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Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
Reviewed by Mohammad Saghir Khan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1170510)Last reviewed:
The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a permanent Australian visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, state or relative. You need an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), a suitable skills assessment, at least Competent English, to be under 45 when invited and at least 65 points. You can only apply after you are invited through SkillSelect, and invitations go to the highest scores first.
Skilled Independent Visa (189) at a Glance
| Visa type | Permanent residence |
|---|---|
| Who it suits | Skilled workers with high points and an MLTSSL occupation, without a sponsor |
| Sponsor or nomination | None needed |
| Age | Under 45 when invited |
| Points | At least 65 (most occupations need much more to be invited) |
| English | At least Competent English, for example IELTS 6 in each band |
| Apply from | In or outside Australia, after an invitation |
| Government charge | AUD 6,135 main applicant, AUD 3,070 per adult and AUD 1,540 per child (from 1 July 2026) |
| 2026–27 places | 21,090 Skilled Independent places in the Migration Program |
What the 189 Visa Gives You
- Live, work and study anywhere in Australia, permanently.
- Enrol in Medicare, Australia's public health scheme.
- Sponsor eligible relatives for visas, and apply for Australian citizenship once you meet the residence requirements.
- Travel to and from Australia for 5 years from grant. After that, you need a Resident Return visa to come back as a permanent resident.
Eligibility Requirements
Occupation and skills assessment
Your nominated occupation must be on the MLTSSL for the 189 points-tested stream. You need a suitable skills assessment from the authority for that occupation, obtained in the 3 years before you are invited (or within its own validity period if shorter). Use our occupation finder to check your list and assessing authority.
Points test
You must score at least 65 points for age, English, skilled employment, qualifications, Australian study and other factors. Your invitation states the score you must prove when you lodge, and it may be higher than 65. Check your score with our points calculator.
Age and English
You must be under 45 when you are invited. Turning 45 after the invitation is fine, but turning 45 before it means you will not be invited. You also need at least Competent English at invitation, from a test taken in the 3 years before. For tests from 7 August 2025, that means IELTS 6 in each band, PTE Academic of at least 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing and 54 speaking, or an equivalent accepted test. Citizens of the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada and New Zealand meet this automatically.
Health and character
You and every family member in the application must meet health and character requirements, including police certificates and health examinations.
How Invitations Work
You first lodge a free Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. The Department invites the highest-ranked EOIs in each occupation, and ties are broken by the date you reached your score. Your EOI stays in SkillSelect for up to 2 years. Once invited, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application, and this cannot be extended.
Competition in 2026: in the 4 June 2026 round, 10,000 people were invited for the 189. Many trades were invited at 65 points, but most professional occupations needed 80 to 95 points. The Home Affairs invitation rounds page showed no 189 round in July to October 2026 (updated 14 October 2026). A 189 is never guaranteed, so we usually plan a 190 or 491 option alongside it.
Processing Times
Home Affairs figures updated on 29 September 2026 show 50% of 189 points-tested applications decided within 61 days and 90% within 8 months. Under Ministerial Direction 122, which took effect on 19 September 2026, applications in priority occupations (construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, resources, and law enforcement and defence) are decided first, followed by applicants in Australia when they lodged.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Claiming points in your EOI that you cannot prove when you lodge, especially skilled employment points.
- A skills assessment or English test that has expired by the time you are invited.
- Not updating your EOI when your circumstances change, such as a new job or a birthday that changes your age points.
- Employment references missing dates, hours, duties, salary or contact details.
- Missing the 60-day deadline after your invitation.
How to Apply
- Check your occupation and pointsConfirm your occupation is on the MLTSSL and estimate your points with our points calculator.
- Get your skills assessment and English testApply to the assessing authority for your occupation and take an accepted English test. Higher English scores can add 10 or 20 points.
- Lodge an Expression of InterestSubmit a free EOI in SkillSelect, claiming only points you can prove. Keep it up to date.
- Receive an invitationInvitations are sent in rounds. You then have 60 days to apply.
- Lodge your visa applicationApply online in ImmiAccount with evidence for every point claimed, and pay the visa charge.
- Complete health and police checksBook health examinations and provide police certificates for each country where you lived 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
How Aussie ASEAN Can Help
Our Registered Migration Agent reviews your points claim line by line before you lodge your EOI, checks your skills assessment and employment evidence, and compares the 189 with 190 and 491 options in states such as Victoria so you are not relying on one pathway. We then prepare and lodge your visa application and deal with the Department until a decision is made.
Free tools for this visa
Related visas
Every case is different. Talk to a Registered Migration Agent about your Skilled Independent Visa (189) before you lodge.
Book a consultationSources: Home Affairs: Skilled Independent visa (189) · Competent English · SkillSelect invitation rounds · Migration Program planning levels · Global visa processing times
Frequently Asked Questions
Plain-English answers to the questions we are asked most often.
What is the 189 visa?
The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a permanent visa for invited skilled workers who do not need sponsorship from an employer, a state or territory, or a family member. It lets you live, work and study anywhere in Australia.
How many points do I need for a 189 visa in 2026?
The pass mark is 65, but in practice most occupations need more to be invited. In the 4 June 2026 round many trades were invited at 65 points, many nursing and allied health occupations at 75, and most professional occupations at 80 to 95 points.
Which occupations are eligible for the 189?
Your occupation must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) does not apply to the 189. You can search the lists with our free occupation finder.
Can I apply for a 189 from inside Australia?
Yes. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted. If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a bridging visa A, B or C, and your current visa must not have a "no further stay" condition you cannot get waived.
How long is the 189 invitation valid?
You have 60 days from the invitation to lodge your visa application, and the deadline cannot be extended. Your Expression of Interest stays in SkillSelect for up to 2 years before an invitation.
How much does a 189 visa cost?
From 1 July 2026 the base government charge is AUD 6,135 for the main applicant, AUD 3,070 for each family member aged 18 or over and AUD 1,540 for each child under 18. Health checks, police certificates, the skills assessment and English test cost extra.
What is the difference between the 189 and the 190?
Both are permanent. The 189 needs no nomination and uses the MLTSSL. The 190 needs nomination by a state or territory, adds 5 points, can use more occupation lists and usually comes with a commitment to live and work in that state for a period.
Can I include my partner and children?
Yes. You can include your partner and dependent children in your application. A skilled partner with their own skills assessment and Competent English can add 10 points to your score.
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