How the pathway is structured
Subclass 491 is a provisional visa requiring the holder to live, work and study in a designated regional area. Subclass 191 is the permanent visa available to eligible provisional regional visa holders who have met the residence and income requirements attached to that pathway.
The requirements to keep in view
Meeting the conditions is an ongoing obligation across the provisional period, not a single test at the end.
- Holding the provisional visa for at least 3 years
- Living, working and studying only in designated regional areas (Condition 8579)
- Lodging Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Notices of Assessment for 3 income years (the former $53,900 minimum income threshold has been abolished)
- Complying with all conditions attached to the provisional visa
Record-keeping matters
Evidence is assembled over years: ATO notices of assessment, employment records, tenancy or property documents and residential address history. Keeping these organised from the start makes the permanent Subclass 191 stage straightforward.
Verify current criteria & planning levels
Designated regional areas and nomination quotas are set by the Department of Home Affairs (with 14,110 places allocated for Subclass 491 in 2026–27). Confirm current requirements with the Department, or speak with MovesEdu about your regional strategy.
This article is general information about publicly announced policy, not personal migration advice. Requirements change — confirm current criteria with the Department of Home Affairs or IRCC, or speak with us about your specific profile.
