Skilled · Subclass 189
Skilled Independent visa
Permanent visa for invited skilled workers with no employer, state or family sponsor.
New from 26 October 2026: biometrics for applications made in India. What it means for you →
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.
Add up your points with our PR points calculator, built from the current Home Affairs points table. The 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: A registered migration agent 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: A registered migration agent 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: A registered migration agent 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: A registered migration agent 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: A registered migration agent 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: A registered migration agent 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. If you apply in India, the Department may ask you to give biometrics at a VFS Global centre after you lodge; book an appointment quickly using the instructions in the request letter.
How a registered migration agent helps: A registered migration agent tracks every request and deadline so nothing lapses.
Decision
Processing follows a Ministerial Direction from 19 September 2026.
How a registered migration agent helps: A registered migration agent 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: A registered migration agent 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 |
Streams: Points-tested stream (Hong Kong stream: see the Hong Kong stream guide; New Zealand stream: closed). See also: Hong Kong stream guide, 189 New Zealand stream (closed).
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 Home Affairs 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
From 26 October 2026, if you apply for this visa in India, the Department may ask you to give biometrics (fingerprints and a facial image). This applies to new applications lodged from that date. The Department sends a request letter with instructions. Most people then book an appointment at a VFS Global Australian Biometrics Collection Centre; some eligible people can use the Australian Immi App instead.
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: Biometrics
- 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.