No, you cannot directly apply for the 191 visa. To be eligible, you must have a valid regional provisional visa and hold a subclass 491 or 494 visa for at least three years. The 191 visa is a two-step process to permanent residency in Australia. First, you must obtain a regional provisional visa and hold a subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) or 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional).

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What is a 191 visa?
The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191), also known as the 191 visa, is a pathway to Australia for individuals who have lived and worked in Australia's regional areas through a provisional visa, such as a 491 or 494 visa, for at least three years.
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Eligibility for the 191 visa
To be eligible for the 191 visas, you must fulfill the conditions given below. You must:
- Hold a qualifying visa
- Provide assessment-issued notices authorized by the Australian Taxation Office for 3 income years of the 5-year validity of your qualifying visa.
- Adhere to the conditions of your qualifying visa
- Have a good health certificate
- Have a good character certificate
- Comply with the Australian values statement
- Pay back debt to the Government of Australia (if any)
- Not have visa cancellations or refusal of application earlier.

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Eligibility for a 491 visa
The eligibility conditions of the 491 visa are given below. You must:
- Have a nomination by a state or territory of Australia agency or sponsorship by an eligible family member.
- Be employed in an occupation listed in a relevant skilled occupation list
- Have the required skills assessment for the job role
- Have an invitation to apply for the 491 visa
- Have a score of 65 points or more in the points grid system
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Eligibility for the 494 visa
The eligibility criteria for the 494 visa are given below. You must:
- Have nomination by an Australia-based work sponsor.
- Be employed in an occupation listed on the relevant skilled occupation list.
- Have a favorable report for skills assessment for your occupation
- Be below 45 years
- Have the required skills in the English language
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How to apply for the 191 visa?
The detailed procedure to apply for the 191 visa is given below.
Step 1: Hold a valid qualifying visa to apply for the 191 visa.
Step 2: Check if you meet the other eligibility conditions for the 191 visa.
Step 3: Ensure you include all the required documents with the application.
Step 4: Submit the duly filled 191 visa application form.
Step 5: Become an Australian permanent resident with the 191 visa.
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