Visa 491 to 191: Moving to PR After 3 Years Regional
Overview: from 491 to PR
The 491 visa is a provisional visa — meaning the holder needs to move to a permanent residence (PR) visa if they want to settle long term in Australia. The official pathway from the 491 to PR is through visa 191 (Permanent Residence — Skilled Regional).
Visa 191 is designed specifically for people who have completed their regional obligations while holding a 491 visa (or a 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional). This is not an automatic process — the applicant must actively apply for the 191 visa and demonstrate they meet all the conditions.
The mandatory conditions
To be eligible for the 191 visa, a 491 visa holder must meet all of the following conditions:
Time holding the 491 visa
You must hold the 491 visa (or 494) for at least 3 continuous years before lodging the 191 application. This 3-year period is counted from the date the 491 visa was granted, not from the date of arrival in Australia.
Important note: if the 491 visa is still valid and the applicant has reached 3 years, they can lodge the 191 application straight away without waiting out the full 5 years of the 491 visa.
Living and working in a regional area
Throughout the entire 3 years holding the 491 visa, the applicant must have lived and worked in a designated regional area of Australia. This condition does not just mean registering an address in a regional area — the applicant needs to demonstrate actual residence and work there.
Evidence to prepare:
- Rental agreement or property ownership in the regional area
- Electricity, water and internet bills at the regional address
- Mail, bank accounts and official documents sent to the regional address
- Employment contract with an employer in the regional area
- Payslips from an employer in the regional area
Minimum income
For at least 3 of the 5 years holding the 491 visa, total taxable income must reach at least the minimum income threshold published by DHA.
This income threshold is updated periodically. As at the time this article was published, the income threshold for the 191 visa is linked to a base salary level in the Australian economy. Applicants need to check the exact threshold on the DHA website at the time of lodging.
Note: Income is counted as total individual income (it does not include a spouse’s income), comprising salary, self-employment income, and other taxable income sources.
Lodging tax returns in full
The applicant must have lodged a tax return for each financial year while holding the 491 visa. If there was no obligation to lodge a tax return (for example, the first year of arriving in Australia mid-financial-year), an explanation and supporting documents should be prepared.
This is a condition many people overlook. The ATO (Australian Taxation Office) and DHA share data — DHA will check tax-lodgement history when processing the 191 application.
The 191 application process
Step 1: Check eligibility
Before lodging, self-check all conditions: have you held the 491 for a full 3 years, have you lived in the correct regional area, does your income meet the threshold, have you lodged all tax returns.
Step 2: Prepare the application
Gather all evidence: residence records (lease agreements, utility bills), employment records (employment contracts, payslips), tax records (tax returns, Notices of Assessment from the ATO), and a valid passport.
Step 3: Health examination
Complete the health examination as required by DHA (if your previous health examination has expired).
Step 4: Lodge online
Lodge the 191 application through the DHA ImmiAccount portal. Attach all supporting documents. Pay the application charge.
Step 5: Wait for processing
DHA will review the application and may request further information or documents. Processing times for the 191 visa vary depending on the period — usually from a few months to over a year.
Common issues
Issue 1: Working in a major city while holding the 491
Some 491 holders find work in Melbourne or Sydney and move there to work, breaching the visa condition. This not only affects 191 eligibility but can also lead to a breach of the current 491 visa condition.
Issue 2: Income not reaching the threshold
Some industries such as hospitality, services or retail in regional areas pay below the required threshold. You need to track your annual income and adjust early if it is short.
Issue 3: Insufficient residence evidence
A rental agreement alone is not enough — DHA wants to see evidence of actually living there, such as utility bills, bank statements, and so on.
Issue 4: Not lodging tax returns on time
The Australian financial year ends on 30 June. Tax returns usually have to be lodged before 31 October of that year (or later if using a tax agent). Lodging late or not lodging can create problems when applying for the 191 visa.
When to start preparing
You don’t need to wait until month 35 or 36 to start preparing. From the moment you receive the 491 visa, the applicant should:
- Keep records of all residence and employment documents from the very first day
- Lodge tax returns on time each year and keep the Notices of Assessment
- Track annual income to ensure it reaches the threshold
- Avoid living or working in a major city even for a short period without a legitimate reason