the Regional Provisional stream is A$630 for the main applicant. This applies to applications from 1 July 2026.

Additional applicants pay extra charges. Reported rates from 1 July 2026 are A$315 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and A$160 for each applicant under 18.

The Hong Kong stream has a different, much higher charge. Health examinations and police certificates also cost extra.

The charge you pay is set by the date Home Affairs receives your application, and charges are usually updated each 1 July. Confirm the amount on the Home Affairs Subclass 191 page and with the Department’s Visa Pricing Estimator before you lodge.

Common Problems With 191 Visa Requirements

• Missing or incomplete documents. A gap in your evidence can lead to a request for more information and a longer wait.
• Unfinished tax returns. The ATO must have issued the Notices of Assessment, so a lodged return alone is not enough.
• Not enough Notices of Assessment. You need notices for three income years within the five-year visa period.
• Uncertainty about visa conditions. Time outside the conditions can raise questions during assessment.
• Inconsistent information. Dates, addresses and employers should match across forms, tax records and evidence.
• Lodging too early. You must have held the visa for the required time before you apply.
• Counting the wrong time. Years in a regional area before the grant of your 491 or 494 may not count toward the holding period.

None of these automatically leads to a refusal. The Department looks at the full application, so it is best to check each point before you lodge.

191 Visa Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements for a 191 visa in Australia?

You generally need to hold a 491 or 494 visa, have held it for at least three years, and have complied with its conditions. You must also provide ATO Notices of Assessment for three income years out of five, and meet health and character requirements.

Can I apply for a 191 visa after holding a 491 visa?

Yes, a 491 holder can apply once the holding period, visa conditions and evidence requirements are met. Holding the visa alone does not guarantee eligibility.

Can I apply for a 191 visa after holding a 494 visa?

Yes. The 494 is also an eligible visa for the Regional Provisional stream, and the same core requirements apply.

Is there a minimum income requirement for the 191 visa?

No. Home Affairs has advised that no legislative instrument sets a minimum income. You still need ATO Notices of Assessment for three income years out of the five years of your eligible visa.

How long do I need to hold an eligible regional visa before applying?

At least three years before you apply. Check your visa grant date and plan to lodge before the provisional visa expires.

Do I need to live in regional Australia to qualify?

You need to comply with the conditions of your 491 or 494, which generally require living, working and studying in a designated regional area. Check your own conditions in VEVO.

Do I need a sponsor, points test or age check for the 191 visa?

The Regional Provisional stream does not need a new sponsor or a points test. Agents report no age limit at this stage, but the earlier 491 or 494 had its own rules.

Can my family members be included in a 191 visa application?

Family members who held the provisional visa with you may be able to apply together. They must meet health and character requirements, and some documents apply to family members aged 16 and over.

How much does a 191 visa cost?

The base charge for the Regional Provisional stream is A$630 for the main applicant for applications from 1 July 2026 (checked 14 October 2026). Additional applicants pay extra, reported as A$315 for adults and A$160 for children. Confirm the amount with the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before you lodge.

How long does the 191 visa take to process?

Home Affairs publishes a processing times guide based on recently decided applications. Reports from the guide updated on 29 September 2026 pointed to about 8 months for half of applications and about 10 months for nine in ten. Check the official guide for the latest figure, as it is not a guarantee.

Where can I check the latest 191 visa requirements?

On the Department of Home Affairs Subclass 191 visa page. Read the requirements for the Regional Provisional stream and use the step-by-step tab for documents.

Get Guidance on Your 191 Visa Requirements and Options

The 191 visa requirements are straightforward on paper, but small details in your records can make a difference. A quick review before lodging can save time later.

Asia Pacific Group (APG) provides education and migration consultancy services. If you hold a 491 or 494 and are planning your next step, contact APG to discuss your circumstances and available pathways. You can also read about permanent residency in Australia and our migration services.

No visa outcome can be guaranteed, but you will go into the process better prepared.

Disclaimer

Important: This article provides general information only. Visa requirements, charges and processing times change, and your eligibility depends on your individual circumstances. Always check the latest information on the official Department of Home Affairs website before you make a visa application. For advice about your situation, consider speaking with a registered migration agent or qualified legal professional.