If you’ve been living and working in regional Australia on a temporary skilled visa, the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) could be your pathway to staying permanently — without needing a sponsor or nominator to back your application.
There are two streams under this visa. Most Filipinos will be looking at the Regional Provisional stream. The Hong Kong stream is designed specifically for Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders, so it won’t apply to you if you hold a Philippine passport.
What the regional provisional stream offers
This stream lets you convert your regional temporary visa into permanent residence, provided you’ve put in the time and met the income requirements. The key conditions are straightforward, but they’re firm.
You must:
- Hold an eligible visa for at least 3 years and have complied with the conditions of that visa
- Have had a taxable income at or above a specific income threshold for at least 3 years while holding your eligible visa
- Have lived and worked in designated regional areas of Australia during that time
You do not need a sponsor or nominator to apply — this is a self-initiated application once you meet the criteria.
What it costs and how long you can stay
If granted, this visa lets you live and work in Australia permanently. The application fee starts from AUD 505.00 for the Regional Provisional stream.
The Hong Kong stream, by contrast, starts from AUD 4,910.00 — a significant difference, and a reminder that these are two very distinct pathways under the same subclass number.
Processing times: what to expect
The Department of Home Affairs does not publish a fixed processing time for the subclass 191. Instead, it directs applicants to use its visa processing time guide tool for an indication based on recently decided applications. That tool gives a guide only — it is not specific to your case.
The department assesses applications individually, and your actual wait time will depend on factors including:
- Whether you lodged a complete application with all supporting documents
- How quickly you respond to any requests for more information
- How long checks on your supporting information take
- How long it takes to receive information from external agencies — particularly for health, character, and national security requirements
- How many places are available in the migration programme
This gets tricky if your documents aren’t in order from the start. A slow response to a department request can add weeks to your wait.
The income threshold: a critical detail
The source page confirms that a specific income threshold applies, but the exact dollar figure is not stated on this overview page. You’ll need to check the detailed Regional Provisional stream page for the current threshold amount. Don’t assume — this number matters for your eligibility, and it must be met across all three years of your eligible visa, not just at the point of application.
Before you apply
The subclass 191 is a permanent visa, which means the stakes are high and the documentation requirements are serious. Make sure your records of regional residence, employment, and taxable income are complete and verifiable before you lodge. A gap in your evidence — even for a short period — can complicate your case.
The department’s page was last updated on 23 September 2024.
This is general information, not migration advice. For your specific case, consult a MARA-registered agent — find one in our directory.
First published by the Department of Home Affairs, Immigration and citizenship website. Read the full source at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-regional-191
