Subclass 189: How the Skilled Independent Visa Works

What the 189 Visa Is

The Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa is a points-tested permanent visa within the General Skilled Migration program, and it's the only one of the three main skilled pathways that requires no sponsorship of any kind, no employer, no state or territory government, no family member. Selection is based entirely on a points score ranked against other applicants in the SkillSelect pool.

Official visa page: Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) - Department of Home Affairs

Federal Requirements

• - Age - under 45 at the time of invitation

• - Occupation - must be on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), which is narrower than the combined list available to the 190

• - Skills assessment - a positive assessment from the relevant assessing authority for the nominated occupation, valid at the time of invitation. Validity periods are set by the assessing authority itself, commonly 2-3 years, so the specific authority's stated period applies rather than a single fixed rule

• - English - Competent English or higher, with additional points available for Proficient or Superior English

• - Points test - a minimum of 65 points to enter the pool, though invitation rounds are ranked by score

Full points table: Points table for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

The Points Test in Practice

Meeting the 65-point minimum makes an applicant eligible to submit an Expression of Interest, but it doesn't guarantee an invitation. Because the 189 draws from a single national pool with no state quotas to spread demand across, invitations are ranked purely by points within each occupation, and competitive occupations regularly clear well above the minimum threshold. The gap between "eligible" and "competitive" is often the widest of any skilled pathway, which is why the same points score can mean a fast invitation in one occupation and a long wait in another.

Points are drawn from age, English language ability, skilled employment experience (onshore and offshore), educational qualifications, Australian study, and partner or single-applicant factors. The full breakdown of how each factor is weighted is set out in the official points table linked above.

Invitation Rounds

Invitations are issued periodically through SkillSelect, and Home Affairs publishes the outcome of each round, including the occupations invited and the minimum points and date of effect for each. An EOI stays active in the pool for up to two years; remaining in the pool doesn't guarantee an invitation, and an EOI that expires without being invited needs to be resubmitted to stay in contention.

Round outcomes: SkillSelect invitation rounds - Department of Home Affairs

Visa Application Fees

Visa Application Charges are indexed each 1 July. As of the current schedule, the subclass 189 charge is in the vicinity of AUD $6,135 for the main applicant, with separate charges for additional adult and child applicants. This covers the visa application charge only, it doesn't include the skills assessment, English test, health examinations, or police certificates, which are separate costs paid at different stages.

Use the official Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before lodging, since the charge that applies is set by the date Home Affairs receives the application, not the date the estimate was checked.

189 vs 190: The Core Trade-off

	Subclass 189	Subclass 190
Sponsorship	None required	State or territory nomination required
Occupation list	MLTSSL only	MLTSSL or STSOL (broader)
Points boost	None	+5 points for nomination
State obligation	None	Generally 2 years in nominating state
Competition	Purely merit-based, national pool	Nomination criteria vary by state

The trade-off comes down to points versus obligation: applicants who clear the 189 threshold on their own points avoid any state obligation, while the 5 points from nomination are, for many applicants, what separates an invitation from missing the threshold entirely, in exchange for a state residency commitment.

Processing Times

Home Affairs publishes indicative processing times based on recent application data, and these move as application volumes and program planning levels change. Processing time is measured from the date the visa application is lodged after invitation, not from the date the EOI was first submitted. Check current processing time guidance at the official visa page before planning around a specific timeframe.

How the Process Runs

1. 1. An occupation is confirmed against the MLTSSL and a skills assessment is obtained

1. 2. An English test is sat and points are calculated against the official points table

1. 3. An EOI is submitted through SkillSelect once the 65-point minimum is met

1. 4. Invitations are issued periodically, ranked by points within each occupation

1. 5. If invited, the visa application is lodged within the given timeframe, generally 60 days

1. 6. Health and character checks are completed and a decision is issued

A Note on This Guide

This is general information, not migration advice. Occupation lists, points weightings, and fees change regularly, and eligibility depends on individual circumstances. For advice on your situation, a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer is the right person to talk to. For the current rules, always check the Department of Home Affairs directly.