Skilled Regional visa (subclass 191)

The Skilled Regional visa (subclass 191), also known as the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, is a permanent residency visa available for individuals who have worked and lived in regional Australia (Regional and Workforce visa) or a designated regional area of a state or territory (State or Territory Government Area visa) for at least 3 years. Holders of the 191 visa enjoy permanent residency rights, including the freedom to travel in and out of Australia and access to the benefits and entitlements of Australian citizens.

The 191 visa has two streams: the Regional Provisional stream and Hong Kong stream.

1. Regional Provisional stream

This stream primarily targets holders of the 491 and 494 visas, who can apply after fulfilling specific requirements upon completing a minimum of three years on either of these visas. The specific requirements for applicants are as follows:

Hold the 491/494 visa for at least 3 years.
Submit Notice of Assessment for a minimum of three years within the five-year validity period of the 491/494 visa. However, there is no specific requirement for annual income.
Reside, study, and work in a regional area for at least three years.
Comply with the conditions of the 491/494 visa.
Meet the health and character requirements.

2. Hong Kong stream

This stream is exclusively for holders of Hong Kong or British National Overseas (BNO) passports. Unlike the previous stream mentioned, applicants for the 191 visa in this category must hold a 457, 482, or 485 visa. The specific requirements are as follows:

Hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas (BNO) passport.
Hold a 457/482/485 visa for a minimum of 3 years. The requirement cannot be met by combining multiple visas.
Reside, study, or work in a regional area for at least 3 years.
Comply with theconditions of the 457/482/485 visa.
Provide a valid IELTS score of at least 4.5 taken within one year prior to application. Applicants who have completed at least 2 years of study in Australia and obtained a diploma or higher qualification are exempt from providing an IELTS score.
Meet the health and character requirements.