AussieMigrate
Australian Migration Program Guide
Subclass 189Permanent Visa Processing baseline: 8 – 14 months (Department of Home Affairs)

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

A points-tested permanent residency visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, state or family member.

Visa Overview

What the Subclass 189 offers

The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa is Australia's premier points-tested permanent residency stream. It grants full work rights, Medicare access, and a direct path to Australian citizenship - without needing an employer sponsor, state or territory nomination, or family sponsor.

Applicants must be formally invited to apply through the SkillSelect system, be strictly under 45 years of age at the time of invitation, and score at least 65 points on the official points test. In practice, competitive invitation rounds for high-demand occupations frequently require 85–95+ points.

Because the 189 relies entirely on your independent profile, strengthening age, English proficiency and skilled employment points is often the fastest way to move from eligible to invited.

Minimum points
65 points
Age cap
Under 45
Outcome
Permanent residency
Transparent Pricing

Professional service fees

All-inclusive professional fees for AussieMigrate's OMARA-registered agents to prepare and lodge your Subclass 189 application. Third-party charges (government visa application charges, skills assessments, English tests, health and police checks) are billed separately at cost.

PhaseProfessional fee
  • 1
    Phase 1 - Expression of Interest (EOI)
    SkillSelect profile build, occupation & points optimisation strategy, and EOI lodgement.
    $1,500
  • 2
    Phase 2 - PR visa application
    Full Subclass 189 lodgement post-invitation: documentation, evidence pack, health/character coordination and Department liaison to grant.
    $4,250
End-to-end total$5,750

Quoted fees are in USD and do not include Australian Government department charges.

Eligibility Breakdown

Who can apply

Applicants must be strictly under 45 years of age at the time an Invitation to Apply is issued. Missing the cut-off is an automatic refusal.

Application Timeline

Your step-by-step journey

  1. 1

    Step 1 - Skills & Language Test

    Acquire a positive skills assessment from a recognised Australian assessing authority (e.g. ACS, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS) and clear an approved English test (IELTS, PTE or equivalent).

  2. 2

    Step 2 - Submit EOI

    Lodge an Expression of Interest profile into Australia's online SkillSelect database. Your EOI ranks you against other candidates by points score, occupation and date of effect.

  3. 3

    Step 3 - State Nomination / Invite

    For 190 and 491 streams, secure state or territory approval and claim bonus point injections. Subclass 189 applicants wait for a direct SkillSelect invitation round.

  4. 4

    Step 4 - Visa Lodgement

    Receive a formal Invitation to Apply (ITA) and submit all final legal data, biometrics, health and character checks within 60 days of the invitation.

Points Score

Check your points score

See how your age, English, education and experience stack up for the Subclass 189.

Check your points score
Trusted guidance

Move forward with an OMARA-registered agent

Every AussieMigrate consultant holds a valid MARN and follows the OMARA Code of Conduct. Book a review and get a written pathway plan tailored to the Subclass 189.