Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa

The Subclass 189 is the purest skilled visa: no employer, no state, no family sponsor — just your own skills, ranked against everyone else's. It grants permanent residence from grant, with the right to live and work anywhere in Australia. That independence is exactly why it is the hardest to get: with no sponsor to lift you, your points score has to do all the work, and only the most competitive scores in each occupation are invited.

MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au

The 189 at a glance

Type: permanent, points-tested, no sponsor required
Selection: invitation-only via a SkillSelect Expression of Interest
Points: 65 minimum to be invited — but competitive scores are usually well above that
Age: generally under 45 at the time of invitation
English: at least Competent English (points for Proficient / Superior)
Occupation: on the applicable skilled occupation list, with a positive skills assessment

Occupation lists, points settings and invitation cut-offs change frequently — confirm the current requirements for your occupation.

Wondering if your points are competitive?

Tell us your occupation, age, English and experience and we'll come back within one business day on whether a 189 is realistic — and what would lift your score. Free, no obligation.

Think of it as an investment, not a cost

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Who the 189 suits

The 189 suits high-scoring skilled professionals — often younger applicants with strong English, a recognised qualification and several years of skilled experience — whose occupation sits on the relevant list. If your score is strong, the 189 gives you the freedom no other skilled visa does: permanent residence with no strings to an employer or a state. If your score is borderline, a 190 or 491 — which add nomination points — is often the more realistic route.

Core eligibility

An occupation on the applicable skilled occupation list with a positive skills assessment.
Generally under 45 at the time of invitation.
At least Competent English (higher levels earn points).
A score at or above the points threshold, claimed in an EOI and provable at application.
Health and character requirements met (including police checks).

The points test — where scores are won and lost

Points come from age, English level, skilled employment (Australian and overseas, counted separately), qualifications, an Australian study qualification, study in a regional area, a NAATI community-language credential, a Professional Year, and a skilled or English-proficient partner. Small changes — an extra English band, one more year of counted experience, a partner's skills assessment — can move you from "never invited" to "competitive". Model your score honestly with the points calculator, then plan the specific claims that lift it.

Do not over-claim in your EOI. Every point you claim is tested when you apply. Inflated employment or English claims are a leading cause of 189 refusals and can trigger integrity concerns under PIC 4020. Claim only what you can evidence.

The invitation process, step by step

Skills assessment — obtain a positive assessment for your nominated occupation.
English test — sit an accepted test at the level your points strategy needs.
Submit an EOI in SkillSelect with your claimed points and occupation.
Receive an invitation in a periodic round (higher-ranked candidates first).
Lodge the visa within the invitation window and prove every claimed point.

Get an honest read on your 189 chances

A short, straight assessment of whether the 189 is realistic for you — and the fastest way to lift your points if it isn't. Free, within one business day.

If a 189 isn't within reach

Most skilled applicants don't reach a competitive 189 score on their first attempt — and that's normal. State nomination can add the points that change everything: the 190 adds 5, the 491 adds 15. An employer-sponsored route (482 → 186) skips the points test entirely. And if you've studied here, the 485 buys time to build your claim. The right move depends on your occupation and circumstances.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa?

The Subclass 189 is a points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state or territory, or a family member. You are invited to apply through SkillSelect based on your points score. Because it needs no sponsor and grants permanent residence from the outset — with full work rights anywhere in Australia — it is the most sought-after and most competitive of the skilled visas.

How many points do I need for a 189?

The legislated minimum to be invited is 65 points, but in practice the minimum that actually receives an invitation is usually much higher and varies by occupation and by invitation round. Points come from age, English, skilled employment (in and outside Australia), qualifications, Australian study, NAATI credentialling, study in a regional area and a skilled partner. Use the points calculator to estimate your score — then the real question is how competitive that score is for your occupation.

Do I need a skills assessment for the 189?

Yes. You must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for an occupation on the applicable skilled occupation list, valid at the time you are invited. Your occupation determines which authority assesses you (for example ACS, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS, TRA, ANMAC). A skills assessment is a threshold requirement — no assessment, no valid EOI.

How does the 189 invitation process work?

You lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect with your claimed points. The Department issues invitations in periodic rounds, generally to the highest-ranked candidates in each occupation. Only when you receive an invitation can you lodge the visa application — and you must then prove every point you claimed. Over-claiming points in an EOI is a common and serious mistake, because the claims are tested at application.

What's the difference between the 189, 190 and 491?

All three are points-tested skilled visas. The 189 is independent — no sponsor, permanent, and you can live anywhere. The 190 requires state or territory nomination (which adds 5 points) and a commitment to that state, and is permanent. The 491 requires state nomination or eligible regional family sponsorship (adding 15 points), is a 5-year provisional visa tied to regional Australia, and leads to permanent residence via the Subclass 191.

General information only, not migration advice. Subclass 189 settings — occupation lists, the points test, English and age requirements, and invitation cut-offs — are set by the Department of Home Affairs and change frequently; confirm the current requirements for your situation. No visa outcome is guaranteed (s 15, Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021). Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) after a paid consultation under a written service agreement.