Indian citizens moving to Commonwealth of Australia
Indian applicants are the largest cohort for Australia's subclass 189 points-tested Skilled Independent stream and subclass 500 student visa. Migration-Australia-India Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA) from 2023 introduced specific graduate and work mobility streams.
We cover 9 Australia routes — 6 can be started without a job offer, and 7 lead to permanent residence.
Tourist entry
No. Indian nationals require a visa to enter Commonwealth of Australia, even for short tourism. A separate residence or work route is required for long-term stay.
Treaty & bilateral memberships
- Commonwealth
Consular processing: New Delhi
Long-tail depth brief
Indian to Commonwealth of Australia at a glance
Version 2026-07-02
| Signal | Current value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Covered routes | 9 6 do not require an employer sponsor; 7 are marked as settlement routes. | Visa route dataset |
| Sponsor-free routes | 6 Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), and more. | Visa route dataset |
| Settlement-mapped routes | 7 Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), and more. | Visa route dataset |
| Dominant skilled route | Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) No sponsor required; settlement route. | Department of Home Affairs — Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) - 1 July 2026 |
| Published processing clock | 50%: 7 months; 90%: 8 months The Home Affairs processing-time tool, checked 10 September 2026 for subclass 189 Points-Tested, reports 50% processed in 7 months and 90% in 8 months. These are observed processing percentiles for recently decided visa applications, not a minimum/maximum range or a guaranteed decision date. SkillSelect invitation waiting is separate. | Home Affairs — Global visa processing times - 10 September 2026 |
| Government cost example | A$6,135 Single applicant, first-instalment application charge only | Home Affairs — current visa pricing table - 10 September 2026 |
Index rule: Rendered on nationality corridor pages that pass shouldIndexCorridor; sparse fallback-only corridors remain omitted from static generation and sitemap. Source datasets: /api/public/visas, /api/public/salary-thresholds, /api/public/processing-times, /api/public/fees.
What this means for Indian citizens
Of the 9 Commonwealth of Australia routes we cover, 6 can be started without an employer sponsor and 7 have confirmed permanent residence mapping. Relevant memberships: Commonwealth. Language alignment is strong, which usually eases qualification recognition and any language-test requirement.
Headline figures — Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Worked-example route cost
A$6,135
Single applicant, first-instalment application charge only
Add A$3,070 per additional applicant aged 18 or over and A$1,540 per additional applicant under 18. A conditional A$4,885 second instalment can apply to an applicant aged 18 or over at application who is assessed as not having functional English; pay it only if Home Affairs requests it.
Verified 10 September 2026 · Home Affairs — current visa pricing table
How long it takes
50%: 7 months; 90%: 8 months
The Home Affairs processing-time tool, checked 10 September 2026 for subclass 189 Points-Tested, reports 50% processed in 7 months and 90% in 8 months. These are observed processing percentiles for recently decided visa applications, not a minimum/maximum range or a guaranteed decision date. SkillSelect invitation waiting is separate.
Points-Tested stream only; recently decided applications, excluding time waiting for a SkillSelect invitation.
Verified 10 September 2026 · Home Affairs — Global visa processing times
Time to permanent residence
Arrival on 482 → 186 ENS after 2 years (Specialist Skills Pathway) or 3-4 years (Core Skills) → PR → citizenship after 4 years from arrival (minimum 12 months as PR).
Leads to Permanent Resident, then Australian citizenship.
Will you qualify?
EOI minimum: 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest; invitation rounds usually require more.
Estimate your scoreRoutes with nationality-specific notes
Each link opens the Indian-specific guide for that route.
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa for skilled roles an Australian employer cannot fill locally.
Indian nationals are one of the largest subclass 482 cohorts, concentrated in ICT and engineering. Skills assessment through ACS (IT) or Engineers Australia is the critical path — allow 12–16 weeks. After 2 years on the Specialist or Core Skills stream, transition to subclass 186 permanent residence becomes available.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
Points-based permanent residence visa for skilled workers without employer or state sponsorship.
For Indian applicants nominating an ACS-assessed occupation, the assessment pathway depends on qualifications and experience, not nationality. ACS currently advises 4–6 weeks where no further documents or information are required. This is the skills-assessment stage, not the visa-processing time. Check the nominated occupation and chosen assessment pathway before applying.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
State-nominated permanent residence visa providing a 5-point SkillSelect boost.
Indian subclass 190 applicants follow state-nomination patterns: NSW for IT/finance roles, Victoria for IT/healthcare, South Australia for engineering and healthcare. State nomination adds 5 points to the 189 score. Skills assessment (ACS for ICT, Engineers Australia for engineering) is the rate-limiting step.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
Provisional 5-year regional visa leading to permanent residence via subclass 191.
Indian subclass 491 applicants concentrate in IT, engineering, and healthcare roles in regional NSW, regional Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. The 15 nomination points effectively unlock invitation thresholds inaccessible on points-only 189. Plan for 3 years of regional residence, visa-condition compliance, and ATO notice-of-assessment evidence before the 191 permanent transition.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
Employer-nominated permanent residence for workers sponsored through Direct Entry, TRT, or Labour Agreement streams.
For an Indian police certificate, start with the Home Affairs country instructions, which link Passport Seva and e-FRRO. The Passport Seva PCC service involves an online application, payment and an appointment with original documents; use the service appropriate to your residence and passport. Keep this preparation separate from the visa clock. For TRT, keep contracts, payslips and leave records covering eligible sponsored work across the preceding three years; qualifying work can span employers, but the nominating employer must be your last 457/482 sponsor.
Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100)
Residence visa for spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
Indian partner-visa applications are one of the largest single national cohorts. Indian marriage certificates from civil registrars (not religious-only ceremonies) are required, with apostille from the Indian MEA. Police clearance from every state lived in for 12+ months since age 16 is standard. The AUD 9,365+ fee is materially higher than UK or EU equivalents — factor this in to migration cost-modelling.
All Commonwealth of Australia routes open to Indian applicants
General routes available to all nationalities. Click any to read the full guide.
Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462)
Short-term work-and-travel visa for young people from participating countries.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement
National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent)
Permanent residence for globally recognised high achievers in target sectors — replacement for the former Global Talent visa.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement
Australian Student visa (subclass 500)
Study visa for international students enrolled at CRICOS-registered institutions.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement
Recent policy changes affecting this route
What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.
- 25 July 2026In force 25 July 2026
Australia changes skilled-visa processing priorities under Direction 119
Direction 119 replaced Direction 105 on 25 July 2026, changing the priority order for covered skilled nominations and visa applications, including applications already waiting.
Australian Department of Home Affairs
Frequently asked questions
Can Indian citizens enter Commonwealth of Australia without a visa?+
No. Indian nationals require a visa to enter Commonwealth of Australia, even for short tourism. A separate residence or work route is required for long-term stay.
Which Commonwealth of Australia visa routes are best suited to Indian applicants?+
Common general routes used by Indian applicants include Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). Indian applicants are the largest cohort for Australia's subclass 189 points-tested Skilled Independent stream and subclass 500 student visa. Migration-Australia-India Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA) from 2023 introduced specific graduate and work mobility streams.
Where do Indian applicants typically apply for a Commonwealth of Australia visa?+
Applications are typically processed at New Delhi. Some digital and in-country applications can be filed directly with Commonwealth of Australia's immigration authority without a consular visit.
Do Indian citizens need a job offer to move to Commonwealth of Australia?+
Not necessarily. 6 of the 9 Commonwealth of Australia routes we cover can be started without an employer sponsor, while the rest need a sponsoring employer or job offer. If you do not have an offer yet, the no-sponsor routes are the place to start.
Can Indian citizens get permanent residence in Commonwealth of Australia?+
Yes. 7 of the 9 Commonwealth of Australia routes we cover lead toward settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Timelines vary by route, so check the settlement detail on each visa page.
How much does the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) cost for a Indian applicant?+
The stored worked example (Single applicant, first-instalment application charge only) totals about A$6,135. Add A$3,070 per additional applicant aged 18 or over and A$1,540 per additional applicant under 18. A conditional A$4,885 second instalment can apply to an applicant aged 18 or over at application who is assessed as not having functional English; pay it only if Home Affairs requests it. It may combine government charges with other stated route costs. Source: Home Affairs — current visa pricing table, verified 10 September 2026. Treat it as indicative and confirm the current official schedule before budgeting.
How long does the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) take to process from India?+
The Home Affairs processing-time tool, checked 10 September 2026 for subclass 189 Points-Tested, reports 50% processed in 7 months and 90% in 8 months. These are observed processing percentiles for recently decided visa applications, not a minimum/maximum range or a guaranteed decision date. SkillSelect invitation waiting is separate. Points-Tested stream only; recently decided applications, excluding time waiting for a SkillSelect invitation. Indian applicants usually file via New Delhi, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: Home Affairs — Global visa processing times, verified 10 September 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Commonwealth of Australia?+
Arrival on 482 → 186 ENS after 2 years (Specialist Skills Pathway) or 3-4 years (Core Skills) → PR → citizenship after 4 years from arrival (minimum 12 months as PR). The route leads to Permanent Resident, then Australian citizenship. See Home Affairs — Australian citizenship for the qualifying-residence rules.