What You Need to Know About Applying for an Australian 189 Visa
If you’re considering Australia’s Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa, you’ll need more than just a qualifying occupation and good English. You must navigate a strict points test, secure a positive skills assessment, and time your Expression of Interest right. On top of that, you face age limits, strict evidence rules, and tight deadlines once invited. Miss one step, and your chance may disappear, so you’ll want to understand how the process really works.
Australian 189 Visa at a Glance
For many skilled professionals, the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa remains one of the most attractive pathways to Australian permanent residency. It allows successful applicants to live, work, and study anywhere in Australia, without needing employer sponsorship or state nomination.
As a points-tested visa, it is designed for candidates whose qualifications, work experience, and English proficiency meet Australia’s skilled migration standards.
The process begins with submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. Candidates must then wait for an invitation to apply, which depends on their occupation, points score, and competition within the migration program.
Once invited, applicants have 60 days to lodge their visa application, upload supporting documents such as a valid skills assessment and English test results, pay the base application charge (currently AUD 4,910, subject to change), and complete health and character checks.
Understanding the processing time for 189 visa applications is critical when planning your move. Delays can occur due to incomplete documentation, high demand for certain occupations, or changes in migration priorities.
Working with experienced migration professionals who are familiar with local Australian immigration trends can make a meaningful difference.
For example, a migration adviser who closely tracks occupation ceilings and invitation rounds can help you strengthen your EOI before submission, reducing the risk of delays and improving your overall timeline expectations.
Who Can Get the 189 Visa?
To qualify for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and wait to be invited to apply.
At the time you receive an invitation, you must be under 45 years of age and have nominated an occupation that appears on the relevant skilled occupation list.
You also need a current positive skills assessment for that occupation, and the details must be accurately reflected in your EOI.
In addition, you must score at least 65 points on the migration points test. You're required to meet Australia’s health and character requirements and demonstrate at least competent English at the time of invitation.
189 Visa Eligibility and English Requirements
You must receive an invitation through SkillSelect and nominate an occupation from the relevant skilled occupation list.
A suitable skills assessment from the appropriate assessing authority is required, and, in most cases, it must have been issued within 3 years of the invitation date.
At the time of invitation, you must be under 45 years of age and demonstrate at least competent English, usually by achieving the minimum required scores in an accepted test such as IELTS, PTE Academic, or TOEFL iBT.
You must also attain a minimum of 65 points on the points test and be able to provide evidence to support each claimed point.
189 Visa Points Test Explained
A clear understanding of the 189 visa points test is important, as your score is a key factor in whether you receive an invitation to apply. The minimum score is 65 points, though in practice, applicants with higher scores are more likely to be invited, depending on current demand and occupation ceilings.
SkillSelect calculates your indicative points from the information you provide in your Expression of Interest, including age, English language proficiency, skilled work experience in Australia and overseas, formal qualifications, and, where applicable, partner skills. You must also have a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation by the time you're invited.
When you lodge your visa application, you must provide evidence for every point you have claimed. If you're unable to substantiate your invited score, your application may be refused by a case officer.
189 Visa Application Steps
To progress from having a competitive points score to lodging a Subclass 189 visa application, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. In your EOI, claim only points you can substantiate with evidence, and ensure the total is at least the current minimum pass mark (usually 65 points, but subject to change under policy).
You can't apply for the visa until you receive an invitation. If invited, you generally have 60 calendar days to lodge your application online. You may apply from inside or outside Australia, and you must hold a valid skills assessment for your nominated occupation at the time of invitation (and, in most cases, at the time of application).
When lodging, you should upload:
- • Identity documents (such as a passport and a birth certificate)
- • A valid skills assessment
- • Evidence supporting each point claimed in your EOI (e.g., qualifications, work experience, English test results)
After lodgement, you're usually required to:
- • Undergo health examinations
- • Provide police clearances for relevant countries
- • Complete Form 80 or Form 1221 if requested
- • Provide biometrics where required
- • Respond promptly to any requests for further information
Processing outcomes depend on the completeness and accuracy of your documentation and on Departmental processing priorities at the time.
189 Visa Costs and Processing Times
Once you decide to lodge your Subclass 189 application, it's important to understand the associated costs and typical processing time so you can plan appropriately.
For the points‑tested stream, the base visa application charge is AUD 4,910 for the primary applicant.
A second instalment of AUD 4,885 may be payable for each applicant aged 18 or over who can't demonstrate functional English, but this is charged only if requested by the Department.
You should also allow for additional expenses, such as health examinations, police clearance certificates, and biometrics, as these aren't included in the main application charge.
Processing times can vary significantly depending on factors such as application volume and the completeness of your documentation.
The Department’s online processing time tool can provide an indicative timeframe, but it should be treated as a general guide rather than a guarantee.
You must lodge your visa application within 60 days of receiving your SkillSelect invitation.
If you don't submit the application within this period, the invitation will lapse, and you'd need to be invited again to apply.
Adding Family to Your 189 Visa
When you apply for a Subclass 189 visa, you can include your spouse or de facto partner and any dependent children in your initial application.
In some cases, you may also be able to add eligible family members after lodgement, provided this occurs before the Department makes a decision on your visa.
Each family member included must satisfy the relevant health and character requirements.
Applicants aged 16 years or over are generally required to provide police clearances, and all applicants may be asked to undergo health examinations.
An additional visa application charge applies for each family member you add to the application.
If you have an eligible partner or child and you don't include them, you're usually required to give a clear explanation, supported by evidence where relevant.
The Department may also require health, character, and other documentation for family members who aren't migrating with you, as part of assessing your overall visa application.
After Your 189 Visa Is Granted
After you decide who to include in your application and the visa is granted, your status as a permanent resident starts from the grant date if you're in Australia, or from the date of your first entry if you're outside Australia when it's granted.
The visa is electronically linked to your passport, and no physical label is issued.
As a permanent resident, you can live, wor,k and study anywhere in Australia and will generally be eligible to enrol in Medicare, subject to meeting the relevant criteria.
You may also be able to sponsor certain eligible relatives for permanent residence, subject to the specific requirements of the relevant visa categories.
Your 189 visa will usually allow you to leave and re-enter Australia freely for five years from the date of grant.
After this period, if you wish to travel and continue to return to Australia as a permanent resident, you'll normally need to obtain a Resident Return visa or have acquired Australian citizenship with an Australian passport.
It's important to keep your passport and visa details up to date to avoid issues with international travel and re-entry.
Conclusion
Applying for an Australian 189 visa can feel complex, but you now know the essentials: who’s eligible, how the points test works, and what steps you must follow from skills assessment to invitation and lodgement. Focus on meeting the age and English requirements, gathering solid evidence, and planning costs and timelines. With careful preparation, you can submit a strong application and move closer to building a future in Australia for you and your family members.