Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
The Skilled Independent Visa 189 needs no employer or state, just your points. We check whether your 189 visa Australia score is genuinely competitive before you commit to permanent residency Australia plans.
Overview
The Subclass 189 is a permanent visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state or a family member. It grants full work rights, access to Medicare, and a pathway to citizenship once you meet the residence requirements. Because there is no sponsor to add points, everything rests on your own profile, so the 189 tends to suit higher scorers with an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List.
Eligibility
To be invited and granted a 189, you generally need to:
- Have an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List.
- Hold a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for that occupation.
- Be under 45 years of age when you are invited to apply.
- Have at least competent English, with more points for higher levels.
- Score enough points to be invited, which in practice is well above the 65-point entry mark.
- Meet health and character requirements.
Points test
The 189 uses the standard skilled points test. You must reach 65 points to enter the pool, but invitations go to the highest-ranked applicants, so the working target is much higher. In 2026 the median score for invited 189 applicants has sat around 90 points. Points come from age, English, skilled work experience, qualifications, Australian study and partner skills. There is no nomination bonus on the 189, which is why applicants who fall short here often pivot to the 190 or 491.
Skills assessment
A positive skills assessment is a precondition, not a formality. The assessing authority checks your qualifications and experience against the nominated occupation and may apply a deemed skilled date, which affects how much of your experience counts for points. Choosing the correct occupation and authority at the outset is one of the most important decisions in the whole application.
English requirement
You need at least competent English to qualify, which is roughly IELTS 6 in each band or the equivalent in another accepted test. Higher levels are worth real points. Proficient English adds 10 points and superior English adds 20, so for many applicants an English retake is the fastest way to lift a borderline score into invitation range.
Talk to Bullseye Consultant
Want to know if your 189 score is competitive this program year? Bullseye Consultant will assess your profile and show you where the points are.
Documents
- Passport and identity documents.
- Positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation.
- English test results at the level you are claiming.
- Qualification certificates and academic transcripts.
- Detailed employment references covering dates, duties and hours.
- Partner skills evidence if you are claiming partner points, and health and character documents.
Processing time
Once you are invited and lodge a decision-ready application, processing depends on the completeness of your file and the Department’s workload. The bigger wait for most people is not the visa decision itself but the time between submitting an Expression of Interest and receiving an invitation, which is driven by your points and your occupation’s demand. The stronger your score, the shorter that wait tends to be.
Frequently Asked Questions about Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
Can I live anywhere in Australia on a 189?
Yes. The 189 is a permanent visa with no location condition. You can live and work anywhere in Australia from the day it is granted.
What score do I really need?
The pool entry mark is 65, but invitation cut-offs are higher and vary by occupation. For 2026, many invited 189 applicants have scored around 90 points, so treat 65 as a starting point rather than a target.
My occupation is not on the Medium and Long-term list. What now?
The 189 is closed to occupations that are not on that list, but you may still qualify for the 190 or 491 if a state nominates your occupation. It is worth checking both federal and state lists.
How can I add points quickly?
The most common levers are improving your English to proficient or superior, gaining more skilled work experience, claiming partner points, or adding a professional year or community language credential where eligible.
Does a 189 lead to citizenship?
Yes. As a permanent resident you can apply for citizenship once you meet the residence and other requirements set out in the citizenship rules.
Can my partner and children be included?
Yes. You can include your partner and dependent children, who must meet health and character requirements. Your partner’s skills may also add points.
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