PR Pathway via the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
The subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa is a direct pathway to permanent residence (PR) based on your skills, with no employer sponsorship, no state nomination and no family sponsorship required. This article outlines the pathway from skills assessment through to PR grant, and the figures you need to check yourself on official sources.
Who is this pathway for?
The subclass 189 suits skilled workers in an occupation Australia needs who want PR without depending on any employer or state. Because it is fully independent, you are free to choose where to live and work in Australia after you have the visa — but in return, this is a points-tested, competitive pathway: you must stand out in the overall pool to be invited.
If you are willing to accept a state nomination (in exchange for a residence expectation), or willing to live in a regional area, other pathways in the PR overview may open up additional options.
Where it starts
The subclass 189 starts with an occupation on a relevant skilled list and a valid skills assessment from the assessing authority for your occupation. Before thinking about lodging, you need to identify the correct occupation code (ANZSCO), the correct assessing authority, and whether that occupation is eligible for the subclass 189. Occupation lists and assessing authorities change over time — check on Home Affairs.
The steps to permanent residence
Step 1 — Skills assessment. Complete a skills assessment with the assessing authority for your occupation. This result is a prerequisite for submitting an EOI and must remain valid at the key milestones.
Step 2 — Submit an EOI through SkillSelect. You create an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the SkillSelect system, declaring your occupation, points and related details. An EOI is not a visa application — it is an expression of interest to be invited.
Step 3 — Receive an invitation. In each invitation round, Home Affairs invites eligible applications. Whether you are invited depends on your points compared with the rest of the pool in that round.
Step 4 — Lodge the visa application. Once invited, you have a set period to lodge the formal subclass 189 application with evidence of your skills, English, health, character and the points-tested factors you declared.
Step 5 — PR grant. If the application is approved, you receive the subclass 189 — a permanent visa that allows you to live and work anywhere in Australia.
Fees and the figures to check
The main application charge for the subclass 189 for the primary applicant is currently 6,135 AUD. This figure does not include charges for accompanying dependants, health examinations, translation, or the skills assessment fee — so budget for a total cost well above the base charge.
The remaining figures along the subclass 189 pathway all change over time and from round to round, so this article does not state fixed numbers:
- The minimum points to submit an EOI and the actual cut-off points to be invited — these change by round and by occupation; check on SkillSelect/Home Affairs.
- The age limit and how age affects your points — check on Home Affairs.
- The minimum English level and the level that scores higher points — check on Home Affairs.
- Application processing time — check the updated figure on Home Affairs.
A safe principle: do not plan around a points figure heard from a previous year — always compare against the current invitation round.
Deciding factors
Because the subclass 189 is points-tested, the biggest deciding factor is your total points compared with the round’s overall level — not just whether you clear the minimum. The components that usually make the difference: whether your occupation is still on the relevant list, your English level, work experience inside and outside Australia, education, and other points-scoring factors. An application that just clears the minimum may still wait a long time if the overall level is high.
Risks and common mistakes
- Assuming a fixed cut-off. The cut-off fluctuates by round and by occupation — planning around an old number can lead to indefinite waiting.
- Letting a skills assessment expire. A skills assessment has a validity period; if it lapses mid-way, you may have to redo it.
- Declaring points you cannot prove. Points claimed in the EOI must be provable when you lodge — claiming high but lacking evidence can lead to refusal.
- Choosing the wrong assessing authority or occupation code. An error at this step flows through the whole pathway.
When to ask an RMA
You should consider consulting a Registered Migration Agent (RMA) registered with OMARA when: your points are borderline and you need a strategy to lift them or to choose between 189/190/491; your case has sensitive factors around health, character or visa history; or you are unsure how points are calculated and how to prove the factors you declared. An RMA assesses your actual case — this article does not.
Learn more
The subclass 189 rewards strong, well-prepared applications. Start from the skills assessment, follow the actual invitation rounds, and check every condition against official sources before lodging.
Last updated: 13/06/2026. Migration rules change frequently — always check official sources.