Australia Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) vs Australia Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Australia Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) is faster: 8 months vs 9 months for Australia Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189).
Australia Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) Australia · skilled worker | Australia Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) Australia · skilled worker | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Category | Skilled Worker | Skilled Worker |
| Application Fee | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | — | — |
| Processing Time | 8 months | 9 months |
| Family Included | Spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be included; all members must meet health and character requirements; each adult dependant adds to the visa application charge. | Spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be included; all members must meet health and character requirements |
| Path to PR | Yes — 0 years | Yes — 0 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 4 years | Yes — 4 years |
| Physical Presence | Must be physically present in Australia when granted (or arrive within the entry validity period). State nomination carries a commitment to live and work in the nominating state or territory for at least 2 years, and permanent residents must generally reside in Australia for 2 out of every 5 years to maintain unrestricted travel rights. | Must be physically present in Australia when the visa is granted; PR holders must reside in Australia for 2 years out of every 5 to maintain travel rights |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Allowed |
| Tax Impact | Permanent residents are treated as Australian tax residents and taxed on worldwide income from the date of entry, the same as Subclass 189. | Permanent residents are treated as Australian tax residents and taxed on worldwide income from the date of entry |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | — | — |
About Australia Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
The Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is a points-tested permanent residency visa for skilled workers who receive a nomination from an Australian state or territory government, in addition to meeting the points test (minimum 65, with a mandatory 5 bonus points awarded for the nomination itself). Unlike the employer- and state-independent Subclass 189, applicants must first apply to and be nominated by a specific state or territory, whose own occupation list, criteria, and commitment requirements must be satisfied — nomination is often more accessible than a 189 invitation for occupations that are oversubscribed nationally but in demand in a particular state. Successful applicants receive permanent residence immediately upon grant, with a visa-conditioned commitment to live and work in the nominating state for at least 2 years.
Full Australia Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) profile →About Australia Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
Australia's Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) is a points-tested route that grants permanent residency from day one, with no employer sponsor, state nomination or family sponsor needed. There is no income requirement, but the nominated occupation must be on the MLTSSL skilled list, and the applicant must hold a positive skills assessment, be under 45 at invitation, and have competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each band). Candidates lodge an Expression of Interest via SkillSelect and must be invited based on a points score, a minimum of 65 though real cut-offs are often much higher. The primary applicant fee is about AUD 4,640 (2024), with more for dependents, and processing is long (around 9 months, median near 12). Family can be included. Citizenship is reachable after 4 years, and dual citizenship is allowed. Applicants must be in Australia when the visa is granted, and PR holders must reside two years in every five to keep travel rights. As tax residents, holders are taxed on worldwide income from entry. Watch that points cut-offs and occupation lists can shift between EOI and invitation.
Full Australia Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Australia Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
- ⚠Each state/territory has its own occupation list, criteria, and application process — an occupation ineligible for 189 may still qualify for 190 nomination in a specific state
- ⚠The 2-year state-residency commitment (condition 8558) is a formal visa condition; enforcement has historically been inconsistent, but states have tightened monitoring and non-compliance can complicate future nominations or a Resident Return Visa application
- ⚠Some states require evidence of genuine ties or prior residence before nominating you — a 'fly-in' nomination application with no connection to the state is often refused
- ⚠State nomination programs can pause or close mid-year once their allocation ceiling is reached — timing matters
- ⚠Points cut-offs and state priorities shift with each program year's occupation-list refresh
Australia Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
- ⚠Points cut-offs can rise dramatically between rounds — a score that received an invitation last year may not this year
- ⚠Occupation lists change: your occupation may be removed from MLTSSL between EOI and invitation, invalidating your EOI
- ⚠Employment reference letters must be precise — DHA is strict on format, and inadequate letters are a top rejection cause
- ⚠The 60-day lodgement window after ITA is tight — prepare all documents before submitting EOI
- ⚠Australia taxes worldwide income as soon as you become a tax resident — plan for this if you have offshore income
- ⚠Partner/spouse can be included but adultt dependents add AUD 2,320 to the visa fee
- ⚠Subclass 189 is employer-independent (no sponsorship needed) — a major advantage over 482/186
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.