Commonwealth of Australia · skilled migration · Leads to settlement
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Guidance updated 10 September 2026. Full-review date shown above.
Points-based permanent residence visa for skilled workers without employer or state sponsorship.
- Processing time
- Home Affairs Points-Tested snapshot checked 10 September 2026: 50% processed in 7 months; 90% in 8 months. These are recent decision percentiles, not a guaranteed range; SkillSelect invitation waiting is separate.
- Government fees
- From AUD 6,135 principal applicant federal VAC.
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
Points-based permanent residence visa for skilled workers without employer or state sponsorship. Guidance updated 10 September 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/australia/subclass-189-skilled-independent#answer
What is the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) in Commonwealth of Australia?
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is an unsponsored Australia route. Indicative government fees are From AUD 6,135 principal applicant federal VAC; indicative processing time is Home Affairs Points-Tested snapshot checked 10 September 2026: 50% processed in 7 months; 90% in 8 months. These are recent decision percentiles, not a guaranteed range; SkillSelect invitation waiting is separate; typical duration is Permanent residence. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Primary guidance checked with Department of Home Affairs on 1 July 2026.
Australia skilled-route cost and points layer
Australia skilled points, nomination and Skills in Demand cost answer
The route guide answers eligibility. This stack keeps the money and evidence layer beside it: skills assessment, nomination, sponsorship, salary thresholds and route-stage fees.
Calculator context
A points result does not guarantee an invitation, nomination or visa grant. It only says whether the profile clears the 65-point SkillSelect EOI floor. Skills assessment, occupation demand, state nomination, sponsorship, salary thresholds and post-invitation fees still need separate evidence.
| Australia route | Points or sponsor trigger | Mandatory paid-away baseline | Skills, nomination or salary dependency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 189 Skilled Independent | Points-tested SkillSelect route. The EOI floor is 65 points; there is no sponsor or state nomination bonus. | A$7,501-A$8,705 | A$550-A$1,200 skills assessment before the EOI can become usable. No fixed salary floor in the route model; invitation depends on occupation demand and invitation rounds. |
| Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated | Points-tested SkillSelect route plus state or territory nomination. Nomination can add 5 points after the state gate is met. | A$7,506-A$9,010 | A$550-A$1,200 skills assessment plus A$0-A$300 state or territory fee exposure. No employer sponsor or national salary floor; state criteria can add occupation, residence and funds declarations. |
| Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional | Points-tested regional route. State/territory nomination or eligible-relative sponsorship can add 15 points. | A$7,506-A$9,010 | A$550-A$1,200 skills assessment plus A$0-A$300 nomination or eligible-relative gate exposure. No upfront national salary floor; later subclass 191 context is income-evidence timing, not an upfront 491 fee. |
| Subclass 482 Skills in Demand | Sponsor-led route. It is not a points-tested SkillSelect invitation route. | A$10,381-A$13,335 | A$0-A$1,200 skills-assessment exposure where required by occupation, nationality or stream. A$420 sponsor fee, A$330 nomination fee and A$4,800-A$7,200 SAF levy are employer-side; A$79,423/yr CSIT or A$146,576/yr SSIT, plus AMSR where the stream requires it. |
| Comparator route | Route type | Paid-away baseline | Do not collapse these lines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore S Pass | Employer-sponsored pass with quota, levy and insurance duties. | SGD 16,405-SGD 18,205 | SGD 15,600 levy and SGD 600-SGD 2,400 insurance stay employer-side; SGD 39,600-SGD 45,600 salary evidence is not a visa fee. |
| New Zealand AEWV | Employer-accredited work route with job-check approval before the worker applies. | NZ$3,060-NZ$4,325 | NZ$775 accreditation and NZ$735 job check are employer-side; variable market-rate job evidence is not paid away. |
| New Zealand SMC | Residence route with points, skilled-employment evidence and post-invitation filing. | NZ$6,810-NZ$8,925 | NZ$0 EOI and NZ$6,450 resident-stage application; NZ$72,800-NZ$109,200 skilled-job pay evidence is not a fee. |
| Austria Red-White-Red Card | Points and employer-declaration route with AMS assessment. | €228-€363 | €218 application fee; €0 points and labour-market gate; €41,580 salary evidence remains a category condition. |
- Australia points calculator
- Subclass 190 guide
- Subclass 491 guide
- Skills in Demand guide
- 189 cost-to-complete
- 190 cost-to-complete
- 491 cost-to-complete
- Skills in Demand cost
- Skills in Demand fees
- Australia salary thresholds
- Singapore S Pass cost
- New Zealand AEWV cost
- New Zealand SMC cost
- Austria RWR cost
- Austria RWR calculator
- Cost-to-complete JSON feed
Source dates: Australia cost and salary data checked 1 July 2026; comparator cost rows checked 1 July 2026. Latest source record in this cluster: 1 July 2026. Compare the local-currency costs with the linked route requirements before deciding which option fits your circumstances.
Overview
Subclass 189 is the core SkillSelect permanent-residence visa. Points are assigned for age, English, qualifications, experience, partner skills, and Australian study. Invitations issue after EOI submission based on points ranking and occupation.
Recent changes to this route
- Australia changes skilled-visa processing priorities under Direction 11925 July 2026
Direction 119 replaced Direction 105 on 25 July 2026, changing the priority order for covered skilled nominations and visa applications, including applications already waiting.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
For Indian applicants nominating an ACS-assessed occupation, the assessment pathway depends on qualifications and experi…
British applicants
A UK citizen holding a valid UK passport can use that evidence to establish competent English. This is a specified citiz…
Chinese applicants
If a VETASSESS assessment relies on mainland Chinese qualifications, check its Chinese Qualifications Verification requi…
Filipino applicants
Philippine-trained nurses and midwives should distinguish professional registration from an ANMAC migration skills asses…
Pakistani applicants
For a Pakistani engineering qualification, check the exact program and accreditation period against Engineers Australia’…
Nigerian applicants
Nigerian applicants should check the assessing authority for their exact nominated occupation; healthcare experience and…
South African applicants
If a South African police clearance is needed, SAPS states approximately 15 working days after its processing unit recei…
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) applicable to subclass 189 Points-Tested, and check the assessing authority designated for that occupation.Australian Government — Federal Register of Legislation ↗
- ✓Have a suitable skills assessment for the nominated occupation and meet the assessment timing and validity rules. Home Affairs accepts specified medical registrations and admission to legal practice as assessment evidence for those professions; this is not an exemption for every healthcare occupation.Department of Home Affairs ↗
- ✓Be under 45 when invited to apply. Turning 45 after the invitation does not itself prevent applying.Department of Home Affairs ↗
- ✓Meet competent English through an accepted test or eligible citizenship and passport evidence. IELTS requires at least 6 in each component; check the current test-specific rules and validity period.Department of Home Affairs ↗
- ✓Score at least 65 points to be eligible for an invitation, and substantiate the score stated in the invitation when the application is assessed. Meeting 65 points does not guarantee an invitation.Department of Home Affairs ↗
Common blockers
- !Occupation off list.
- !Points below invitation round cut-off.
Typical evidence
- ·Skills assessment by relevant body.
- ·English test results.
- ·Work-history evidence.
Application pathway
Check the occupation and assessment requirements
Use the assessing authority designated for the nominated occupation. Examples include ACS for designated technology occupations, Engineers Australia for designated engineering occupations and ANMAC for nursing and midwifery. Follow Home Affairs’ assessment timing and validity rules; professional registration is not universally the same as a migration skills assessment.
Submit EOI via SkillSelect
Expression of interest with points breakdown.
Receive Invitation to Apply
Based on ranking in invitation rounds.
Lodge visa application
60-day window post-invitation.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Australia. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official portalApplicantSubmit SkillSelect EOI ↗
Applicants use SkillSelect to lodge the EOI required before a subclass 189 invitation.
Department of Home Affairs · verified
Fees and processing time
A typical Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) application runs about A$6,135 in government fees (single applicant, first-instalment application charge only). A decision then typically takes 50%: 7 months; 90%: 8 months (Points-Tested stream only; recently decided applications, excluding time waiting for a SkillSelect invitation.). Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Frequently asked questions
How many points do I need for subclass 189?+
At least 65 points are required, but this does not guarantee an invitation. If invited, you must substantiate the points score stated in your invitation. Check the official SkillSelect invitation-round results for the relevant occupation and round rather than relying on one universal competitive score.
Can I get permanent residence in Australia without a job offer or employer sponsor?+
Yes. The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a points-based permanent residence visa for skilled workers without employer or state sponsorship, so no job offer is required. Instead you need a qualifying occupation, a positive skills assessment, and a points score high enough to be invited. Confirm the current settings on the Department of Home Affairs.
Do I need a skills assessment for the subclass 189 visa, and who carries it out?+
Use the assessing authority designated for your exact nominated occupation and follow Home Affairs’ assessment timing and validity rules. Examples include ACS for designated technology occupations, Engineers Australia for designated engineering occupations and ANMAC for nursing and midwifery. Home Affairs accepts specified medical registrations and admission to legal practice for those professions, but professional registration is not universally a substitute for a migration skills assessment. Check the official subclass 189 guidance rather than assuming every occupation follows the same sequence.
How long does the 189 visa take to be granted after I'm invited to apply?+
For the points-tested stream, Home Affairs' processing guide checked on 10 September 2026 reports 50% of recently decided applications within 7 months and 90% within 8 months. These are application-processing percentiles, not a deadline or the time spent waiting for an invitation. After an invitation, you have 60 days to lodge the visa application. Check the live Home Affairs guide because the figures change.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in AustraliaHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Department of Home Affairs
Last checked: 1 July 2026