anzsco.com.au
Subclass 189PermanentPermanent

Skilled Independent visa

The Subclass 189 visa lets skilled workers live and work anywhere in Australia permanently without an employer, state, or family sponsor. Selection is fully points-tested through SkillSelect with invitations issued in periodic rounds. Holders enjoy the same work, study, and Medicare rights as other permanent residents.

At a glance

Points test
Yes — points-tested via SkillSelect
Sponsor
No sponsor required
Base application charge
from $4,640 (check immi.gov.au for current fee)
Processing time
~8-15 months (median)
Eligibility list
MLTSSL
Pathway
Grants permanent residency on grant — eligible for Australian citizenship after meeting the residency rule.

Recent updates

See all updates →
  • info
    SkillSelect 2026-27 program year now open - new round expected

    The SkillSelect program year 2026-27 opened on 1 July 2026. The Department of Home Affairs typically issues the first invitation round of the new financial year in early-to-mid July. The June 2026 round (4 June) issued 10,000 invitations under Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) with no minimum points cutoff applied. Candidates with high points scores or who are in occupations with persistent demand should ensure their EOI is in submitted status and points-claimed correctly before the next round is drawn.

  • watch
    2026-27 visa application charges now in effect

    Visa Application Charges (VAC) for Australian skilled visas were indexed as of 1 July 2026 as part of the annual Federal Budget fee adjustment. Charges for Subclass 189, 190, 491, 482 (Skills in Demand), 186, 494, and 858 have been updated. Always verify the current fee schedule on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before applying — secondary applicant charges also increase proportionally. The 'Base fee' figures shown on individual visa pages on this site reflect the last editorial review date shown.

  • info
    SkillSelect invitation round — June 2026

    The Department of Home Affairs issued the June 2026 SkillSelect invitation round. Invitations were extended to candidates in the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), 190 (State Nominated), and 491 (Skilled Work Regional) streams. Minimum points cutoffs apply — check the SkillSelect rounds page on this site for the latest per-subclass scores. Invitation numbers reflect the current program year's remaining allocation and may differ significantly from prior months if a stream is near exhaustion.

SkillSelect points trend

Minimum points score from the last 6 invitation rounds for Subclass 189.

All rounds →

Source: Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect. Information only. Consult a registered MARA agent for personalised guidance.

Key requirements

High-level eligibility criteria. Each criterion has further sub-rules; verify with immi.gov.au before applying.

  • Under 45 years of age at invitation
  • Competent English (IELTS 6 or equivalent)
  • Positive skills assessment in a nominated MLTSSL occupation
  • Submit Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and meet pass mark (currently 65, effective competitive minimum 90+)
  • Health and character requirements

Skills assessment

Each occupation has a single designated assessing authority — the one listed for the nominated ANZSCO code on this site.

Eligible occupations

ANZSCO occupations currently flagged for Subclass 189 in our latest dataset.

Browse all →

No occupations matched this subclass in our latest sync. Occupation list updates frequently — check immi.gov.au for the current list.

Scan to talk to our AI about Subclass 189 pathway, fees, and timeline — no agent affiliation.

Government data last reviewed by editorial team:

This is a guide. Visa rules change. Always verify with immi.gov.au before applying.

Canonical: /visa/189