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Skilled Migration

Subclass 189 · 190 · 491 · 191

Points-tested independent migration, state nomination and regional pathways that lead to permanent residence without employer sponsorship.

Visas in this category at a glance

The summaries below set out what each visa is for and who it suits. Details that change often, such as application charges and processing times, are linked through to the Department of Home Affairs.

  • Subclass 189

    Skilled IndependentPermanent

    A points-tested permanent visa applied for on your own score, without a sponsor or state nomination.

    Who it suits: You hold an occupation on a skilled occupation list and meet the points requirement

    • You settle an occupation code (ANZSCO) and obtain a skills assessment from the relevant authority.
    • Assessment is by points test, combining age, English language ability, work experience, qualifications and partner points.
    • You lodge an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect and must be invited before you can apply.
    • Meeting the threshold does not guarantee an invitation; cut-offs vary with competition within each occupation group.
    • With no sponsor attached, you can live and work anywhere in Australia.
    Read the official Home Affairs guidance

  • Subclass 190

    Skilled NominatedPermanent

    A points-tested permanent visa applied for on the nomination of a state or territory government. Nomination attracts additional points.

    Who it suits: You hold an occupation a particular state needs and intend to settle there

    • Each state sets its own nomination list and requirements, such as residence history, a job offer and English scores.
    • State nomination attracts additional points in the points test.
    • Nomination carries a commitment to live in the nominating state for a period.
    • As with subclass 189, a skills assessment and an EOI are required.
    • State nomination programmes change their allocations and requirements each programme year.
    Read the official Home Affairs guidance

  • Subclass 491

    Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)Temporary → Permanent

    A provisional skilled visa granted on the condition that you live and work in a designated regional area. Meeting the conditions leads to permanent residence through subclass 191.

    Who it suits: You are considering settling regionally, or fall short of the points needed for 189 or 190

    • You need either nomination by a state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible relative living regionally.
    • Regional nomination attracts the largest points allocation in the points test.
    • Visa conditions require you to live and work in a designated regional area.
    • After meeting the residence period and income requirements you can apply for permanent residence through subclass 191.
    • Most areas outside metropolitan Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are classified as regional.
    Read the official Home Affairs guidance

  • Subclass 485

    Temporary GraduateTemporary

    A visa allowing international students who have completed study in Australia to remain and work for a defined period after graduating.

    Who it suits: You completed the required period of study at an Australian education provider

    • The period of stay depends on your qualification level, field of study and where you studied.
    • This period is commonly used to build experience that raises a points score, or to secure employer sponsorship.
    • There are English score and age requirements, and a lodgement deadline after graduation.
    • There is no work restriction, so you can work for any employer.
    Read the official Home Affairs guidance

Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa

The subclass 189 visa is a points-tested visa that allows skilled workers from overseas to live and work in Australia permanently.

The eligibility requirements are as follows.

  • Hold an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
  • Obtain a skills assessment from the relevant Australian assessing authority.
  • Score at least 65 points on the points test, based on age, English language ability, work experience and qualifications.
  • Meet the health and character requirements.

Once granted, the subclass 189 visa allows you to live and work anywhere in Australia permanently, and family members can be included in the application.

Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa

The subclass 190 visa is a state-nominated visa that allows skilled workers from overseas to live and work permanently in a particular state or territory of Australia.

The eligibility requirements are as follows.

  • Hold an occupation on the MLTSSL or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
  • Obtain a skills assessment from the relevant Australian assessing authority.
  • Be nominated by the relevant state or territory government.
  • Score at least 65 points on the points test.
  • Meet the health and character requirements.

Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa

The subclass 491 visa is a points-tested regional visa that allows skilled workers to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years.

The eligibility requirements are as follows.

  • Hold an occupation on the MLTSSL, the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
  • Obtain a suitable skills assessment for the nominated occupation.
  • Meet the minimum points requirement (currently 65 points).
  • Be nominated by a state or territory government agency, or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area.
  • Meet the English language requirement.

The subclass 491 visa has two streams: a State Nomination stream, where a state or territory government nominates you, and a Family Sponsored stream, where an eligible relative living in a designated regional area sponsors you.

Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa

The subclass 191 visa is a permanent residence visa for subclass 491 and 494 visa holders who have lived and worked in regional Australia for at least three years.

The eligibility requirements are as follows.

  • Hold a valid subclass 491 or 494 visa at the time of application.
  • Have lived and worked in a designated regional area for at least three years while holding that visa.
  • Have met the minimum taxable income requirement for the qualifying period.
  • Meet the health and character requirements.

What do I need to prepare?

The documents required differ by visa, but the items below are common to most applications. Checking them in advance makes the process considerably faster.

Documents that have to be obtained from overseas, such as police certificates and qualification verifications, take the longest, so start with those.

01

Identity and personal documents

  • Passport copy (biographical page, with sufficient validity remaining)
  • Birth certificate or family relation certificate (with certified English translation)
  • Passport-style photographs
  • Documents relating to any change of name
  • The grant notice for your current visa
02

Qualifications and employment

  • Final qualification certificate and academic transcript (in English)
  • Employment references stating position, dates of employment, principal duties and type of engagement
  • Payslips or tax withholding records supporting your actual employment
  • Trade certificates and licences, where the occupation requires them
  • Skills assessment outcome letter
03

English language

  • Test results from an accepted provider such as IELTS, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT
  • Results have a validity period, so check them against your intended lodgement date
  • Check whether you fall within an exemption, such as holding a passport from an English-speaking country
04

Health and character

  • Health examination results from a panel physician
  • Australian police check (AFP Police Check)
  • Police certificates from every country you have lived in for 12 months or more since turning 16
  • Military service documents, where applicable
05

Relationship evidence (partner and family visas)

  • Marriage certificate or relationship registration certificate
  • Joint accounts, utility bills, tenancy agreements and other evidence of shared finances and housing
  • Photographs together, travel records and message history showing the relationship is continuing
  • Statutory declarations from family and friends on both sides (Form 888)
  • Joint insurance policies, wills and beneficiary nominations showing mutual commitment
06

Employer documents (sponsored visas)

  • Business registration (ABN · ACN) and financial statements
  • Evidence the business is genuinely operating (transaction records, contracts, website)
  • Position description and organisational chart
  • Draft employment contract
  • Labour Market Testing (LMT) advertising evidence, where required

The list above is a general guide. We will give you an individual list of what your case actually requires at the consultation, and check whether documents you already hold can be used.

Migration terms worth knowing

Visa documents and correspondence all arrive in English. Knowing the recurring terms in advance makes both the consultation and the assessment process much easier.

ANZSCOOccupation classification
The occupation classification system used jointly by Australia and New Zealand. The code you apply under determines the qualifications and experience required and which visas are available, which is why it is the first thing settled in any migration plan.
Skills AssessmentSkills assessment
The process by which a designated authority assesses whether you hold the qualifications and experience for your chosen occupation code. A different authority handles each occupation, and assessment can take several months.
EOIExpression of Interest
Registering your score and details in SkillSelect. An EOI is not itself a visa application; you must receive an invitation before you can apply.
Points TestPoints test
The assessment method that converts age, English language ability, work experience, qualifications, partner attributes and state nomination into points and totals them. The central gate for skilled visas.
NominationNomination
The process by which an employer or state government nominates a particular applicant or position. It is a separate application from the visa, and if the nomination is refused the visa cannot proceed.
LMTLabour Market Testing
The requirement to advertise a position in a prescribed way to demonstrate that an attempt was made to fill it from within Australia. There are conditions on the medium, duration and content of the advertising.
Bridging VisaBridging visa
A temporary visa granted for the assessment period where you lodge your next application before your current visa expires. Work and travel rights differ by type, so the conditions need checking.
Condition 8503No Further Stay
A visa carrying this condition prevents you from applying for another visa within Australia. A waiver can be sought, but the grounds are strictly applied.
Schedule 3Schedule 3 criteria
Additional criteria that apply to an onshore application made while you are unlawful. They are only waived where exceptional circumstances are accepted.
PIC 4020False or misleading information
A ground of refusal that applies where false or misleading information or documents were provided during an application. Where it applies, further applications are barred for a period.
ARTAdministrative Review Tribunal
The body that reviews visa refusal and cancellation decisions made by the Department. It replaced the former AAT in October 2024, and applications are subject to strict time limits.
RFIRequest for Information
A notice from the case officer requesting further material needed to decide the case. There is a deadline to respond, and if you do not, a decision is made on the material already held.

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