Skilled Independent (permanent)
The subclass 189 is the visa with no strings: no state, no employer, no region. It is also the hardest to be invited for, because every applicant in Australia competes in one national pool. Score yourself against the 189 test here.
Point values checked against the Department of Home Affairs subclass 189 points table · Last reviewed 21 September 2026
Your factor-by-factor breakdown, your gap to a competitive 189 score, and the invitation trend for your occupation in recent 189 rounds. Sent to email and WhatsApp.
One report and a short follow-up from an ApplyOn consultant. ApplyOn is not affiliated with the Australian Government.
The subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa uses the standard 11-factor points test with a 65-point minimum and no nomination points. Because there is no state or regional bonus, your base score is your final score, and because every applicant nationally competes in one pool, 189 invitations in high-volume occupations have been going well above the minimum through 2026. Most applicants under 85 points should be modelling the 190 or 491 alongside it.
The 189 is a permanent visa granted on your own merits: no state or territory sponsors you, no employer sponsors you, and you can live and work anywhere in Australia from the day it is granted. You lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect, the Department ranks everyone in your occupation by points and then by the date of the EOI, and it invites downward from the top in each round. The Department sets the number of invitations per round and per occupation; that ceiling, not the 65-point floor, is what determines whether you are invited.
Points are assessed on the date of invitation. Your age bracket, English test validity and skills assessment all have to hold on that day, which is why timing matters as much as the score itself.
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Age 25–32 (18–24 and 33–39: 25; 40–44: 15; 45+: 0) | 30 max |
| English — proficient / superior | 10 / 20 |
| Skilled employment, overseas (3, 5, 8 yrs) | 5 / 10 / 15 |
| Skilled employment, Australia (1, 3, 5, 8 yrs) | 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 |
| Employment combined cap | 20 |
| Qualification — diploma/trade / bachelor or masters / doctorate | 10 / 15 / 20 |
| Specialist education (research STEM/ICT) | 10 |
| Australian study requirement | 5 |
| Regional study | 5 |
| Professional Year | 5 |
| NAATI credentialled community language | 5 |
| Partner — single or citizen/PR / skilled / competent English | 10 / 10 / 5 |
| Nomination — not available on the 189 | 0 |
65 is the minimum to lodge. It has not been the invitation score in any competitive occupation for years. The pattern through 2026: ICT, accounting and engineering occupations have cleared well into the 90s; nursing, teaching and allied health have been invited at lower scores because the Department allocates more places to them; small occupations with few applicants can be invited close to the minimum. The main PR points calculator compares your score against the invitation trend for your nominated occupation once you unlock your report.
If your base score is under 85, treat the 189 as a possibility rather than a plan. The same profile is usually 5 points stronger on the 190 and 15 points stronger on the 491, and nomination programs are where most Australian graduates are actually invited.
| 189 | 190 | 491 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomination points | 0 | 5 | 15 |
| Who nominates | Nobody | A state or territory | A state, territory or eligible relative |
| Where you live | Anywhere | The nominating state | Designated regional area |
| Occupation list | MLTSSL | MLTSSL or STSOL | MLTSSL, STSOL or ROL |
| Status on grant | Permanent | Permanent | Provisional; 191 after 3 years |
Score yourself on the 190 calculator and 491 calculator to see the difference nomination makes.
Common questions
65 is the legal minimum to lodge an EOI. Through 2026, invitations in high-volume occupations such as ICT and accounting have required well over 85, while some health and teaching occupations have been invited lower. There is no fixed cut-off; it depends on your occupation and the round.
No. The 189 is the only skilled visa with no nomination factor, so your base score is your total.
Only occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). STSOL and ROL occupations must use the 190 or 491.
The base application charge is around AUD 4,900 in 2026, plus additional charges for each family member included.
It is more flexible, since there is no state commitment, but it is harder to be invited for. For most applicants under 85 points the 190 or 491 is the realistic route.
A free session maps your occupation against all three subclasses and every state, and tells you which one gets you invited first.
Book a free counselling session See the PR Position Report