189 Visa 2026: Points Needed, Fee & Processing

Overview

The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa is a points-tested permanent residence visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state or territory, or a family member. You must have an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), a suitable skills assessment, competent English, and be invited to apply after submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. The minimum to submit an EOI is 65 points, but competitive scores are usually well above that.

The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa is Australia’s only points-tested permanent visa you can obtain with no employer, state or family sponsor. You submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, and the highest-scoring candidates in each occupation are invited to apply. That makes two things decisive: your points score and your occupation.

When is the next 189 invitation round?

Home Affairs said the first 189 round of 2026-27 was expected by 31 October 2026. As at 29 October 2026 its results page still lists the 4 June 2026 round (10,000 invitations, tie-break 24 April 2026) as the current round, with no 2026-27 invitations published yet. Several migration agencies report invitations issued around 15 October 2026, with trades such as carpenters, electricians and plasterers reportedly invited at 65 points and nurses at 70–75 — treat those figures as unconfirmed until Home Affairs publishes the round. Invitations go to the highest-ranked Expressions of Interest on the day, so update your EOI (points, English test, skills assessment) before the round. Since 19 September, Ministerial Direction 122 also sets the processing order for 189 applications, with priority sectors first. Source: Home Affairs

How many points do you actually need for a 189?

The legal minimum to submit an EOI is 65 points — but 65 only puts you in the pool, it rarely gets you invited. Candidates are ranked highest-first within each occupation, and through 2025 competitive scores for popular occupations (engineering, ICT, accounting) have generally sat around 85–95+ points, with some medical occupations higher again. Trade and less-contested occupations can still be invited closer to 65–75.

The fastest way to become competitive is to target the biggest levers: being aged 25–32 (30 points), Superior English (20 points), 8+ years of skilled work (up to 20 points), and a skilled partner or an Australian-citizen/PR partner (10 points). Work out your realistic score before you lodge — our points calculator uses the full Home Affairs table.

Which occupation list does the 189 use — and does the CSOL apply?

The 189 draws on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). The newer Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), introduced with the 2024 Skills in Demand (subclass 482) reforms, does not apply to the 189, 190 or 491 — a common source of confusion. If your occupation is on the MLTSSL and you hold a positive skills assessment for it, you can claim it for a 189.

The EOI and invitation process, step by step

Get a positive skills assessment for an occupation on the MLTSSL.
Submit an EOI in SkillSelect with your claimed points (valid up to two years).
Wait for an invitation in an invitation round — top scorers per occupation first.
Lodge a complete application within 60 days of the invitation.
Complete health and character checks; the visa is permanent from grant.

189 vs 190 vs 491 — which should you aim for?

The table above compares all three at a glance. If you can reach a competitive score unaided, the 189 is the most flexible — permanent from grant, live and work anywhere in Australia. If you’re a few points short, a Skilled Nominated 190 (state nomination, +5) or a Skilled Work Regional 491 (regional, +15, provisional then permanent via the subclass 191) can be the difference between waiting indefinitely and being invited.

Fees and processing times shown above are drawn from the Department of Home Affairs and displayed with the date they were verified.

Who is eligible for the Subclass 189 visa?

Be invited to apply after submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI)
Nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
Have a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
Score at or above the points test pass mark (minimum 65 to submit an EOI)
Be under 45 at time of invitation
Have at least competent English
Meet health and character requirements

This visa is points-tested. Estimate your points with our calculator .

How much does the Subclass 189 visa cost?

The base application charge is A$6,135. An additional A$3,070 applies per applicant aged 18 or over. Checked against the official Home Affairs pricing table on 29 October 2026. See every Subclass 189 stream's charge and processing time, or compare every visa on our Australian visa fees table. Fees are indexed each year — see the official Visa Pricing Estimator for the current figure.

How long does the Subclass 189 visa take to process?

For the Points-Tested stream, around 75% of applications are finalised within 8 months, and 90% within 8 months.

Stream	75% finalised within	90% finalised within
Points-Tested	8 months	8 months
New Zealand	58 months	61 months

Official figures as at 29 September 2026. Source: Department of Home Affairs — Global visa processing times. Compare all visas on our processing times tracker. Times are a guide only — complete, decision-ready applications are generally faster.

How do you apply for the Subclass 189 visa?

Check your occupation and skills assessment. Confirm your occupation is on the MLTSSL and obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority.
Submit an Expression of Interest. Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect with your claimed points. An EOI stays valid for up to two years.
Receive an invitation. Wait for an invitation to apply in an invitation round — the highest-scoring EOIs in each occupation are invited first.
Lodge a complete application. Apply within 60 days of invitation with all supporting evidence.
Complete health and character checks. Undergo health examinations and provide police certificates.

How it compares

Feature	189	190	491
Status	Permanent	Permanent	Provisional (5 yrs)
Sponsor / nominator	None	State/territory	State or eligible family
Points bonus	0	+5	+15
Occupation list	MLTSSL	MLTSSL + STSOL	MLTSSL + STSOL + ROL
Where you can live	Anywhere	Anywhere*	Designated regional only
Leads to	Citizenship	Citizenship	PR via subclass 191

Frequently asked questions

How many points do you really need for the 189 in 2025–26?

You need a minimum of 65 points just to submit an Expression of Interest, but 65 rarely results in an invitation. Candidates are ranked highest-first within each occupation, so competitive scores through 2025 have generally sat around 85–95+ points for popular occupations such as engineering, ICT and accounting, with some medical occupations higher again. Less-contested and trade occupations can be invited closer to 65–75. Check the latest invitation-round results for your occupation.

Does the 189 use the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)?

No. The Subclass 189 uses the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), introduced with the 2024 Skills in Demand (subclass 482) reforms, applies to employer-sponsored visas, not the points-tested 189, 190 or 491.

Do I need a job offer for the 189 visa?

No. The Subclass 189 visa is independent and does not require a job offer, employer sponsorship, or state nomination.

How long does it take to be invited?

It depends entirely on your points score and occupation. A competitive score in a high-demand occupation may be invited within weeks; a borderline score in a contested occupation may never be invited within the two-year life of the EOI. Improving your score is usually faster than waiting.

Is the 189 visa permanent?

Yes. It is a permanent residence visa from the date of grant, with the right to work, study and access Medicare anywhere in Australia, and a pathway to citizenship.

Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189)