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The Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa is Australia’s only points-tested permanent residency visa that requires no sponsorship whatsoever — no employer, no state or territory nomination, and no family sponsor. If your points score and occupation are competitive, you can apply purely on your own merit and be granted PR with complete freedom to live, work, and study anywhere in the country from day one.
That independence comes with a trade-off worth being upfront about: the 189 draws from the narrowest occupation list of the three points-tested skilled visas (MLTSSL only, unlike 190 and 491 which also accept STSOL and ROL occupations), and because there’s no nomination bonus to lean on, the points you’ll realistically need are often well above the legislated 65-point minimum.
NOTE: To qualify for the Subclass 189 visa, you need a minimum of 65 points, an occupation on the MLTSSL, and a positive skills assessment — but in practice, competitive scores in recent invitation rounds have ranged from 65 points for some trade occupations up to 100 points for ICT, engineering, and accounting roles. No sponsorship or job offer is required, and the visa grants immediate, unrestricted permanent residency.
Key features:
Criteria | Subclass 189 | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
Sponsorship needed | No | State/Territory | State/Territory or eligible relative |
Points bonus | None | +5 | +15 |
Occupation list | MLTSSL only | MLTSSL + STSOL | MLTSSL + STSOL + ROL |
Location commitment | None | Nominating state, ~2 years (moral commitment, not a legal condition) | Regional area, legally enforced (Condition 8579) |
PR status | Immediate | Immediate | Provisional — PR via Subclass 191 after 3 years |
Realistic points needed | Often 85–100+ for professional occupations | Typically lower than 189 once nomination bonus is added | Often the most accessible of the three, given the 15-point bonus |
Age: Under 45 at the time of invitation
Occupation: Listed on the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List) — this is the only list that unlocks 189 eligibility
Skills assessment: A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation
English language proficiency: Competent English or higher (Superior English scores 20 points and significantly improves competitiveness)
Points score: Minimum 65 points — though realistically often much higher depending on your occupation (see below)
Health and character: Medical examinations and police clearance certificates for all applicants.
No sponsorship needed: No job offer, employer nomination, state nomination, or family sponsor required.
The 189 uses the same core points test as the 190 and 491, but without any nomination or sponsorship bonus — every point has to come from your own profile.
Factor | Points Available |
Age (25–32 years — highest-scoring band) | 30 |
English language proficiency (Superior) | 20 |
Skilled employment outside Australia (8–10 yrs) | 15 |
Skilled employment in Australia (8–10 yrs) | 20 |
Educational qualification — Doctorate | 20 |
Educational qualification — Bachelor’s/Master’s | 15 |
Australian study requirement | 5 |
Study in a designated regional area | 5 |
Credentialed community language qualification | 5 |
Professional Year in Australia | 5 |
Skilled spouse or de facto partner | 10 |
Partner with Competent English only | 5 |
Single applicant, or partner is citizen/PR holder | 10 |
This is the section most competitor content skips, and it’s genuinely the most useful thing you can tell a prospective 189 applicant: 65 points is the legislated minimum, but it is rarely enough to receive an invitation in practice.
From 2026, the Department of Home Affairs moved the 189 to a predictable quarterly invitation round model (four major rounds per year), replacing the previous irregular schedule. Based on recent rounds:
Occupation Type | Typical Invited Points (2025–26 rounds) |
Trades (Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers, Bricklayers) | 65–75 |
Healthcare & Education (Nurses, Teachers, GPs, Physiotherapists) | 75–90 |
Construction & Project Management | 85–90 |
ICT, Engineering, Accounting | 85–100+ |
In one recent round, over 16,000 invitations were issued across a single program year, with construction and trade occupations consistently receiving invitations closer to the 65-point floor, while ICT and professional occupations regularly required scores in the 90s. There are no occupation ceilings on the 189, so unlike some other categories, a high-demand occupation won’t suddenly become unavailable mid-year — but it will remain competitive.
What this means practically: if you’re in a trade occupation, 65-75 points may realistically get you an invitation. If you’re in IT, engineering, or accounting, budget for needing 85-100+ points — and if you’re short of that, the 190 (with its 5-point bonus) or 491 (with its 15-point bonus) may get you to PR faster than waiting to raise your 189 score alone.
Unlike the 190 and 491, the Subclass 189 draws from a single list: the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List), currently around 212 occupations. This is the narrowest occupation list among the three points-tested skilled visas — occupations on STSOL or ROL alone are not eligible for 189, even if they qualify for 190 or 491.
Because MLTSSL occupations are considered in strong medium-to-long-term demand, they also unlock the broadest range of visa pathways overall — an MLTSSL occupation can be used for 189, 190, 491, and in many cases 186 (Employer Nomination) and 482/Skills in Demand as well.
Step 1: Confirm Your Occupation Is on the MLTSSL
Check the current MLTSSL and confirm your occupation and its ANZSCO code.
Step 2: Take an Approved English Test
Sit for IELTS, PTE Academic, or another accepted test — aim for Superior English (20 points) if you’re in a competitive occupation.
Step 3: Get Your Skills Assessed
Apply to the relevant assessing authority for a positive skills assessment.
Step 4: Calculate Your Points & Submit an EOI
Calculate your points honestly against the table above, and submit your Expression of Interest through SkillSelect.
Step 5: Wait for an Invitation Round
Invitation rounds now run on a predictable quarterly basis — monitor your occupation’s typical invited points and adjust your EOI (English retest, additional experience, etc.) if you’re below the competitive range.
Step 6: Receive Your Invitation to Apply (ITA)
If invited, you’ll have 60 days to lodge your full application.
Step 7: Lodge Your Application with Full Documentation
Submit all supporting documents — health, character, identity, and skills evidence — within the 60-day window.
Step 8: Health & Character Checks, Then Visa Grant
Complete medical exams and police clearances, and receive your Subclass 189 visa with immediate, unrestricted permanent residency.
Applicant | Fee (AUD) |
Primary applicant | ~6,135 |
Additional applicant (18+) | ~3,065 |
Dependent child (under 18) | ~1,530 |
On top of the government fee, budget for skills assessment (AUD 500–2,000, varies by authority), English test (AUD 400–450), medical examinations, and police clearance certificates. Additional factors — such as a partner’s English test results or health exam outcomes — can affect total cost, particularly if a partner requires a separate skills assessment for partner points. (Verify exact current figures via the official Visa Pricing Estimator).
Processing generally takes 6.5 to 10 months from invitation to grant, though this varies by occupation, application completeness, and how many supporting documents require verification. Because there’s no separate nomination step (unlike 190/491), the 189’s total timeline is often more predictable once you’ve received your ITA — the main variable is simply how long it takes to become competitive enough to receive that invitation in the first place.
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The Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa is a points-tested permanent residency visa for skilled workers that requires no sponsorship from an employer, state, or family member. It’s the only points-tested Australian visa granting PR based entirely on your own profile.
Sometimes, but often not. 65 points is the legislated minimum to be eligible, but recent invitation rounds show trade occupations receiving invitations around 65-75 points, while ICT, engineering, and accounting occupations regularly require 85-100+ points to be competitive.
It depends heavily on your occupation. Trade occupations have recently been invited from around 65 points, healthcare and education from roughly 75-90 points, and highly competitive fields like ICT, engineering, and accounting from 85 points up to 100+.
From 2026, the Department of Home Affairs moved to a predictable quarterly invitation round model for the Subclass 189, issuing four major rounds per year, a change from the previous irregular schedule.
No. The 189 requires no job offer, employer sponsorship, state nomination, or family sponsorship — eligibility is based purely on your points score, occupation, and skills assessment.
| Subclass 189 | Subclass 190 |
Sponsorship | Not required | State/territory nomination required |
Points bonus | None | +5 points |
Occupation list | MLTSSL only | MLTSSL + STSOL |
Location commitment | None | ~2 years (not legally binding) |
No. Unlike some employer-sponsored visa categories, the Subclass 189 does not currently apply occupation ceilings, meaning demand for a specific occupation won’t cause it to become suddenly unavailable mid-program-year — though competitive points requirements still apply.
Only occupations listed on the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List) qualify for the Subclass 189 — currently around 212 occupations. Occupations that appear only on the STSOL or ROL are not eligible for 189, though they may qualify for 190 or 491.
As of the fee schedule effective 1 July 2026, the government application charge for the Subclass 189 is approximately AUD 6,135 for the primary applicant, plus additional charges for each applicant 18+ and each dependent child — confirm the exact current figure via the official Visa Pricing Estimator.
Processing generally takes 6.5 to 10 months from invitation to grant, though this varies by occupation and how complete your supporting documentation is at the time of lodgement.
In terms of points, often yes — the 189 requires you to reach a competitive score entirely on your own profile, while the 190 adds 5 points through state nomination, which can be the difference for borderline applicants. The trade-off is that 190 comes with an informal expectation to live in the nominating state for around two years.
You still need to demonstrate English proficiency, but IELTS isn’t the only accepted option — PTE Academic, TOEFL, and other Department-approved English tests are also accepted for the Subclass 189 points test and eligibility requirements.
If your occupation only appears on the STSOL or ROL, you won’t be eligible for the Subclass 189 — but you may still qualify for the Subclass 190 (STSOL-eligible, with state nomination) or Subclass 491 (STSOL/ROL-eligible, with regional or family sponsorship).
Yes. Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can generally be included in your Subclass 189 application and receive the same permanent residency status.
Yes. Applicants can apply for the Subclass 189 either from within Australia or from overseas. If applying while in Australia, you must hold a valid substantive or bridging visa throughout the processing period.
An EOI is a free, non-binding submission through SkillSelect where you record your points, occupation, and English test results to enter the pool for invitation. Submitting an EOI doesn’t guarantee an invitation — your ranking against other applicants in the same occupation determines whether you’re invited in a given round.
No official announcement has indicated the Subclass 189 is closing. Australia’s 2026-27 permanent Migration Program continues to allocate places to the Skilled Independent category as part of its broader skilled stream, though annual allocation numbers and competitiveness can shift year to year based on government priorities.