191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) – Hong Kong stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Subclass 191 Hong Kong stream
Stay	Permanent
Cost	From AUD6,135 main applicant
Eligibility timing	Eligible visa held three years
Work rights	Work anywhere in Australia
Study	Study anywhere in Australia
Medicare	Can enrol in Medicare
Travel facility	Multiple entries for five years
Citizenship	May apply if eligible
Family sponsorship	Sponsor eligible relatives permanently
Family inclusion	Include family before decision
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Application location	In or outside Australia
Processing	Use processing time guide

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Purpose

The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191), Hong Kong stream, allows eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders who have demonstrated commitment to Australia to live and work in Australia permanently.

Eligibility

You must:

• Hold a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport when applying.
• Hold an eligible subclass 457, 482 or 485 visa granted on the basis of meeting primary criteria.
• Have held that eligible visa for at least 3 years immediately before applying. Multiple visas cannot be combined to meet this requirement.
• Have been usually resident in a designated regional area continuously for at least 3 years immediately before applying.
• Have undertaken any work or study during those 3 years in a designated regional area.
• Have complied with all conditions of your eligible visa while in Australia.
• Have functional English when the decision is made, or pay the second instalment charge when requested.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Sign an Australian Values Statement if aged 16 or older.
• Repay, or arrange repayment of, Australian Government debts for yourself and relevant family members.
• Have an immigration history that permits grant of the visa.

Eligible visa requirements

If your eligible visa was granted:

• Before 9 July 2020: it must not expire after 8 July 2025.
• On or after 9 July 2020: it must be valid for 5 years.

Regional residence

“Usually resident” is assessed by where you physically live, eat, sleep and have a home, and your intention to make that place your home.

Stay and rights

This is a permanent visa. You can:

• Stay in Australia indefinitely.
• Work and study anywhere in Australia.
• Enrol in Medicare.
• Attend free Adult Migrant English Program classes, if eligible.
• Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence.
• Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
• Receive protection under Australian workplace law.

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before accessing some Australian Government payments and benefits.

For citizenship purposes, permanent residence starts:

• On visa grant, if you are in Australia; or
• When you enter Australia on the visa, if granted while outside Australia.

Travel

You may travel to and from Australia as often as you want for 5 years from visa grant.

After the travel component expires, you need a Resident Return Visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

If granted the visa outside Australia, enter Australia before the date stated in the grant letter.

New Zealand passport holders

Tell the border officer that you hold a subclass 191 visa and do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444). A subclass 444 grant will cease your permanent visa and may affect citizenship eligibility.

Family provisions

You can include members of your family unit:

• When lodging the application; or
• After lodgement but before a decision.

Applying family members must meet health and character requirements. Non-migrating family members may also need to meet health and character requirements.

If your partner or dependent children are not included, explain why.

Dependent children

For children under 18, provide parental consent where required. A child who turns 18 during processing must remain dependent to qualify.

A dependent child aged over 18 without an eligible visa may qualify if they are:

• Under 23 and dependent on you or your partner; or
• Aged 23 or over, dependent because of physical or cognitive limitations.

A child turning 23 during processing must meet the disability-related dependency requirement.

Cost

The main applicant charge is AUD6,135. Charges also apply for each included family member.

Applicants aged 18 or over without functional English may need to pay a AUD4,885 second instalment charge. Pay this only if requested before grant.

You may also need to pay for:

• Health examinations
• Police certificates
• Biometrics

Pacific Island and Timor-Leste concession

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa charge applies to eligible applicants using a valid passport from:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Included family members may receive the lower charge based on the primary applicant’s qualifying passport.

Required evidence

Provide clear colour scans or photographs of documents. Non-English documents must include English translations.

Identity

• Current passport pages showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates
• National identity card, if available
• Name-change evidence, if applicable

Regional residence

Evidence of continuous residence in a designated regional area for the required 3 years, such as:

• Lease agreements
• Rates notices
• Utility bills

Work and study

Evidence that all work or study during the required 3 years was in a designated regional area, such as:

• Employment contracts
• Work references
• Payslips
• Educational completion letters

Character

Provide:

• Australian Federal Police complete disclosure National Police Certificate, if you spent 12 months or more in Australia during the last 10 years since turning 16
• Overseas police certificates for every country where you spent 12 months or more during that period
• Military records or discharge papers, if applicable
• Form 80
• Form 1221

Australian police certificates are valid for 12 months. State and territory police certificates and standard disclosure certificates are not accepted.

English

Provide proof that applicants aged 18 or over have functional English. Applicants unable to prove functional English may be asked to pay the second instalment charge.

Family evidence

As applicable, provide:

• Marriage, divorce, death, separation or relationship documents
• Partner identity and character documents
• Evidence of a genuine and continuing relationship
• Birth certificates, family book or adoption papers for children
• Form 47a and dependency evidence for dependent applicants aged 18 or over
• Form 1229, statutory declaration, court order or equivalent evidence for children requiring migration consent

How to apply

1. Check that you meet all visa, residence and regional work or study requirements.
2. Organise health examinations, if possible.
3. Gather identity, residence, work or study, character, English and family documents.
4. Create or log into ImmiAccount.
5. Lodge the application online.
6. Attach supporting documents.
7. Pay the first application charge.
8. Record your transaction reference number.

You can apply and receive a decision while in or outside Australia, but cannot be in immigration clearance.

After applying

• Check ImmiAccount for requests and attach missing documents promptly.
• The Department may decide the application without requesting further documents.
• You may be asked to complete health examinations or provide biometrics.
• Pay the second instalment if invoiced.
• Tell the Department about changes to your contact details, passport, relationship status, newborn child or application.
• Use Form 1023 to correct incorrect answers.
• Use Form 1436 to add an eligible family member after lodgement.
• Remain lawful in Australia by holding a valid substantive or bridging visa.

A valid onshore application will usually make you eligible for a bridging visa if your current visa expires before a decision and you do not hold another substantive visa.

Do not ask for your current visa to be cancelled. Cancellation may make you unlawful and cause a bridging visa to cease.

Obligations

You and your family members must obey Australian laws.

Important warnings

• The visa application charge is not refunded if the application is refused.
• Processing times are indicative only and vary by individual circumstances.
• Provide accurate information and evidence of identity.
• Keep a copy of the visa decision letter.
• The visa is digitally linked to your passport; no passport label is issued.
• Use VEVO to check visa details, conditions and travel validity.