Achieve permanent residency in Australia without employer or state sponsorship. The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is Australia’s most popular pathway to permanent residency, offering complete freedom to live and work anywhere in Australia.

What is the Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189

Build your future in Australia

Pathway to permanent residency without sponsorship.

Independent skilled migration in Australia, the most popular permanent visa pathway.

What is the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)?

The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is a permanent visa that allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanently without requiring employer sponsorship or state nomination. This points-based visa is Australia’s most popular pathway to permanent residency.

Unlike the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or Skilled Regional visa (subclass 491), the 189 visa does not require any nomination or sponsorship. However, it is highly competitive, typically requiring higher points scores due to the large number of applicants in the SkillSelect pool.

Person Using a Calculator

Key Features of the Subclass 189 Visa

  • Type: Permanent visa, points-tested

  • Status: Permanent residency immediately upon grant

  • Where you can live/work/study: Anywhere in Australia (complete freedom)

  • Nomination Requirement: None required (fully independent)

  • Points Bonus: No extra points (must rely on your own points)

  • Family: Can include partner and dependent children

  • Competitiveness: Highly competitive, typically requires 85+ points

189 Visa Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189), you must meet the following requirements:

General Eligibility Criteria

  • Age
    Must be under 45 years old at the time of invitation

  • Skills Assessment
    Must have a suitable, valid skills assessment from the relevant Australian assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation

  • Occupation
    Your nominated occupation must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

  • Points Test
    Must score a minimum of 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs points test (though in practice, much higher scores are typically required)

  • English Language
    Must have at least Competent English (e.g., IELTS 6.0 in all bands or equivalent)

  • Invitation
    Must receive an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs through SkillSelect

  • Health and Character
    Must meet Australian health and character requirements

Why is the 189 Visa So Competitive?

The 189 visa is highly competitive because:

  • No nomination or sponsorship required (attracts many applicants)
  • Complete freedom to live and work anywhere in Australia
  • Immediate permanent residency upon grant
  • Limited invitation rounds and quotas set by the government
  • High demand from skilled workers worldwide

As a result, successful applicants typically need 85-95+ points, depending on their occupation and the current invitation rounds.

189 Visa Points Requirements

While the minimum points requirement is 65, the actual points needed to receive an invitation are typically much higher. The 189 visa does not offer any bonus points for nomination or sponsorship, so you must rely entirely on your own points score.

Points are awarded for:

  • Age (maximum 30 points)
  • English language proficiency (maximum 20 points)
  • Skilled employment experience (maximum 20 points)
  • Educational qualifications (maximum 20 points)
  • Australian study requirement (5 points)
  • Regional study (5 points)
  • Partner skills (10 points)
  •  Professional year in Australia (5 points)
  • Credentialed community language (5 points)

Note: The 189 visa does NOT offer points for state nomination or family sponsorship, making it more challenging to achieve competitive scores.

189 Visa Processing Time

The processing time for a 189 visa application varies depending on several factors:

  • Completeness of your application
  • Complexity of your case
  • Current processing volumes at the Department of Home Affairs
  • Whether you’re applying onshore or offshore

Generally, 189 visa processing times can range from:

  • 75% of applications: Processed within 6–7 months
  • 90% of applications: Processed within 8–9 months

Note: Processing times can be longer during peak periods or if additional information is required.

189 Visa Invitation Rounds

The Department of Home Affairs conducts invitation rounds for the 189 visa, typically on a monthly or quarterly basis. The frequency and number of invitations depend on:

  • Annual migration program quotas
  • Current demand for skilled workers
  • Government policy priorities
  • Economic conditions

How to Apply for the 189 Visa

  • 1

    Skills Assessment: Obtain a formal skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation (e.g., VETASSESS, ACS, Engineers Australia). Your occupation must be on the MLTSSL.

  • 2

    English Language Test: Complete an approved English language test (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, or Cambridge) and achieve at least Competent English level. Higher scores can earn more points.

  • 3

    Submit Expression of Interest (EOI): Lodge your EOI via SkillSelect, selecting the subclass 189 visa and providing all supporting details including your points score.

  • 4

    Wait for Invitation: Your EOI will be ranked in the SkillSelect pool. The Department of Home Affairs conducts invitation rounds, typically selecting applicants with the highest points scores first.

  • 5

    Receive Invitation to Apply (ITA): If selected, you will receive an official ITA to lodge your visa application.

  • 6

    Lodge Visa Application: Within 60 days of receiving the ITA, submit your complete visa application to the Department of Home Affairs with all supporting evidence.

  • 7

    Visa Grant: Once approved, you will receive your 189 visa, granting you permanent residency in Australia.

Woman Sitting on Chair While Using Laptop

Let Us Help You Secure Your 189 Visa

At Hays Migration, we understand that applying for a skilled independent visa can be complex and highly competitive — but you don’t have to do it alone.

Our experienced team of MARA-registered agents and migration lawyers are here to guide you through every step, from assessing your eligibility and maximizing your points score to managing your skills assessment, EOI submission, and visa lodgement with care and precision.

Let us help you turn your skills into opportunity and build your future in Australia with complete independence.