What is the Australia Skilled Independent Visa?

It is a permanent visa (subclass 189) for skilled workers who are assessed on a points test alone, with no employer sponsor and no state or territory nomination. If you are invited and approved, you and your family hold permanent residency from the day the visa is granted.

How many points do I need for the 189 visa?

You need a minimum of 65 points to submit an expression of interest, which is a fixed figure in the migration regulations. Reaching an actual invitation usually needs more than 65 points, because invitations go to the highest-ranked applicants in each occupation in that round, and the real cutoff varies by occupation and by round. Verify current invitation round results on SkillSelect before assuming any score is enough. Official source: Department of Home Affairs, Points test for skilled migration. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

Do I need a job offer or an employer to sponsor me?

No. The Skilled Independent Visa does not require a job offer, an employer, or any sponsor. That independence from a third party is what gives the visa its name, and it is also why the full cost of applying falls on you rather than being shared with a sponsor.

What occupations qualify for the 189 visa?

Your nominated occupation must be on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List, or MLTSSL. This list is more restrictive than the lists used for the state-nominated (190) and regional (491) visas. Check the current MLTSSL for your occupation before building your case.

Is there an age limit for the Skilled Independent Visa?

Yes. You must be under 45 years old at the time you are invited to apply. This is a firm requirement with very limited exceptions.

How do invitation rounds work?

You submit an expression of interest through SkillSelect once you meet the eligibility rules and hold at least 65 points. The Department of Home Affairs then runs invitation rounds and invites the highest-scoring applicants in each occupation first. Rounds have reportedly moved to a roughly quarterly schedule for 2025-26, a change from the more frequent rounds run in earlier years, though this has not been independently confirmed on the Department's site. Official source: Department of Home Affairs, SkillSelect rounds of invitations. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

How competitive are the current cutoff scores?

It varies enormously by occupation. Recent rounds have shown invitations as low as 65 points for several building trades occupations and up to around 75 points for occupations such as nurses, social workers, and teachers, with some occupations receiving no invitations at all in a given round. Cutoffs for oversubscribed occupations such as accountants and engineers have often been reported well above that, sometimes exceeding 85 to 95 points. Treat any figure as a snapshot of one round, not a target you can rely on. Official source: Department of Home Affairs, SkillSelect invitation round results. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

How much does the Skilled Independent Visa cost?

Sources give conflicting figures, most likely reflecting a fee change around 1 July 2026, ranging from around AUD 4,640 to around AUD 6,135 for the main applicant, with a reported worked example of around AUD 10,745 in total government charges for a family of three. Add a separate skills assessment fee, English test costs, and health and character checks on top. Use the Department of Home Affairs pricing estimator for the current, exact figure. Official source: Department of Home Affairs, Visa pricing estimator. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

How long does the Skilled Independent Visa take?

Reported processing time after you lodge the full application is roughly 5 to 11 months in 2026, though this has not been independently verified against the Department's official processing times page. That window only starts after you already hold an invitation. Building a competitive points score and waiting for an invitation round in your occupation can add significant time before processing even begins. Official source: Department of Home Affairs, Visa processing times. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

Can I bring my family?

Yes. A partner and dependent children can generally be included in the application and receive permanent residency at the same time as you, though each included family member adds their own visa charge.

What if I don't have enough points for the 189?

You may still qualify for a state-nominated visa (190), which adds 5 points in exchange for a state commitment, or a regional provisional visa (491), which generally has a lower points bar but is not immediately permanent. Employer-sponsored and non-points-tested routes such as the Skills in Demand visa or the National Innovation Visa are also worth exploring depending on your profile.

Australia Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)

The Skilled Independent Visa (189) is a permanent visa for skilled workers who are assessed and ranked purely on their own points, not on a job offer, an employer, or a state government's nomination. You lodge an expression of interest through SkillSelect, the government's online system, and if your score is competitive enough for your occupation in that round, you receive an invitation to apply.

Who it is for

Skilled workers whose occupation sits on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List, or MLTSSL; People under 45 at the time of invitation who can build a strong points score without a sponsor; Applicants who would rather not commit to living in a particular state or region; Tech professionals who can obtain a positive skills assessment, for example through the Australian Computer Society for ICT occupations; People with competent or higher English who want permanent residency, not a temporary visa, from day one; Applicants who are willing to work on their points score over time if they are not yet competitive.

How eMigr8 helps

eMigr8 gives you coaching and guidance to understand the points test and prepare a strong expression of interest. We do not give legal advice or immigration consultation. Points test settings, invitation rounds, occupation lists, and fees are set by the Department of Home Affairs and change often, so check the current SkillSelect guidance, or a registered migration agent, before you plan around any figure on this page.