Permanent Residency • Display Order #1

Subclass 189: Skilled Independent Visa

A permanent visa for skilled professionals — no sponsor, no employer, and no state nomination required.

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Eligibility

Receive an invitation, score at least 65 points, stay under 45 years of age, pass a skills assessment, and prove competent English.

Processing Time

Processing times vary ↗ depending on your occupation and how complete your documents are.

Government Fee

AUD $6,135 starting fee for main applicant, plus fees for family members (see fees section).

Stay Duration

Permanent visa with 5 years of overseas travel rights from the date of grant.

Overview

The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa gives you permanent residency in Australia. It allows you and your family to live, work, and study anywhere in the country with comprehensive access to Medicare public healthcare.

You do not need a sponsor, an employer, or a state government nomination to apply for this visa. It offers the purest form of independent skilled migration to Australia for eligible professionals worldwide.

Available Streams

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Points-Tested Stream

For skilled professionals who submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect, meet the 65-point benchmark, and receive an official government invitation.

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Hong Kong Stream

For Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders who held an eligible temporary work or graduate visa for 4+ years, resided continuously in Australia for 4 years, and meet health/character checks (health waivers available).

Requirements for the Points-Tested Stream

To qualify for the standard points-tested pathway, applicants must meet these six key benchmarks:

Benchmark 1

Official Government Invitation

  • You must receive a written invitation to apply through SkillSelect.
  • You have strictly 60 days from the invitation date to lodge your complete visa application.
Benchmark 2

Age Limit

  • You must be under 45 years of age at the exact time the Department issues your invitation.
  • Turning 45 after receiving the invitation does not affect your eligibility, provided you lodge within 60 days.
Benchmark 3

Suitable Skills Assessment

  • Your occupation must appear on the relevant Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
  • You must hold a positive skills assessment from the official assessing authority for your nominated occupation.
  • The assessment must remain valid on the date you receive your invitation.
  • You cannot use a provisional graduate assessment (e.g. 485 skills assessment).
Benchmark 4

English Language Skills

  • You must prove at least Competent English before your invitation date (e.g. IELTS 6 in all bands, PTE 50 in each band).
  • Scoring higher (Proficient or Superior English) earns up to 20 extra points toward your total points score.
Benchmark 5

Pass the Points Test

  • You must score at least 65 points on the statutory points test.
  • Your points score verified at assessment must match or exceed the exact score claimed in your invitation.
Benchmark 6

Rules for Regional Visa Holders

  • If you currently hold Subclass 491 or 494, you must hold it for at least 3 years before applying for Subclass 189.

Health, Character and Identity Rules

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Police Clearances

You and your family members must provide police certificates from every country you lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years (since turning 16).

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Medical Examinations

All applicants and dependent family members, including those not moving to Australia, must complete immigration medical examinations with approved panel physicians.

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Truthful Information & Values

Genuine documentation is mandatory. Misleading statements lead to refusal and multi-year exclusions. Every applicant aged 18+ signs the Australian Values Statement.

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Family Violence Safety Net

If you applied as a partner and the relationship ends due to family violence committed by the primary applicant, Australian law allows you and your children to continue independently to visa grant.

Application Process

1

Complete a positive Skills Assessment

Obtain a formal outcome letter from the authorized assessing authority for your occupation.

2

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect

Declare your verified points score, qualifications, English score, and employment background.

3

Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Wait for the Australian Government invitation round issued directly through SkillSelect.

4

Lodge the visa application within 60 days

Submit via ImmiAccount with full primary supporting documentation, medicals, and clearances.

Expert Guidance

Each of these steps has its own failure points — an incomplete EOI, a lapsed skills assessment, or a missed 60-day deadline can restart the whole process. This is where working with a registered migration agent removes the guesswork.

Travel and Permanent Residency Rights

You can be inside or outside Australia when the Department grants your Subclass 189 visa.

The visa grants unconditional Australian permanent residency and lets you travel in and out of Australia freely for 5 years. After 5 years, you will need a Resident Return Visa (Subclass 155/157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident if you travel abroad. If granted offshore, you must enter Australia before the first entry date printed on your grant notice.

Government Fees (2026 Scheduled Rates)

Applicant Type Standard Fee (AUD)
Main applicant $6,135
Adult family member (18+) $3,070
Child family member (under 18) $1,540
Second instalment (18+ applicant with no functional English, if applicable) $4,885 per adult

Note: Fees current as at 1 July 2026 (Home Affairs statutory fees are indexed annually every 1 July). Always verify against the official Visa Pricing Estimator. Third-party costs for medical assessments, English testing, and skills assessing bodies apply separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The Subclass 189 visa is completely independent. You do not need a job offer, an employer sponsor, or a state nomination.
No. You cannot apply directly. You must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online via SkillSelect and wait for the Australian Government to invite you.
You must be under 45 years old on the day the Australian Government invites you to apply. Turning 45 after the invitation is issued does not impact eligibility.
You must show at least Competent English when the Department invites you. This means at least 6 in each part of the IELTS test, or an equivalent score on another approved test like PTE Academic.
Your skills assessment must be valid on the day you receive your invitation. If the assessment letter shows an expiry date, it must not have passed. If it has no expiry date, it remains valid for 3 years from the date of issue. You cannot use a provisional graduate assessment.
Generally, no. If you hold a regional skilled visa (Subclass 491 or 494), you must hold it for at least 3 years before you are legally permitted to lodge a Subclass 189 application.
Australian immigration rules protect secondary applicants under the family violence safety net. If you experience family violence from the main applicant, you and your children can still gain your permanent visa independently even if the relationship ends.
Any family member aged 18 or older who cannot show basic Functional English skills must pay a second instalment fee of AUD $4,885 before the Department grants the visa.
Yes. If you apply from inside Australia, you must hold a valid substantive visa or a Bridging Visa A, B, or C. You cannot apply while in immigration airport clearance or immigration detention.
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Reviewed by: Jesin Joy (MARN: 2619591)

Registered Migration Agent • Last reviewed: 1st October 2026

General information is current as at October 2026. Migration legislation and department policies change frequently — verify your specific details with a registered agent before lodging.

Not sure where you stand?

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