Australia Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa
Points-tested permanent residence with no employer, state or family sponsor — live and work anywhere in Australia.
Check your eligibility before you pay any fee
Subclass 189 is Australia’s skilled independent visa: permanent residence earned on points alone. There is no employer sponsor, no state nomination and no obligation to live in a particular place — you can settle in any city or region from the day you arrive.
Because it carries no conditions, it is also the most competitive of the three SkillSelect visas. Invitations go to the highest-ranked Expressions of Interest in each occupation, so a score comfortably above the 65-point pass mark is usually needed. Extra points come from age, English (Proficient or Superior), skilled work experience, an Australian or recognised degree, a skilled partner and some specialist qualifications.
As a permanent resident you can sponsor eligible relatives, access Medicare, and apply for Australian citizenship after four years’ residence, including one year as a permanent resident.
Eligibility & requirements
- Occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
- Positive skills assessment for that occupation
- At least 65 points and an invitation through SkillSelect
- Under 45 at the time of invitation
- Competent English or higher
- Health and character requirements met by every applicant
How the process works
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01
Occupation and points check
We confirm your occupation is on the MLTSSL and calculate your points, including the ones you could still gain (a higher English score is often the quickest).
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02
Skills assessment
We prepare your evidence for the assessing authority for your occupation and track it to a positive outcome.
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03
Expression of Interest
Your EOI goes into SkillSelect and stays valid for two years; we update it whenever your points change.
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04
Invitation to apply
Invitations are issued in rounds through the programme year. From the invitation you have 60 days to lodge the visa application.
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05
Visa application and grant
We lodge the full application for you and your family, respond to any requests from the Department and confirm your first entry date.
Subclass 189 FAQs
Yes. It grants permanent residence on arrival, with a five-year travel facility. After that you can renew travel rights with a Resident Return Visa or become an Australian citizen.
Subclass 189 needs no nomination and has no location commitment. Subclass 190 requires a state or territory nomination, which adds five points but is usually tied to an expectation that you live and work in that state at first.
The government application charge starts from AUD 4,765 for the main applicant, with further charges for each family member. Skills assessment, English testing, medicals and police certificates are additional. Fees are indexed each July.
It depends on your occupation and score. High-scoring applicants in occupations in demand can be invited within months; others may wait longer or are better served by subclass 190 or 491.
SA Global Citizenship is a team of immigration advisors with over 20 years of experience, serving clients from South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the Caribbean and the USA.
- Personal guidance. One advisor matches the route to your family and budget, and tells you if another programme fits better.
- Full application support. Forms, notarisation, legalisation and every government query, handled for you.
- Transparent payments. Government and due diligence fees go directly to official accounts at set milestones. We never hold client investment funds.
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Successful Immigration Clients
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Years of Immigration Excellence
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Global Offices
How to Get Australia Skilled migration
Here is what you do next and what we do for you. Most clients go from first call to submitted application in two to four weeks.
Book a consultation
At our Dubai, Lahore or Karachi office, or online. Bring a list of the family members you want to include.
Get your eligibility result
A written route recommendation with an itemised cost, before any government fee is paid.
We prepare your file
Your dedicated legal expert completes the forms and guides you through the documents only you can obtain.
We submit for you
Your application goes to the government and we manage it through to approval and payment.
Ready to start your Australia application?
Book a strategic consultation and get a clear, obligation-free plan for your family’s mobility.