189 visa which is officially known as the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa is an Australian Visa program that is regarded as the gold standard of Australian migration landscape. As of April 2026, the government of Australia has made changes in the migration landscape that focuses on high-level human capital. This guide has been meticulously drafted with the data from Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to make sure that accurate and up to date data is provided.
189 Visa (Skilled Independent Pathway)
The 189 visa or the subclass 189 is a points-tested visa program that is provided by the government of Australia to cater skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state or territory, or a family member. After securing a 189 visa, a skilled migrant is allowed to live and work anywhere in Australia for indefinite period. The subclass 189 is a visa program that provides you with a Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia. As soon as you secure a 189 visa, you are granted with the status of a PR holder providing you with full access to Medicare, unlimited work and living rights, and a clear pathway to Australian Citizenship.
Benefits of 189 visa
In the current migration scenes of Australia, the skilled independent visa program is a visa program that is considered as one of the best pathways to a PR in Australia. Unlike similar visa programs like employer-sponsored or state-nominated streams, the 189 visa grants flexibility towards your personal and professional life from the moment you are granted with the visa.
Freedom of Residency and Employment
One of the most significant difference and benefit of the 189 visa in comparison to similar visa streams is that this Australian visa provides a freedom of residency and employment. You are not bound to any regions or city and can live in any part of Australia and are able to work for any employer of your choice.
Immediate Permanent Residency (PR)
In contrast to other similar visa program like 491 visa or 482 visa which have a transition from provisional or temporary to a PR, the subclass 189 visa is a direct pathway to PR in Australia. as there isn’t any transition period for this Australian visa program, it provides you with a long-term stability. After securing a PR in Australia, you are then eligible to enroll in Medicare that covers many medical costs and provide access to subsidized medicines.
Pathway to Australian Citizenship
The subclass 189 is also considered as a primary steppingstone to an Australian citizenship. As the 189 visa is a direct PR visa, the moment you receive your visa program, the residency requirement of 4 years for citizenship will start. Once you have successfully secured an Australian Citizenship, you are then eligible to vote, apply for Australin Passport, and work in specific jobs provided by the government of Australia.
Social Security and Family Benefits
After a standard waiting period of around 2-4 years, the holders of a 189 visa are able to access the Australia’s social safety net through centrelink. With the skilled independent visa, you are eligible for Family tax benefits and are eligible to have your children attend a Australin Primary and Secondary schools as the domestic students do.
Difference Between 189 and 190 Visa
While selecting a visa program for your future, you need to make sure that you are aware of all the available visa programs that are catered to your needs and choose the one that aligns with your needs and requirements. While both 189 visa and 190 visa are PR visa that provide similar rights, they have some difference between them.
| Feature | Subclass 189 (Independent) | Subclass 190 (Nominated) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa Type | Permanent Residency | Permanent Residency |
| Nomination Source | Federal Government (Independent) | State or Territory Government |
| Points Boost | 0 Extra Points | +5 Extra Points |
| Occupation Lists | MLTSSL only | MLTSSL + STSOL + ROL |
| Residency Requirement | Live and work anywhere in Australia | Live in the nominating state for 2 years |
| Invitation Frequency | Periodic Federal "Rounds" | Ongoing State-specific selections |
| Sponsorship | No sponsor is required for this program. | State nominations are mandatory in order to be eligible. |
While selecting a visa program for your future, you need to make sure that you are aware of all the available visa programs that are catered to your needs and choose the one that aligns with your needs and requirements. While both 189 visa and 190 visa are PR visa that provide similar rights, they have some difference between them.
Subclass 189 visa Requirements
If you are skilled migrant who is looking for a positive outcome in the 189 visa invitation rounds in 2026, you need to understand the subclass189 visa requirements. As the DHA currently focuses on the readiness of the application in 2026 by implementing strict verification rules, you need to make sure that the following 189 visa requirements are satisfied before you lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Invitation to Apply (ITA)
As the subclass 189 is not a visa program that you can directly apply but is an invitation-only visa, you are initially required to submit an EOI via SkillSelect portal and wait for your Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the federal government. As the invitation for the visa program is issued to the highest-ranking points first, make sure to score well to gain a competitive advantage in the invitations.
Age Requirements
To be eligible for the 189 visa program, you are required to be under the age of 45 at the time you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the assessing authority. In case you turn 45 after you have been issued an ITA but haven’t yet lodged the 189 visa, you are still eligible to apply for the visa.
Skill Assessment
For you to be eligible for the subclass 189, you need to make sure that you satisfy the skills assessment requirement of the visa program. You must have a valid, positive skill assessment that is listed in the 189 visa occupation list which is the MLTSSL. Most of the skills assessments are valid for up to 3 years so make sure that yours is currently valid when you receive an ITA and lodge your Australian visa application. The assessing authorities for the skills assessment might vary by profession so make sure you choose the right one for your needs.
English Language Proficiency
In order to be eligible for the 189 visa, you need to provide an English Proficiency Test result from a DHA approved English test like IELTS, PTE, TOEFL etc. the minimum score to be eligible is IELTS 6.0 overall band but it is highly recommended that you score higher as it can be a huge contribution to the points test.
Points Test
With the current migration scene of Australia becoming increasingly competitive, the points test requirement plays a huge role in your 189 visa application. While the legal minimum points requirement is 65 points, the current scenario requires more scores to have a positive visa outcome. You are able to claim points for the following criteria:
- Maximum points for people aged from 25 to 32.
- Having a Superior English with IELTS 8.0 or equivalent provides you with a massive 20 points boost in your points test.
- Work Experience is awarded with points.
- Qualifications like Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate are rewarded.
Health and Character Standards
To fulfill this criterion of health and character standards, you are required to provide evidence about your health and police clearances.
- In order to satisfy the health standards provided by the DHA, you and your family members (if applicable) are required to undertake a medical exam from a DHA approved clinic.
- In order to satisfy the character standards, you need to provide Police Clerance Certificates (PCC) for every country that you have lived in for more than 12 months in the last 10 years.
189 Visa Fee and Costs
As financial planning for everything you do is mandatory step in the process, you need to understand the costs that are related to the subclass 189. As of April 2026, the 189 fees are required to be paid at the time of lodgment so make sure that your application is “decision-ready” as these costs are non-refundable.
The cost related to the 189 visa program is outlined in the table below:
| Applicant Type | Base Application Charge |
|---|---|
| Primary Applicant | AUD $4,765 |
| Additional Applicant (18 years or older) | AUD $2,385 |
| Additional Applicant (Under 18 years) | AUD $1,195 |
189 Visa Processing Time
If you are a skilled migrant who is thinking of applying for the Skilled Independent Visa in 2026, then it is crucial that you understand the subclass 189 processing time. As the DHA currently focuses on the readiness of the documents, the processing time for the visa program depends on your visa application.
The following table outlines the processing time that is related to subclass 189.
| Sector/Occupation Type | 50% of Applications (Median) | 90% of Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare & Nursing | 45 Days | 4 Months |
| Teaching & Education | 2 Months | 5 Months |
| Social Work & Welfare | 3 Months | 7 Months |
| Other Skilled Occupations | 12 Months | 18 - 22 Months |
189 visa Application Process
As of March 2026, the 189 visa program follows a scrutinized process controlled by the DHA. The 189 visa application process follows a rigorous journey that requires perfect alignment with your skills, points claim, and documentation in coordination with each other. To make sure you have a positive visa outcome, make sure to follow the following meticulously drafted steps.
Step 1: Confirm Occupation Eligibility
The first step in the Skilled Independent Visa Program is to confirm if your occupation is available on the MLTSSL which is the occupation list for the 189 visa. Verify it by matching the ANZSCO code that is listed on the MLTSSL and your occupation. Make sure that you ensure it before spending money on the assessments as it is a factor that cannot be compromised. For the year 2026, priority is currently given to the sectors of Health, Education and Social Work Sectors.
Step 2: Obtain a Positive Skill Assessment
After you have verified that your occupation is on the eligible list of MLTSSL, the next step is to obtain a positive skill assessment. As positive skill assessment is a must for the 189 visa application process, you need to make sure that you apply to the assessing authority that is tailored for your profession (ACS for IT, EA or AITSL for Teachers). In order to apply for the visa program, you are required to have a positive outcome and are required to be valid at the time of visa lodgment.
Step 3: English Proficiency Test
The next step in the application process is the English proficiency test. In this step, you are required to provide an English Proficiency Test result from a DHA approved test like IELTS, PTE or TOEFL. Although the minimum requirement for it is to have a IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent scores, it is highly suggested to have a score of 8.0 as it can contribute 20 additional points to your points test.
Step 4: Submit your EOI
Once you have provided the Skills Assessment and the English proficiency test result, the next step in the application process is to submit your EOI. In this step, you are required to declare your intent to migrate to Australia. You need to initially create a profile in the SKillselect portal and submit the EOI stating your intent.
Step 5: Wait for the 189 Visa Invitation Rounds
After successfully submitting your EOI, the next step in the process is to wait. The federal government periodically reviews the EOI pool and issues invitations to the highest points. The waiting time for this varies according to the occupation that you choose. In case your occupation is on the high-priority sectors like Nurses/Teachers then it often receives invitations in the first invitation rounds while other occupations may need to wait for several months. If your EOI has a positive outcome, you will then receive an ITA.
Step 6: Lodge your Visa Application
The last step in the process is to lodge your visa application. After the day you receive an ITA, you will then have exactly 60 days to lodge your visa application. In this step, you need to log in to your ImmiAccount, complete all the required fields and upload all the required documents and pay the visa fee of AUD $4,765 to finalize the lodgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 189 visa or the Skilled Independent Visa is a visa program provided by the Australian government that is designed specifically for the skilled migrants whose occupations are eligible on the 189 visa occupations list which is the MLTSSL. This visa program doesn’t require you to have an employer, state or a relative to sponsor them.
The primary difference between the 189 and 190 visa is the way of nomination. The 189 visa doesn’t require a sponsor to nominate you whereas the 190 visa requires a nomination from an Australian state or Territory to be eligible. Additionally, the 190 visa requires you to live in the regional part of Australia for 2 years whereas the 189 visa doesn’t have such requirements.
If you are applying for priority sector occupations like Registered Nurses, Teachers or Social workers then 189 visa is faster with 2 to 5 months of processing time. Meanwhile, for non-priority occupations, the 190 visa is generally faster as the state nomination rounds occur more frequently.
Yes, the subclass 189 is a direct-entry permanent residency visa. From the day your visa outcome is granted, you have the right to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. Unlike provisional visas (such as the 491), there is no requirement to live in a specific region or meet income thresholds to convert to PR and you are a permanent resident from day one.
As in the current migration scene of Australia, the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa is considered as one of the most competitive and rewarding pathway to PR in Australia, you need a strategic partner to help you throughout the process.
Why BJay?
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Expertise Team: Led by Mr. Jay Oli (MARN: 1570827), we have an exceptional team that is there to solve any queries and help you with your application. The team is well trained to provide the services that you may require assistance with.
Global Presence & Local Support: With offices present in multiple locations throughout Nepal (Putalisadak and Birtamode) and a head office in Sydney, BJay provides you with seamless support you may require whether you are in your home country or already in the turf of Australia.
End-to-End Career Support: We here at BJay provide you with the service that ranges from the starting of your career as a Chef in Australia to your final Permanent Residency (PR) Grant making sure no obstacles cause your application to be rejected.
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