Commonwealth of Australia
Australia Subclass 189 Skilled Independent — timeline
Australia’s Subclass 189 is a fully independent skilled migration route with no sponsor, no state tie, and no employer. From decision to apply to a granted 189 visa, most applicants spend 14–28 months, with the skills assessment + Expression of Interest (EOI) invitation stage as the biggest variable.
Last reviewed 20 April 2026.
How long does the Australia Subclass 189 Skilled Independent timeline take?
Plan for about 20 months in a typical case, with a range from ~14 to ~30 months depending on invitation timing, documents and authority processing. Start at: Decision to apply + occupation check.
Verified against Department of Home Affairs — Skilled Independent 189 on 20 April 2026.
Source basis
This timeline planner is compiled from the route's official source and the stated stage durations on this page. Treat the linked authority as the source of record.
Reviewed
Primary sources
- Department of Home Affairs — Skilled Independent 189
Department of Home Affairs — Skilled Independent 189 - verified
Minimum
~14 months
Best case, everything aligned
Typical
~20 months
Realistic plan
Maximum
~30 months
Conservative buffer
Stages
- 1
Check your occupation is on the MLTSSL
1 dayThe 189 uses the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). If your ANZSCO code is not on it, 189 is not available; consider 190 (state nomination) or 491 (regional) instead.
Owned by: You
- 2
English test (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL / CAE / OET)
14–45 daysIELTS 6 in each = 0 points; 7 = 10 points; 8 = 20 points. PTE Academic returns results in 24–48 hours — the fastest. 3-year validity for some programmes.
Owned by: You
- 3
Skills assessment
40–180 daysEach occupation has a designated assessing authority (e.g. VETASSESS, Engineers Australia, ACS, APhRA). Fast-track options exist for some authorities.
Owned by: Third-party provider
Delay risk: Reference letters from past employers delay this step most often. Allow 30–60 days buffer.
- 4
Submit Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect
1 dayFree to lodge. Claim points for age, English, education, work experience, partner skills, Australian study, community language.
Owned by: You
- 5
Wait for invitation
30–730 daysInvitations issue in monthly rounds. 189 invitation points floor has risen to 85–90+ for most occupations since 2022. Low-demand occupations may invite at 65 points.
Owned by: Government authority
Delay risk: If your occupation is pro-rata’d (e.g. Software Engineer), expect 12+ months at 85 points.
- 6
Lodge 189 visa application
60 days from invitationSubmit full application with medicals, police checks (all countries resident 12+ months since 16), identity docs, sponsor-free declaration. AUD 6,135+ base visa fee.
Owned by: You
- 7
DHA processing
180–360 days (processing times service standard)Priority processing for health professionals and STEM. Most applicants receive a grant within 12 months of lodgement; some wait 18+ months if flagged for additional checks.
Owned by: Government authority
Reverse plan example
If your target grant date is October 2027, you should lodge the 189 application by April 2027, have the invitation by January 2027, and start the skills assessment by August 2026. Book an English test within the first 30 days.
When to start
Trigger step: Decision to apply + occupation check.
To land on your target date with a realistic buffer, count back the typical duration (~20 months) and add a 20–30% contingency. If your target is non-negotiable (job start date, academic year, family milestone), plan against the maximum (~30 months).
Primary source
Related
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Australia subclass 189 visa take?+
Most applicants spend 14 to 28 months from deciding to apply to a granted visa. The largest variable is the wait for an invitation in SkillSelect — for high-demand, pro-rata occupations such as software engineers, expect 12+ months at 85 points — followed by Home Affairs processing the lodged application (a service standard of roughly 6 to 12 months).
What is the hardest part of the 189 timeline to control?+
The invitation round. You control your points and your skills assessment, but not the cut-off, which has risen to 85–90+ for most occupations since 2022. The skills assessment is the next biggest variable, usually slowed by reference letters from past employers.
Does the subclass 189 need a sponsor or job offer?+
No. The 189 Skilled Independent visa is fully independent — no employer, no state nomination, and no regional tie. Eligibility turns entirely on your occupation being on the MLTSSL, a positive skills assessment, and a competitive points score.