Skilled · Subclass 189
Skilled Independent visa
Permanent visa for invited skilled workers with no employer, state or family sponsor.
Who it is for
Skilled workers invited through SkillSelect who are not sponsored by an employer, a state or territory, or a family member.
Key eligibility
- Invitation to apply after an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect.
- Under 45 when invited.
- At least competent English when invited.
- Occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List.
- A suitable skills assessment when invited (a provisional 485 assessment is not suitable).
- At least 65 points, and at least the score in your invitation.
- If you hold or last held a 491 or 494, you must have held it for at least 3 years.
- Health, character and the Australian values statement.
Try our points calculator. It uses the current points table and is a general estimate only. A redesign of the points test has been announced but is not in force.
Where to apply, and bridging visas
In or outside Australia once invited (not in immigration clearance). If you are in Australia you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B or C. An Expression of Interest is not an application and gives no bridging visa.
Your journey, step by step
Enquiry and points check
Occupation, age, English and a realistic points estimate.
How a registered migration agent helps: gives an honest view, including when an invitation is unlikely.
English test and skills assessment
Book an accepted English test and apply to the assessing authority for your occupation.
How a registered migration agent helps: checks that the occupation code matches your real duties.
Service agreement
Before any personal advice or preparation, you receive a written service agreement and the OMARA Consumer Guide.
How a registered migration agent helps: sets out the work, the fee and the refund policy in writing. No money is taken for visa work before the agreement is signed.
Expression of Interest
Lodge a free Expression of Interest in SkillSelect. It stays active for up to 2 years.
How a registered migration agent helps: claims only points you can prove and keeps the Expression of Interest up to date.
Invitation
If you rank high enough and places exist, you are invited. An invitation is not a grant.
How a registered migration agent helps: checks the invitation and diarises the 60-day deadline.
Lodge within 60 days
Lodge in ImmiAccount and pay the charge. The 60 days cannot be extended.
How a registered migration agent helps: lodges a complete application consistent with the Expression of Interest and evidence.
Health, police and biometrics
Health examinations, police certificates and biometrics when the Department asks.
How a registered migration agent helps: tracks every request and deadline so nothing lapses.
Decision
Processing follows a Ministerial Direction from 19 September 2026.
How a registered migration agent helps: answers requests and keeps you informed.
Permanent residence and after
Live, work and study anywhere in Australia, Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives, and citizenship when you meet the residence requirement.
How a registered migration agent helps: plans travel, family sponsorship and citizenship timing.
The Department of Home Affairs makes every decision. No one can promise a grant, an invitation or a faster decision.
Government charges from 1 July 2026
| Applicant or item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Main applicant | A$6,135 |
| Family member 18 or over | A$3,070 |
| Family member under 18 | A$1,540 |
| Second instalment, each applicant 18 or over without functional English | A$4,885 |
Health checks, police certificates, translations, skills assessments and English tests are extra and paid to the provider. Our professional fee is separate and quoted in writing. Estimate total charges for your family.
Source: Home Affairs Current visa pricing table, charges from 1 July 2026, read 22 October 2026. Confirm in the Visa Pricing Estimator before you pay.
Processing times
Source: Home Affairs Global visa processing times, read 22 October 2026. Check the current guide. A guide only; times change monthly and are not a promise.
Common refusal risks
- Points claimed cannot be proven.
- Employment not in the nominated or a closely related occupation, or under 20 hours a week.
- Skills assessment not valid at invitation, or a 485 assessment used.
- English test outside its validity or below the level claimed.
- Age claimed wrongly at invitation.
- False or misleading documents, which can bring a multi-year bar.
- Health or character, or a family member not declared.
Drawn from the published criteria and general practice experience, not Department statistics.
Document checklist
Tick items as you collect them. Ticks are saved in this browser only and are not sent to us. This is a general list; the Department may ask for more.
0 of 0 collected
The Immigration Worldwide. Sukh Sandhu, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1384130. General information, checked 22 October 2026.
Recent changes
A new Ministerial Direction sets the processing order for skilled visas.
Points test redesign announced. Not in force; the current table and 65 point minimum apply.
2026-27 Skilled Independent places: 21,090 (up from 16,900).
Questions
Is 65 points enough?
Sixty-five is the minimum. Invitations go to the highest-ranked Expressions of Interest in each occupation, so many people are invited only at higher scores.
Has the points test changed?
Not yet. A redesign has been announced, but no new table, pass mark or start date has been published.
Sources and checks
- Home Affairs: Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- Home Affairs: points table
- Home Affairs: skills assessment
- Home Affairs Current visa pricing table, charges from 1 July 2026
Related
Information checked 22 October 2026. General information only, not advice about your situation. Australian advice is given by Sukh Sandhu, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1384130.
Talk it through. The first 15 minutes are free and general. Personal advice starts only after a written service agreement and the OMARA Consumer Guide.