This report summarises publicly released Department of Home Affairs data relating to Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa applications between January 2024 and December 2025. The data includes both primary and secondary applicants across Regional Provisional and Hong Kong streams.
Overview of the Subclass 191 Visa
The Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa is designed for eligible holders of regional provisional visas who have met the required residence and income conditions in Australia.
The report provides information regarding:
• Number of visa applications lodged
• Number of visas granted
• Applications on hand
• Processing times as at December 2025
Subclass 191 Visa Applications Lodged
| Activity Month | Applications Lodged |
| January 2024 | 734 |
| February 2024 | 703 |
| March 2024 | 1,040 |
| April 2024 | 928 |
| May 2024 | 1,037 |
| June 2024 | 1,087 |
| July 2024 | 1,643 |
| August 2024 | 1,514 |
| September 2024 | 948 |
| October 2024 | 1,047 |
| November 2024 | 1,057 |
| December 2024 | 913 |
| January 2025 | 828 |
| February 2025 | 1,014 |
| March 2025 | 1,345 |
| April 2025 | 1,533 |
| May 2025 | 2,204 |
| June 2025 | 2,416 |
| July 2025 | 2,504 |
| August 2025 | 2,472 |
| September 2025 | 1,661 |
| October 2025 | 1,551 |
| November 2025 | 1,593 |
| December 2025 | 2,791 |
The data shows a noticeable increase in Subclass 191 visa lodgements during 2025, particularly from March 2025 onwards.
Subclass 191 Visa Grants
| Activity Month | Visas Granted |
| January 2024 | 492 |
| February 2024 | 276 |
| March 2024 | 217 |
| April 2024 | 289 |
| May 2024 | 194 |
| July 2024 | 370 |
| August 2024 | 408 |
| September 2024 | 327 |
| October 2024 | 163 |
| November 2024 | 231 |
| December 2024 | 234 |
| January 2025 | 376 |
| February 2025 | 351 |
| March 2025 | 500 |
| April 2025 | 613 |
| May 2025 | 1,236 |
| June 2025 | 1,691 |
| July 2025 | 5,317 |
| August 2025 | 4,052 |
| September 2025 | 2,151 |
| October 2025 | 1,025 |
| November 2025 | 3,032 |
| December 2025 | 608 |
The data reflects substantial grant activity during mid and late 2025, including significant increases in July and August 2025.
Applications on Hand
As at 31 December 2025, the Department reported 12,274 applications on hand for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.
Processing Times
According to the report, the median processing time for primary applications decided as at December 2025 was approximately 7 months, while 90% of applications were finalised within approximately 16 months.
Important Notes
The Department of Home Affairs noted that the data includes both primary and secondary applicants and covers both Regional Provisional and Hong Kong streams. The Department also confirmed that figures below five are masked as ‘<5’ for confidentiality purposes.
Conclusion
The Department of Home Affairs data indicates increased Subclass 191 visa application activity throughout 2025, together with substantial grant activity during the same period. The data provides useful insight into application trends, processing activity, and current application volumes under the regional permanent residence visa category.
Disclaimer
This article is prepared for general informational purposes only based on publicly available Department of Home Affairs data. Visa eligibility, application requirements, processing times, and migration outcomes depend on individual circumstances and current government policies. This article does not constitute migration advice or legal advice.
Source
Australian Government – Department of Home Affairs
Data Access Request – DA26/01/00092
