Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)

You apply for the Subclass 191 visa entirely online through ImmiAccount. You can be anywhere in the world when you apply and when the Department makes its decision—you do not need to be in Australia.

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility

Before you start, verify that you meet the core requirements:

• You hold a Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional – Provisional) or Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional – Provisional) visa
• Your visa was granted at least 3 years ago (calculated from the grant date shown on your visa grant letter, not your arrival date)
• You have lived and worked in a designated regional area of Australia for at least 3 years while holding that visa. Designated regional areas include all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
• You have complied with visa condition 8579 while in Australia, which requires you to live, work, and study exclusively in designated regional areas. Time spent overseas does not count against you—only your conduct while physically in Australia matters.

Important clarification: You do not need to have remained in Australia continuously for three years. The Department only requires that you complied with condition 8579 whenever you were in Australia. You may have travelled overseas during your provisional visa period without affecting your eligibility.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

Collect and scan all required documents in colour. If any document is more than one page, save it as a single file. Have all non-English documents translated into English by an accredited translator (in Australia) or by a translator who includes their full name, address, phone number, and qualifications (outside Australia). You do not need to have documents certified.

Identity documents:

• Pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and issue/expiry dates
• National identity card (if you have one)
• Proof of any name changes (marriage certificate, divorce certificate, or change of name documents from a Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages)

Proof of regional residence and work:

• Leases or rental agreements for your home(s) in the designated regional area
• Utility bills (telephone, gas, electricity) showing your regional address(es)
• School reports or academic transcripts (if you studied in the region)
• Title deeds to your home (if applicable)
• Reference letters from employers
• Payslips covering the three-year period
• Any other documents demonstrating you lived and worked in the designated area

Evidence of income:

• Three Notices of Assessment (NOAs) from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) issued during the period you held your provisional visa. These must be from three different income years out of the five years you held the visa. There is no minimum income threshold—even low income is acceptable as long as you have filed tax returns and obtained these notices.
• If you owe money to the ATO, provide evidence that you have paid it back or have an approved payment plan in place.

Character documents:

• Australian police certificate (if you have spent 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since you turned 16). This must be a complete disclosure National Police Certificate issued by the Australian Federal Police—not a standard disclosure certificate or one issued by state/territory police. This certificate is valid for 12 months from issue.
• Overseas police certificate from every country where you spent 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16 (including your home country)
• Military service records or discharge papers (if applicable)
• Form 80 – Personal particulars for character assessment
• Form 1221 – Additional personal particulars information
• Australian Values Statement (if you are 16 or older) – You must read or have explained to you the Life in Australia booklet and sign this statement

Relationship documents (if applicable):

• Marriage certificate, divorce documents, death certificate, or separation documents
• If your partner or dependent children are not included in this application, a statement explaining why (for example, they already hold Australian citizenship or permanent residency)

Partner documents (if including a partner):

• Identity documents and photos
• Character documents (police certificates, Form 80, Form 1221)
• Marriage certificate (if married)
• For de facto relationships: either evidence of registration with an Australian State or Territory, or documents proving you have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before applying
• Evidence of genuine and continuing relationship: joint bank account statements, billing accounts in joint names, joint leases or mortgages, or documents showing your partner has lived at the same address as you

Dependent children documents (if including children under 18):

• Birth certificates or family book showing both parents' names
• Adoption papers (if applicable)
• Parental responsibility documents (if applicable)
• Consent from any person with legal right to decide where the child lives (if that person is not coming to Australia with the child). This can be either Form 1229 (Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18) or a statutory declaration.

For children over 18: They can only be included if they hold an eligible visa (491 or 494) that was granted on the basis that they were a member of your family unit.

Step 3: Create or Log Into Your ImmiAccount

Go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and either create a new ImmiAccount or log into your existing account. You will need a valid email address and will set up a password.

Step 4: Start Your Application

In ImmiAccount, select the option to apply for a new visa and choose Subclass 191 – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional).

Step 5: Complete the Application Form

Fill out all required fields in the online form. Answer all questions accurately and completely. The form will ask you about:

• Your personal details
• Your current visa (491 or 494) and grant date
• Your residence and work history in the designated regional area
• Your income and tax file number
• Your health and character history
• Details of any family members you are including in the application
• Your contact information

Do not leave any fields blank unless the form explicitly states a field is optional.

Step 6: Attach Your Documents

Upload all scanned documents to your application in ImmiAccount. Organize them clearly by category (identity, residence, work, income, character, etc.). Ensure all scans are in colour and legible.

Step 7: Pay the First Application Charge

The Department will not process your application until you pay the first instalment of the visa application charge. The cost is:

• AUD 505 for the main applicant
• AUD 250 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over
• AUD 130 for each additional applicant under 18

Pay through ImmiAccount using a credit or debit card. Note your transaction reference number (TRN) for your records.

Step 8: Submit Your Application

Review all information one final time to ensure accuracy and completeness. Submit your application through ImmiAccount. You will receive a confirmation that your application has been received.

Step 9: Monitor Your Application

After submission, check ImmiAccount regularly to see if the Department has requested additional information. The Department does not provide updates on applications under assessment, but you can see any requests for documents or information in your ImmiAccount inbox.

If you need to make changes after applying:

• To add a family member: Complete Form 1436 (Adding an additional applicant after lodgement), pay the additional fee through ImmiAccount, and attach the form and supporting documents to your application.
• If a child is born after you apply: Notify the Department as soon as possible.
• If you made a mistake on your application: Complete Form 1023 (Notification of incorrect answers) and attach it in ImmiAccount.
• To report changes: Notify the Department of changes to your phone number, email, address, passport, marital status, or if you want to withdraw your application.

Step 10: Respond to Department Requests

If the Department asks for more information or documents, respond as quickly as possible. Delays in responding can slow your processing time. Attach any requested documents directly in ImmiAccount.

The Department may ask you to:

• Attend health examinations (they will tell you which clinic to visit)
• Provide biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at an Australian biometric collection centre
• Provide additional character or residence documentation

Step 11: Receive Your Decision

The Department will notify you in writing of its decision. You can be in or outside Australia when the decision is made.

If your visa is granted:

• You will receive your visa grant number
• Your visa start date
• Any visa conditions that apply to you
• Keep a copy of the decision letter for your records

If your visa is refused:

• The Department will explain why
• You will be told whether you have a right to review the decision
• The application charge will not be refunded

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Item	Cost
Main applicant	AUD 505
Additional applicant (18 years or over)	AUD 250
Additional applicant (under 18 years)	AUD 130

Total estimate for a family of four (two adults and two children under 18): AUD 1,015 (AUD 505 + AUD 250 + AUD 130 + AUD 130)

This estimate does not include health examinations (typically AUD 300–800 per person), overseas police certificates (typically AUD 20–200 per document), Australian police certificate (included in health examination or obtained separately), or professional migration agent fees (if you choose to use one).

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Current Processing Times

As of March 2026, the Department processes Subclass 191 applications according to the following timeframes:

• 50% of applications are processed within 7 to 9 months
• 90% of applications are processed within 13 to 14 months

Some applications are processed more quickly (as fast as 2–4 months), while complex cases may take up to 12 months or longer.

Factors That Affect Your Processing Time

Your application may be processed faster or slower depending on:

• Completeness of your application: Submitting all required documents upfront significantly speeds processing. Incomplete applications or those missing key documents (particularly ATO Notices of Assessment or regional residence evidence) face delays.
• Your response time: If the Department requests additional information, how quickly you respond directly affects processing speed.
• External checks: Time required for health examinations, police certificate verification, and national security checks can vary by country and individual circumstances.
• Program capacity: The 2025 allocation was 3,000 visa places. Processing speed may slow if demand exceeds available places in a given month.
• Application complexity: Applications involving multiple family members, health issues, or character concerns take longer to assess.

Document Validity Periods

Keep these validity periods in mind when gathering documents:

• Australian police certificate: Valid for 12 months from the date of issue
• Overseas police certificates: Validity varies by country; check with the issuing authority
• Health examinations: Valid for the duration of your application processing; the Department will advise if new examinations are needed
• Passport: Must be valid when you apply and when your visa is granted

Processing Priority

The Department processes Subclass 191 applications according to Ministerial Direction No. 105, which sets priorities for skilled visa processing. As of March 2026, the Department is processing applications lodged from August 2025 onwards. This means there is typically a lag of several months between lodgement and the start of active assessment.