Pathways / Subclass 189

Grants permanent residency

Skilled Independent visa

Permanent residency with no sponsor, decided purely on your points score.

The subclass 189 is the only skilled visa that grants permanent residence without a sponsor, employer or state nomination. You submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect and wait to be invited. Nothing about it is guaranteed - the pass mark is 65 points, but invitations in recent rounds have gone overwhelmingly to much higher scorers.

Watch for thisDo not treat 65 points as your target. Look at what has actually been invited in your occupation in recent rounds, then work backwards from that number.
Grants
Permanent residence immediately
Pass mark
65 points
Realistic score
Commonly 90+ in recent rounds
Age limit
Under 45 at invitation
Places 2026-27
21,090 (up 25% on last year)
Occupation list
Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)

What you need

  • Nominate an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.
  • Hold a positive skills assessment from the correct assessing authority for that occupation.
  • Be under 45 years of age when invited to apply.
  • Have at least Competent English (IELTS 6 in each band or equivalent).
  • Score at least 65 points on the points test.
  • Meet health, character and Australian values requirements.

How it works, step by step

  1. Confirm your occupation is on the current list and identify your assessing authority.
  2. Obtain a positive skills assessment - budget 2 to 6 months and several hundred to a few thousand dollars.
  3. Sit an approved English test and aim for Proficient or Superior to add 10 or 20 points.
  4. Submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect. This is free and does not expire for two years.
  5. Wait for an invitation round. Improve your score while you wait.
  6. Lodge the visa application within 60 days of invitation.

Strengths

  • No sponsor, employer or state to satisfy
  • Live and work anywhere in Australia
  • Permanent from day one
  • Includes eligible family members

Trade-offs

  • Extremely competitive - a 65-point score is unlikely to be invited
  • No control over invitation timing
  • Occupation list changes can remove your route overnight
Check whether this fits you →

Registered migration agents

We are building a directory of MARN-registered agents and immigration lawyers. Listings are checked against the public register before they appear.

How the directory works

Placement shown on the subclass 189 page.

General information, not migration advice. myPRJourney summarises publicly available information about Australian visas so you can understand your options. It does not assess your case, and it is not a substitute for advice from a registered migration agent (MARN) or Australian legal practitioner. Migration rules, occupation lists, income thresholds and state nomination criteria change frequently and sometimes without notice. This page was last reviewed on 21 July 2026. Always confirm current requirements directly with the Department of Home Affairs at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.